The Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC obliges manufacturers to provide the necessary information on the machines, such as the operating instructions. To ensure that all machine users have access to the operating instructions, it was considered that the most viable option was to provide a printed copy. However, since 2006 the use of internet and digital technologies has increased. The requirement to provide printed copies increases costs and administrative burdens for economic operators and has negative effects on the environment.
Therefore, when the Machinery Directive was revised, one of the specific objectives was to reduce the paper documentation required. Accordingly, in the new Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 new requirements have been introduced in Annex III, point 1.7.4 on the instructions for use and in Annex V on the EC declaration of conformity to allow manufacturers to provide the instructions for use and the declaration of conformity in digital format under certain conditions. However, it will be mandatory to provide a paper copy on request.
As the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 will be applicable to manufacturers from January 20, 2027, the Commission has updated the guidance on the implementation of the Machinery Directive only with regard to the digital format of the documentation in order to allow manufacturers to be able to bring forward compliance with these obligations.
In this 3rd update, the comments relating to the provisions on the instructions for use (comment no. 255) and the EC Declaration of Conformity (comment no. 261), as well as the assembly instructions (comment no. 390) and the Declaration of Incorporation for partly completed machinery (comment no. 384) when provided in digital format, have been updated with reference to the articles of the new Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230.
More information: Sergio Serrano (sserrano@anmopyc.es)
