Is a QR-code manual sufficient?

No, a QR-code-only manual is generally not sufficient for consumer products in the US, Canada, and the EU. While digital instructions are increasingly permitted as a supplement, physical paper manuals or printed safety warnings remain mandatory for most general consumer goods.

United States (US):

• Consumer Products: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) typically expects clear, readable physical safety warnings and core operational instructions to be accessible without relying on digital technology.
• Medical & Specialized Goods: The FDA permits electronic instructions for use (eIFUs) for certain professional or implantable medical devices, but consumer-facing products usually still require paper backing.

Canada:

• Consumer Packaging and Labelling: Health Canada and the Competition Bureau require mandatory text, safety info, and bilingual requirements (English/French) to be physically present on the product or packaging.
• Digital Limitations: While digital codes are allowed for supplemental details (like cosmetic ingredient lists or extended info), they cannot entirely replace core physical labeling.

European Union (EU):

• General Consumer Products: Under EU product safety directives and the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), safety instructions and manuals must be supplied in paper form or physically with the product.
• Exceptions & Shifts: The EU allows electronic instructions (eIFUs) for specific professional-use or fixed-installation medical devices and industrial machinery. Furthermore, the new Digital Product Passport (DPP) under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) mandates QR codes for tracking lifecycles and recycling data for select categories like batteries and electronics, but this supplements rather than completely eliminates traditional safety manuals.