The Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC defines uniform health and safety requirements for machinery and equivalent products for free trade within the European Economic Area.

It concerns manufacturers’ obligations with regard to CE marking, for which important guidelines must be observed.

If you build, import, or sell machinery in the Netherlands, it has to comply with European product safety requirements. These are set out in the European Machinery Directive (Machinerichtlijn). The directive also applies if you build machines for your own use. 

What does the Machinery Directive apply to? 

 

The Machinery Directive applies to for example:

Instruction manual requirements 

Do you manufacture or import products that are subject to the Machinery Directive? You must include an instruction manual with the product. The requirements which the manual must fulfil differ according to product type. There are however minimal requirements for all user manuals. They should for instance be provided in a language the user understands well. For machines governed by the Machinery Directive, for example, you must provide a manual in the language of the country in which you market the product (for instance a German-language manual if you market the product in Germany). 

Machinery Regulation

As of 20 January 2027 the Machinery Regulation will replace the Machinery Directive. The new regulation includes provisions for new developments, such as AI and corruption through outside interference (hacking). 

• machines (even if only partly completed)
• interchangeable equipment
• safety components
• lifting accessories
• chains, ropes and webbing
• removable mechanical transmission devices

CE marking 

Does your product fulfil all safety requirements the Machine Directive demands? You must affix CE marking on the product. Manufacturers must create a technical file (technisch dossier) on the product which is needed to apply for CE marking.

 

Which requirements apply to your machinery? 

In Annex I of the directive you can find the safety requirements that apply. These apply to such aspects of the machine as: 

•  

  design and ergonomics
•  

  materials and products used in production
•  

  seating and operating positions
•  

  protection against mechanical risks
•  

  safety and security control systems
•  

  instructions for use
•  

  maintenance of machinery 

Please note that machinery may be subject to requirements from other rules and regulations as well. For instance the General Product Safety Regulation, or the directives on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), pressure equipment, or on Low voltage.