Machinery Directive - vdma.org

The EU Commission is planning a regulation to introduce a mandatory digital EU Declaration of Conformity for machinery. This amendment is intended to change the EU Regulation Machinery before it comes into force.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has published a Quality Control Order (QCO) for machinery in the "Gazette of India". From August 28, 2025, the products listed therein will require a market access mark.

The import of products with CE marking into the United Kingdom is still permitted. What is the legal basis and is there any official information?

Did you miss the first Regul8 of the Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association? No problem, you can watch the two presentations on digital instructions again here.

Imparting technical knowledge – Experts advise you individually

The EU Machinery Regulation replaces the Machinery Directive, which has been in force for 17 years. Numerous changes require internal, time-consuming process adjustments. A good reason to deal with the new legal requirements immediately!

Regulations are instruments used to ensure the stability and integrity of markets and industries. They serve to protect consumers, promote fair competition and ensure compliance with legal stability.

The official guide to the Machinery Directive has been revised and published in version 2.3 in English and German. The reason for the revision is the new legal interpretation of digital operating instructions.

The EU Commission, member states and trade associations have agreed that manufacturers of machinery will be able to supply instructions in digital form from April 26, 2024.

Between the current Machinery Directive and the new EU Regulation - those responsible for machinery safety are faced with some groundbreaking questions. An overview of obligations and deadlines.

In some cases, functions of a machine are tested and optimized on site. There is a desire to leave machines without CE marking to the customer for this purpose for a certain period of time.

The EU Regulation Machinery will apply from 20 January 2027. The Machinery Directive must be applied by 19 January 2027. How can the manufacturer manage the changeover of the EU Declaration of Conformity in just one day?

Manufacturers based outside the UK who wish to import products, such as machinery, into the UK must appoint an importer and provide details of this.

A lawsuit at the ECJ could endanger the entire system of harmonized standards. The planned final proposals of the Advocate General at the ECJ does not bode well.

For reasons of clarity, the EU Commission has published in the EU Official Journal L 194 of August 2, 2023 a complete list of references of harmonized standards in support of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.

Update: VDMA provides its members with a comparison of the provisions and technical requirements of the EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 with those of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC in English and German.

Machinery and plant manufacturers must adapt to new technical regulations and obligations. Find out about key changes, their impact on practice and possible solutions!

The text of the new EU Machinery Regulation, adopted in the Permanent Representatives Committee on January 25, 2023, is available for download.

The VDMA Quick Guide explains the manufacturer's obligations, in particular with regard to the conformity assessment procedure.

What are the implications for standardization of the proposal for revision of the Machinery Directive published by the European Commission?

The Blue Guide is the central document explaining overarching provisions on CE marking. The version from 2016 has been updated.

When CE marking machines, important instructions must be observed in order to fulfill the legal obligations. The VDMA has compiled these notes for practical use, which go beyond explanations in the official guide.

VDMA provides its members with a comprehensive information package, including a quick reference guide.

The Technical Report CEN/TR 22100-1 builds a bridge between the world of standardization and the European Single Market legislation for machinery.

A new implementing decision *) on the harmonized standards for machinery in support of Directive 2006/42/EC has been published in the Official Journal of the EU.

The EU Commission published the draft of the new EU Regulation Machinery in 2021. The main elements are described below.

There is good news regarding the impact of Brexit on Northern Ireland: CE marking may still be used. Therefore, products may continue to be marketed in Northern Ireland with CE marking.

The Machinery Directive, Cybersecurity, Occupational Safety and Accreditation working groups report to the VDMA Technology Policy Steering Committee and develop proposals for positioning the mechanical engineering industry in the respective subject areas. The working groups promote exchange between members and maintain close contact with political decision-makers and other trade associations.

Labels are intended to provide consumers with better orientation - but in the case of capital goods, they are a superfluous cost factor and an obstacle to innovation for manufacturers.

The Directive on electromagnetic compatibility covers fixed installations. Such installations are excluded from the application. Is this relevant for machinery?

How individual must the EU declaration of conformity be and what legal requirements must be observed? What must be observed in the case of partly completed machinery?

VDMA members are repeatedly confronted with the demand for CE marking of machinery. How to proceed?

In the sector of hollow glass production, the need to review and revise the current C standard EN 13042-3 "IS machines" became clear.

When it comes to machinery, the question arises as to whether the EU Declaration of Conformity or the Declaration of Incorporation has a validity period and whether the manufacturer should note the validity period.

The VDMA Foreign Trade team supports VDMA member companies in the internationalization of mechanical and plant engineering. We provide you with practical support in all matters relating to foreign business.

The writing of instruction handbooks is a challenge for manufacturers, not only because of a lot of information from purchased parts. What are the legal requirements?

In mechanical engineering, new technologies quickly find an application. Are the existing regulations fit for the future or can the manufacturer expect a lot of new things?

The revision of the Machinery Directive is pending and the EU Commission is obviously under political pressure. Are concerns justified?

What is HACCP? What does HACCP mean for mechanical engineering? The term Critical Control Point (CCP) is particularly misleading in practice. This FAQ article clarifies the terminology and gives hints for further information.

Customers often want to provide certain components for a machine. How can the machine manufacturer handle this?

If a machine undergoes a significant change during a conversion, the requirements of CE marking must be applied to the machine, according to European standards.

The VDMA provides the position papers for tools and moulds free of charge to all interested parties. The VDMA position paper of 2011 refers to the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC), the GPSG and the standard EN ISO 12100:2010. 2013 the corresponding position paper of ISTMA Europe has been added.

Does the manufacturer of an incomplete machine have to observe all safety requirements of the Machinery Directive?

The VDMA Position Paper serves as a guide and gives an overview of the application of the machinery directive, which came into effect from Dec. 29th 2009, to parts or components for fluid power applications.

Manufacturers must provide operating instructions for painting systems in accordance with Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, Annex I, 1.7.4. The standard sheet specifies the required contents.