Machinery Directive update

From 29 December 2009, European Community (EC) member states are expected to have in place and enforce their own national regulations that implement the new Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. This means that all MEWPs placed on the European market from this date onwards have to comply with this new Directive. MEWPs made to the old Directive 98/37/EC, which were placed on the European market previous to 29 December 2009, will not have to be modified to meet the new Directive and their Declarations of Conformity may refer to Directive 98/37/EC.

Please note that although 2006/42/EC is a new Directive, it is also an amended version of the 98/37/EC Machinery Directive. Like 98/37/EC, the new Directive 2006/42/EC does not apply to second-hand machinery already in use in Europe unless it is substantially modified such that it would be considered to be new machinery. It does, however, apply to new or second-hand machinery from outside Europe that is imported and placed on the European market for the first time. From 29 December 2009, this machinery would be expected to comply with Directive 2006/42/EC when placed on the market.