Machinery Directive (in progress)
A new working group was started in 2010. Its objective is to establish guidelines for application of the EU Machinery Directive in real-life situations. Interested in joining the working group? Please contact its This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , who is looking forward to hear from you!
The EU Machinery Directive briefly defines the content and structure of user manuals. The Directive leaves plenty of scope for interpretation, discussion, and justification. Machines and plants produced in Europe may include components not only from Europe but from all over the world. The documentation, seen as an integral part of a machine or plant, is often not in conformance with the Directive.
This working group aims to promote a European mindset to overcome this problem, working on the principle that it is the structured content that is important and not the document as such.
See also:
- the Guide to application of Directive 2006/42/EC – 2nd Edition - June 2010 (the available translations can be found by clicking on the dotted box beside the English version)
- the Europa website (in English, German and French)
- the KAN Report 40 (in English, German, French, Italian, Polish and Spanish)
- the CE Coach (in German)
- Closing of "loopholes" through private contracts: What sellers and buyers have to consider (in English, PDF)