EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230: what changes from 20 January 2027

What the new regulation changes

The Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 was adopted on 14 June 2023 and applies on a mandatory basis from 20 January 2027, as the successor to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC; machinery placed on the market before that date must comply with the Directive. Some provisions, such as those on notified bodies, applied from 20 January 2024. Before 2027, manufacturers may state on their EU declaration of conformity that the machinery also conforms with the Regulation, if applicable.

The Regulation clarifies when instructions for use can be supplied in digital format: if the buyer asks for paper at the time of purchase, the manufacturer must supply it free of charge within one month. It sets the conformity assessment for machinery presenting a higher risk, covers machinery with AI-powered safety functions, and adds cyber-safety requirements for compliance-relevant software, data and safety control systems.

Conformity assessment routes

• Annex I, Part A (higher-risk machinery): EU type-examination (module B) plus conformity to type (module C), full quality assurance (module H) or unit verification (module G)
• Annex I, Part B: the same procedures, and internal production control (module A) in some cases
• Machinery not listed in Annex I: internal production control (module A) by the manufacturer
• Part A routes: the CE marking is followed by the identification number of the notified body
• In every case: technical documentation, EU declaration of conformity and CE marking by the manufacturer
• Harmonised standards stay voluntary, alongside the mandatory essential health and safety requirements

Duties of manufacturers outside the EU and their importers

The manufacturer draws up the technical documentation and the EU declaration of conformity, affixes the CE marking and keeps the documentation available to market surveillance authorities for at least 10 years after the machinery or related product has been placed on the market. A non-EU manufacturer should plan the update of its technical file, risk assessment and instructions for the new essential requirements, and check whether the product now falls into Annex I.

The EU importer must indicate its name, registered trade name or registered trade mark, and a postal address plus a website, email or other digital contact, on the product, its packaging or an accompanying document. It also keeps a copy of the EU declaration of conformity available to the authorities for at least 10 years after the product has been placed on the market. Give your importer these documents before the first shipment after 20 January 2027.