EC Seeks Input on Machinery Directive Update

The European Commission seek comments by February 11 on potential updates to the Machinery Directive. An assessment document (bit.ly/2FJXUB3) says revisions might need to address four concerns:

• Coherence: Differences with other EU rules can increase costs and cause other burdens to both regulated companies and surveillance authorities.

 

• Clarity: The scope and definitions can be confusing. The report pointed specifically to partly completed machinery as raising uncertainty and suggested that some excluded products need better distinction from covered products.

 

• Costs: Updates should address the need for paper documentation considering modern digitizing.

 

• Emerging Challenges: The assessment paper points to the internet of things and artificial intelligence. The EC identified these last year as likely concerns (PSL, 6/4/18).

The directive's scope includes electrical products such as home appliances and office equipment but also many others, including agricultural machines and motor vehicles.