Am I not liable if my bike passes the ISO tests?

Series: Product liability and recall

The question came up in my consulting practice the other day:
"Martin, if our bike passes ISO 4210, will we be exempt from liability?"

Short answer: Unfortunately not.

ISO standards are - except in France - only recommendations under private law. They are not laws and therefore have no direct effect on liability issues.
If your bike passes the ISO tests, this is of course a strong sign of quality.

But: In the event of liability, this will only help you as an indication. Legally, you are still obliged to show that the specific product was safe and had no defects. Because:

• However, only the model is tested in accordance with ISO 4210. The delivered bike itself was not regularly tested.
• In addition, the manufacturer must prove that the product has been designed and manufactured safely and appropriately for the circumstances, even beyond the standard. A standard can also always be incomplete or outdated.
• Additional standards may also apply during production. E.g. for welding work.

My tip: ISO tests are important, but only one part of your protective shield. Safety and care must always be considered holistically.

If you want to know more about how to cleverly reduce liability risks - I'm just a message away.