EUROPEAN UNION & UNITED STATES
Know the difference between a market requirement,
a test standard and a product approval.
01 / EUROPEAN UNION
The GPSR applies from 13 December 2024. Online offers must display product identification, manufacturer contact details, the EU responsible person's details where required, and relevant warnings and safety information.
Electronic lighting should be assessed against applicable electromagnetic-compatibility and hazardous-substance rules. Where CE marking is required, the manufacturer must keep technical evidence and sign an EU Declaration of Conformity. CE is not a certificate issued by a central EU body.
WEEE and battery rules address collection, recycling, producer obligations and markings. The responsible business must check registration and reporting in each destination market. Portable-battery removability rules are scheduled to apply from 18 February 2027, subject to the regulation's scope and derogations.
Materials in bags, mounts and other accessories can trigger REACH duties. Certain Candidate List substances above 0.1% by weight require safe-use information, with consumer requests answered within 45 days. Additional notification duties depend on the product and supply-chain role.
02 / UNITED STATES
CPSC's bicycle rules in 16 CFR Part 1512 include reflector requirements for bicycles. This is not a universal approval for an aftermarket tail light. Road-use lighting requirements vary by state, including permitted colors, flashing modes and reflector arrangements.
FCC requirements depend on the electronics and operating modes. Devices subject to Part 15 may require Supplier's Declaration of Conformity or certification, while specific exemptions exist. A circuit-level assessment is needed before choosing the authorization route.
03 / ROAD USE
German public-road rules require approved bicycle lighting, a red rear light and a red category-Z rear reflector. Flashing rear lights are prohibited. A steady mode alone does not establish StVZO approval.
Road-use eligibility varies by country and US state. Approval of individual SQUARE models and modes—including Pro Max’s light-blue perimeter LEDs—has not been verified. The manual does not establish reflector approval. Use only lighting and reflectors permitted locally.
California is one example: its rear-light option is red and includes a built-in reflector. From 1 January 2026, the rear reflector-or-light requirement applies to e-bikes at all hours.
04 / TESTING & TRANSPORT
Lithium cells and batteries offered for transport must meet applicable UN 38.3 design-testing requirements. A test summary provides traceability to the tested cell or battery design. It is transport evidence, not a general product-safety certificate.
ISO 6742-1:2023 addresses cycle-light functions, safety and photometric testing; ISO 6742-5:2023 addresses battery-powered lighting-system performance. IEC 60529 defines enclosure IP ratings. Product claims should be supported by reports for the exact model and configuration.
IEC 62133-2 sets safety requirements and tests for portable rechargeable lithium cells and batteries under intended use and reasonably foreseeable misuse. Applicability and evidence must be checked against the battery actually supplied.
BEFORE MARKET RELEASE
A reference list for product and distribution discussions. This is not a statement that the documents below have been issued.
Exact model, manufacturer, batch information, required economic-operator details and destination-language instructions.
Applicable EU declaration and technical documentation; any national lighting approval needed for the chosen model and mode.
Reports linked to the final electronics, optical configuration, enclosure and battery. A manual claim is not a laboratory report.
Matching lithium-battery transport evidence and market-specific producer, recycling and marking requirements.
It includes dimensions, modes, charging instructions and an IPX6 specification. No independent IPX6 test report, CE declaration, FCC authorization or German road approval is presented here.
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