EU regulation
Machinery Directive: safety, CE and the 2027 transition
Overview
Short answer
Directive 2006/42/EC sets safety requirements for machinery and certain related products. Manufacturers need to assess risks, demonstrate conformity and prepare appropriate evidence before placing machinery on the market or putting it into service. The Directive is replaced on 20 January 2027, subject to transitional provisions. Article 5; Articles 51–54.
Legal status
Directive applicable; transition ahead
Checked 11 October 2026 against the Directive consolidated on 30 May 2026 and the Regulation consolidated on 27 July 2026.
Part 1
Which products are covered?
The Directive covers machinery, interchangeable equipment, safety components, lifting accessories and certain other product groups. Partly completed machinery is also covered, through a specific procedure. Article 1 contains exclusions, including certain means of transport and electrical products. The presence of a moving part is therefore not sufficient on its own to classify a product. Articles 1 and 2.
Part 2
Manufacturer responsibilities before supply
The manufacturer or authorised representative must ensure compliance with relevant essential health and safety requirements. The technical file must be available, necessary instructions supplied and the correct conformity assessment performed. The manufacturer then draws up the EC declaration of conformity and affixes the CE marking to the machinery. Article 5 and Annex I.
Part 3
Risk assessment and the correct procedure
Risk assessment must inform the design and protective measures. Check whether the machinery is listed in Annex IV. For these categories, the appropriate route depends in part on whether harmonised standards cover all relevant requirements and have been applied. Annex IV does not mean that one identical third-party procedure is always required. Article 12 and Annex I.
Part 4
Partly completed machinery follows its own procedure
Article 13 requires relevant technical documentation, assembly instructions and a declaration of incorporation. Instructions and the declaration must accompany the unit until incorporated and then form part of the final machinery’s technical file. These documents do not replace the assessment of the completed machinery. Article 13.
Part 5
One date, two different situations
The Machinery Regulation replaces the Directive on 20 January 2027. Products lawfully placed on the market under the Directive before that date may continue to be made available under Article 52. This is not a blanket exception for everything ordered or manufactured before the deadline. Distinguish placing on the market from subsequent supply. Articles 51, 52 and 54.
Part 6
Prepare the next product version
Recommended practice: connect risk assessment, drawings, testing, instructions and the declaration to the machinery’s identity. Mark projects affected by the transition and compare them with the Machinery Regulation. Preserve previous evidence and record why an assessment route was chosen. A new template cannot replace a technical review.
Checklist
Key takeaways
- Classify the product before choosing the assessment procedure.
- Risk assessment should drive safety measures and evidence.
- Partly completed machinery follows a separate documentation procedure.
- The 20 January 2027 transition requires checking market placement dates.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
Does the Directive apply during 2026?
Yes. It is replaced on 20 January 2027 under the Machinery Regulation’s transitional provisions.
Does every machine require a notified body?
No. The route depends on Article 12, the product category and application of harmonised standards.
Is a declaration of incorporation the same as an EC declaration?
No. It concerns partly completed machinery and does not replace the final machinery’s conformity assessment.
Must products already placed on the market automatically be reassessed in 2027?
The transition permits continued supply of products lawfully placed on the market under the Directive before 20 January 2027.
How Verca helps
How Verca can support the process
Verca organises product evidence, documents and version history. The company remains responsible for assessment. Explore the platform.