ZVA Demands Stricter Controls on Non-EU Eyewear Imports Amid Low Inspection Rates

The German Central Association of Optometrists (ZVA) is calling for more rigorous market surveillance of corrective eyewear imported directly from non-EU countries via international online platforms. While such products fall under the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR), the ZVA argues that current controls are insufficient compared to the strict requirements imposed on local opticians. Data from the European Commission shows that in 2025, approximately 5.9 billion low-value e-commerce goods entered the EU, yet only 387,588 customs interventions occurred regarding product conformity. This equates to one intervention per roughly 15,400 items. The ZVA urges authorities to allocate adequate resources for targeted test purchases and improved traceability through product labeling, noting that new customs regulations effective since July 2026 and mandatory product identifiers starting November do not fully replace actual safety compliance checks.