PSA 2 – Child bicycle seats – Retesting – General press release

If you’re about to invest in a bicycle seat for your young child so that you can both enjoy bike rides this summer, a recent EU product testing campaign has shown what to look out for to ensure that you both stay safe.

Tests of a sample of 25 children’s bicycle seats purchased in several EU countries revealed that the greatest safety failures were poor quality belt and restraint systems and inadequate strength and durability.
 
Close to half of the samples that did not meet the requirements failed tests for sharp edges and protrusions that children can hurt themselves on, or that their hair or clothing can catch on.
 
What can you do as a consumer?
 
A good resource to check before buying a bicycle seat for your child is the EU’s Safety Gate portal, where national market surveillance authorities list dangerous products.
 
There are two criteria a seat must meet: it must be appropriate for your child’s weight and height, and it must be compatible with the bicycle.
 
Ensure that the user manual is in the language(s) of your country and that the images on the packaging or online listing show safe use: the child wearing a helmet and strapped in. For online purchases, check that the product’s manufacturer and distributor are clearly stated – this makes it easier for authorities to act in case of safety problems.
 
After purchasing and installing the seat, check for sharp edges, screws or bolts that could catch on clothing. Inspect the seat regularly for wear or damage and change it when children outgrow it.
 
You can report any safety issues or accidents with your product to your consumer protection authority via the Consumer Safety Gateway.
 
Products recalled
 
The 25 seats that were tested were purchased online and in physical shops by market surveillance authorities (MSAs) in Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Malta and Spain. They randomly selected 12 bicycle seats in physical stores and 13 online. The models were front or rear-mounted, for children up to 15 kg.

Overall, over two-thirds (68%) failed. Eleven (85%) of the 13 samples purchased online failed, as well as half of the 12 samples bought in stores. Two seats were considered a serious and one a high risk. MSAs have so far recalled one product from consumers, ordered three to be withdrawn from the market and imposed sanctions on three economic operators. Alerts were also published on Safety Gate.
 
Follow-up testing
 
The tests were a follow-up to a similar initiative in 2019, when 44 children’s bicycle seats were tested. All failed, mainly due to sharp edges and inadequate seat dimensions.
 
“We welcome this action. It was needed because the 2019 results were very bad. Still, there are many non-compliant products this time. It’s very worrying that more than two-thirds of the products tested, even those of EU origin, are non-compliant,” said Tania Vandenberghe of the European consumer organisation ANEC. “Strong, coordinated market surveillance across Europe is key to keep unsafe consumer products from the market”, she added.
Tania Vandenberghe, Senior manager, ANEC (European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation)
 
Enforcing product safety standards for EU consumers
 
The testing was conducted during the 2025 edition of the EU’s Coordinated Activities on the Safety of Products (CASP) initiative, funded through the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, which also gives guidance on the products to be tested, and the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA).
 
CASP aims to protect the health and safety of consumers by enabling national market surveillance authorities from EU and European Free Trade Association countries to organise testing, cooperate and exchange good practices.
 
Along with the children’s bicycle seats, other consumer products were tested, including children’s clothing and fashion jewellery, for harmful chemicals and heavy metals. Each edition has a new product scope, depending on the priorities defined by the European Commission and the Member States participating.
 
The contact details for national authorities in your country and product sector are available here.
 
More information: CASP 2025 — Child bicycle seats final activity report.

 ProductGo is now live. You can play it right now. Test your knowledge and discover the hidden risks behind everyday products. Created for CASP 2024, this game shows that product safety can never be taken for granted, even in a well-regulated market.