The “Low Voltage” directive 73/23/EC of 1973 ensures the free circulation of electrical products (in the voltage range between 50 V.AC/75 V.DC and 1000 V.AC/1500 V.DC) provided that these comply with essential safety requirements. Considered as the “mother” of the so-called New Approach directives, the LVD relies on essential safety requirements (annex I) and leaves it up to manufacturers to demonstrate compliance and to affix the CE-marking, mostly through the use of harmonised standards. Although this directive has worked satisfactorily and contributed to improving the safety of users for more than 30 years, the European Commission has initiated a possible update of the directive. The impact of the update is currently being assessed by a consultant (business impact) and stakeholders (IPM Web survey).

By contributing actively in various meetings with the Commission and Member States, ORGALIME aims to help authorities to find practical solutions for some application problems (e.g. market surveillance), rather than challenge the quality of standards and calls for a revision of the legal framework. Consequently, ORGALIME encourages the Commission to apply its 2002 better regulation package in full, and to assess the impact of all the envisaged changes in the LVD against its three policy objectives: health & safety, free movement of goods, and competitiveness of the EU industry.

 

 

Picture Courtesy of Philips