Internal Market: Machinery Proposal - Mandatory third party certification is a step backwards

Today, when harmonised standards cover all relevant essential health and safety requirements, manufacturers of so-called ‘high-risk’ machinery can either self-assess conformity or use a third party (known as a ‘Notified Body’) to do so.

The proposed new Machinery Regulation removes the self-certification possibility, making third party certification mandatory for all machinery products listed in Annex I.

However, the supporting arguments in the European Commission Impact Assessment mainly rely on subjective assumptions not confirmed by any data, and an incomplete measurement of the effects. The proposal is therefore unjustified and disproportionate, as demonstrated in our position paper.

To read our recommendations in full, please download the document above.