NOVELTY - A membrane electrode assembly comprises an edge protection member positioned between ion-conducting membrane (2) and the first anchor second gas diffusion layers (3) at the peripheral edge region of the membrane electrode assembly; and overlapping the first and/or second electrocatalyst layers (4). The edge protection member (5) comprises film layer (6), bonding layer, and additive(s) from free radical decomposition catalyst, self regenerating antioxidant, hydrogen donors primary antioxidant, free radical scavenger secondary antioxidant, oxygen absorbers and elemental palladium.    USE - A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell (claimed), preferably proton exchange membrane fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE - The assembly has reduced failure in the edge region and increased serviceable lifetime before significant performance loss.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A membrane electrode assembly comprises an ion-conducting membrane (2), first and second electrocatalyst layers (4) disposed either side of the ion-conducting membrane, and first and second gas diffusion layers (3) disposed either side of the first and second electrocatalyst layers respectively. The membrane electrode assembly further comprises an edge protection member (5) comprising a film layer (6), a bonding layer, and additive(s) from the free radical decomposition catalyst, self regenerating antioxidant, hydrogen donors (H-donor) primary antioxidant, free radical scavenger secondary antioxidant, oxygen absorbers (oxygen scavenger) and elemental palladium. The edge protection member is positioned between the membrane and the first anchor second gas diffusion layer at the peripheral edge region of the membrane electrode assembly; and overlaps the first and/or second electrocatalyst layers. The membrane electrode assembly has a peripheral edge region and a central region.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing is a schematic cross-sectional view of a gas diffusion electrode based membrane electrode assembly.    Ion-conducting membrane (2)    Gas diffusion layers (3)    Electrocatalyst layer (4)    Edge protection member (5)    Film layer (6)