Directive on machinery

Practical solutions for manufacturers and users.

Directive 2006/42/EC on machinery is mandatory. The revised directive 2006/42/EG on machinery (official title: Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on machinery, and amending Directive 95/16/EC (recast)) was published on 9 June 2006 in the Official Journal of the European Union (L 157). The directive had to be implemented in national law by 29 June 2008 (in Germany through the amendment of the machine ordinance – 9th GPSGV). Application of the new directive on machinery has been mandatory since 29 December 2009. Prior to this date, Directive 98/37/EC was still valid, i.e. there was no transition period.

Essentially, the following amendments were introduced:

• Clearer demarcation of the scope of application concerning the low-voltage directive and lift directive
• Incomplete machines are incorporated into the scope of application. The associated documentation must indicate which requirements of the directive have been satisfied. The scope of delivery includes a declaration of incorporation and assembly instructions in the language of the country of installation.
• The fundamental health and safety requirements were adjusted to reflect technological progress.
• Options in the conformity assessment procedure with regard to machines deemed to be particularly dangerous.
• Incorporation of household appliances also used for commercial purposes insofar as they satisfy the machine definition.