Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 — transition from the Machinery Directive

The key transition is 20 January 2027, not 14 January. Map the relevant product/version’s first placing date, legacy units and any substantial modification. A newly dated replacement declaration does not itself mean an older unit was newly placed on the market.

Temporal regime

The Regulation entered into force 19 July 2023. Main application is 20 January 2027 following corrigendum 2023R1230R(01), not 14 January. Before that date the applicable Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC regime remains relevant. Select the actual product/version first-placing date; the issue date of a replacement declaration alone does not establish a new placing.

Directive assessment before 20 January 2027

Machinery outside Annex IV uses internal checks under Annex VIII. Annex IV machinery with fully applied harmonised standards covering all relevant requirements may use internal checks, EC type examination (Annex IX) plus Annex VIII point 3, or full quality assurance (Annex X). Without the qualifying full coverage, use the latter two NB procedures. This is the Directive regime, not the future Regulation Annex I Part A/B decision tree.

Part A, Part B and other machinery

From 20 January 2027, Annex I Part A uses B+C, H or G with a notified body. Part B may use A where applicable harmonised standards/common specifications cover all relevant essential requirements; otherwise B+C, H or G. Machinery outside Annex I uses A without a blanket complete-harmonised-standards prerequisite. Module E, B+D and H1 are not alternatives listed in Article 25.

Documentation and instructions

Manufacturer obligations include technical documentation under Annex IV and applicable retention. Digital instructions must meet Article 10(7) access/download/retention conditions; free paper instructions are available on request at purchase within one month. Essential safety information for non-professional users must be supplied on paper. Do not replace these conditions with a simple online-only policy.

Evidence to keep with the product

Record the intended purpose, responsible economic operator, target market, first placing date and exact hardware/firmware configuration. For each applicable requirement, link the actual test or assessment record, dated standard/specification, scope and reviewer decision. Proposed controls and supplier marketing statements are not evidence that the final configuration has passed an assessment.

Separate an open question from a completed assessment. A report outside the laboratory's relevant scope, a different firmware build or an unverified exemption needs a reasoned decision before it supports a declaration. Keep original evidence and the issued declaration alongside any AI-assisted working draft.

Using Cenitia for this work

Cenitia assists with a limited regulatory catalogue and draft documents. The manufacturer must confirm applicability, actual applied specifications and completed assessment procedures. AI scores are quality signals, not a probability of conformity. Source monitoring raises a review prompt when validated source text changes; it does not automatically verify amendments, update the corpus or monitor every national rule and OJ standard edition. Public QR verification records issuance, not product certification.

Review status

This guide was substantively corrected by Cenitia on 2 October 2026 using the primary references below. It is an editorial summary, not an authoritative legal quotation or an independently signed expert opinion. Product-specific and licensed-standard questions remain subject to a real technical review.

Primary references

• Primary source 1
• Primary source 2