The new EU Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 entered into force on July 19, 2023, and will be applicable from January 20, 2027. It replaces the Machinery Directive (Directive 2006/42/EC).
The new regulation applies to all machines put into service or placed on the market after January 20, 2027. It includes more specific safety provisions for machines and aims to maintain the high level of safety achieved by the previous directive. The new regulation addresses several critical issues, including:
- Digital technologies
Manufacturers can digitise their instructions but must provide paper versions to end customers within six months of purchase.
- Cybersecurity
Manufacturers must take steps to ensure their machinery is secure against cyber threats.
- Artificial intelligence
Safety measures have been introduced to address the risks of physical interaction with industrial robots
- Essential health and safety requirements (EHSRs)
The regulation includes requirements for the design, construction, and placing into operation of machinery
Other changes to the regulation include:
Risk analysis, Technical documentation, Conformity assessment, Declaration of conformity, CE marking, and Industrial security.
Note:
The Machinery Directive (Directive 2006/42/EC) is still valid for machinery placed on the EU market before January 20, 2027. However, manufacturers can state on an EU Declaration of Conformity that machinery also conforms with the new Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, if applicable.