DHF issues guidance on Machinery Legislation

THE EUROPEAN Machinery Directive 2006 / 42 / EC will be fully withdrawn on 21st January 2027, following a threeyear co-existence period, and replaced by the new Machinery Regulation( EU) 2023 / 1230. The change will have implications for machinery manufacturers in the UK, depending on where they operate and whether they place products on the market with a CE or UKCA mark.

The new Regulation introduces a number of changes from the existing Directive. These include provisions covering emerging technologies and the use of digital documentation, as well as additional requirements for third-party assessment of certain safety products. It also places responsibilities on other parties within the supply chain to ensure that transportation or storage does not affect a product’ s compliance. Importers and distributors will also have responsibilities where they believe a product does not comply with the relevant requirements.

For UK manufacturers of powered doors, the current requirements are set out in the Supply of Machinery( Safety) Regulations 2008( SMSR), which implemented the European Machinery Directive into UK legislation. The introduction of the European Machinery Regulation therefore creates different considerations for UK manufacturers, depending on their location and the markets in which their products are placed.

The UK Government has made revisions to the SMSR, but these have so far been focused on enabling CE marking to continue in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework and permitting CE-marked products to be imported into the UK in accordance with existing guidance. The Government has stated that it does not intend simply to introduce the European Machinery Regulation into UK legislation. Rather, a new UK regulation is expected to broadly follow the European Regulation while reflecting the requirements of the UK market. There is currently no confirmed timescale for its introduction.

To help members understand the changes and manage the current position, DHF has issued a new guidance document on Machinery Legislation. The document explains the requirements that apply to manufacturers according to their circumstances and provides guidance for companies and individuals elsewhere in the supply chain.

DHF members can access the guidance document via this link: https:// bit. ly / 3SLOcFZ

www. dhflonline. org. uk

72 Autumn 2026 Door Industry Journal