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Is your product covered by the Machinery Regulations?

It is obvious but worth saying that the first step in the design process - once the machine or product profile has been finalised – is to check that it comes within the scope of the Machinery Regulations if it is to be placed on the market for use in the EEA. The Regulations define the machines and products as follows:-

Machinery - an assembly of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves, with appropriate actuators, control and power circuits etc, joined together for a specific application, in particular for the processing, treatment, moving or packaging of a material - with certain exceptions (see below).

An assembly of machines which in order to achieve the same end, are arranged and controlled so that they function as a whole ;

and

Interchangeable equipment modifying the function of the machine which is placed on the market for the purpose of being assembled with a machine (or a series of different machines or with a tractor) by the operator himself in so far as this equipment is not a spare part or a tool.

and

Safety components - components which are supplied separately to fulfil a safety function when in use and the failure or malfunctioning of which endangers the safety or health of exposed persons.

Lifting equipment and accessories also fall within the Machinery Regulations.

Some machines and products that meet the above definitions are excluded from the Machinery Regulations and these are listed in Schedule 5. See the BERR Guidance notes on UK Regulations which gives consolidated guidance on the Machinery Regulations and the Amendment. Additional information is produced by the Standing Committee for the Machinery Directive. Another source of useful information is published by the Commission "Machinery – Useful Facts in relation to Directive 98/37/EC".

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