Organise evidence by the question it answers
Separate identity and scope records, defect evidence, damage evidence, causal evidence and operator evidence. A test report may help with one issue while saying nothing about another. Record the proposition supported, provenance, date and limitations of each item.
Preserve originals and context
Keep original files and product records, document relevant versions and record who held physical items. An export should retain enough context to explain timestamps and configuration. These are practical investigation principles, not a claim that the Directive mandates one particular evidence system or retention period.
Plan access carefully
Evidence can include personal data, trade secrets and confidential technical information. Article 9 balances relevant disclosure with necessity, proportionality and protection of confidential information. An internal repository should distinguish preserved material from a disclosure set selected under legal guidance.
Records that help the review
Use the following as a practical starting point. Select and preserve records appropriate to the product, incident and applicable procedure.
- Product identity and custody record
- Versioned technical and incident records
- Damage and causation evidence
- Provenance, access and confidentiality notes
A complete repository is not a guarantee of a successful defence or compensation claim.
Primary sources and legal scope
This page explains the EU Directive framework. Check national implementing law, the corrected temporal scope and relevant procedure before applying it to a case.
- Directive (EU) 2024/2853, consolidated text: Articles 7, 8, 9, 10 ↗
- Official Journal corrigendum, 7 May 2026: Article 2(1) ↗
Source register: corrected scope verified 16 October 2026. Article references identify the legal basis. No qualified legal review or national implementation status is claimed.