Every machine placed on the market in the European Economic Area must meet the essential health and safety requirements of EU machinery legislation. The CE marking is the manufacturer's declaration that it does. For a buyer, the marking and its paperwork are what make a machine legal to put into service — and what inspectors ask for after an incident.
What CE marking means for machinery
Under the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, the manufacturer (or its authorised representative in the EU) must carry out a conformity assessment, compile a technical file, issue an EU Declaration of Conformity, supply instructions in the language of the country of use and affix the CE marking. Certain high-risk categories must involve a notified body.
Which documents should come with a machine
- The CE marking on the identification plate, together with manufacturer name, type, serial number and year of construction.
- The EU Declaration of Conformity, naming the applicable directives and standards.
- Operating and maintenance instructions in the language of the destination country.
- For used machines: the original documents where they still exist, plus service history. A used machine that was lawfully placed on the EU market keeps its CE status, but any substantial modification can make the modifier responsible as a manufacturer.
What changes with Regulation (EU) 2023/1230
The Machinery Regulation was published in June 2023 and applies from 20 January 2027, replacing the Directive. Because it is a regulation, it applies directly in all Member States without national transposition. The main changes for buyers and sellers:
- Digital instructions become possible, with a paper copy available on request and safety information still provided in printed form.
- Substantial modifications are defined explicitly: whoever substantially modifies a machine takes on the obligations of a manufacturer for it.
- New essential requirements cover cybersecurity of safety-related controls and the behaviour of self-evolving (AI-based) functions.
- A revised list of high-risk machinery (Annex I Part A) for which third-party conformity assessment is mandatory.
- Clearer obligations for importers and distributors, including checks that documentation is present before a machine is made available.
What this means when you buy from us
New machines we supply within the EEA are delivered CE-marked with the EU Declaration of Conformity and instructions. For used machines we supply the available original documentation and our own condition report, and we state clearly when documents are missing. For destinations outside the EEA we prepare the export file with your forwarder. Questions about a specific machine? Contact us or read our compliance page.
