Are your machines ready for 20 January 2027?
From 20 January 2027, the current Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC will be withdrawn and replaced by the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230. This Regulation will apply directly across all EU Member States. Good news: existing EC-type examination certificates issued under the Machinery Directive will remain valid until their stated expiry date (Article 52(2) of the Machinery Regulation). However, there are important conditions. We list them here for you.
1. Check your certificate expiry date
If your EC-type certificate expires close to 20 January 2027 (particularly within the six months leading up to that date), you should apply for recertification under the Machinery Regulation as early as possible. Notified Bodies are expected to face a significant increase in applications ahead of the transition date. This may result in longer lead times. Early preparation is essential to avoid disruption.
2. Evaluate the impact of the new Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs)
Manufacturers shall evaluate the impact of new, expanded, or modified Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs) listed in Annex III of the Machinery Regulation. The new Regulation introduces substantial changes compared to the Machinery Directive.
Key differences:
Area |
Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC |
Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 |
|
Cybersecurity |
Not addressed |
New mandatory requirements in EHSRs |
|
Connectivity / IoT |
No requirements |
New EHSRs on connected devices & remote access risks |
|
Software Safety & Updates |
Limited & vague |
Expanded requirements incl. updates, integrity, validation |
|
Machine Learning principles (AI) for Safety |
Not addressed |
New EHSRs + notified body involvement for ML safety systems |
|
Documentation |
Paper-based default |
Digital manuals permitted (B2B) with conditions |
3. When is reassessment required?
If your inital evaluation shows that not all applicable EHSRs of the Machinery Regulation are fully covered by your existing EC-type certificate, a reassessment by a Notified Body is required. In that case, a new EU-type examination certificate under the Machinery Regulation must be issued.
How Liftinstituut supports you
Liftinstituut supports manufacturers in preparing for the transition from the Machinery Directive to the Machinery Regulation. We can:
- Do a verification of your impact assessment of the new, expanded, or modified EHSRs on your product
- Do a verification of your identification of the gaps between your current certification and the Machinery Regulation
- Review your existing EC-type certificates, including those not issued by Liftinstituut
- Conduct a reassessment where required
- Issue a new EU-type examination certificate under the Machinery Regulation
Take action now
The transition date may seem distant, but preparation takes time. Early assessment helps prevent delays, production interruptions, and last-minute certification bottlenecks. Contact Liftinstituut to discuss your existing EC-type certificates and ensure a smooth transition to the Machinery Regulation.