Evaluation of the Machinery Directive: objective reduction of costs

The final document issued by the EU entitled "Evaluation of the Machinery Directive" promotes the MD 2006/42/CE. The evaluation covers all relevant product categories in the scope of the Directive and 33 countries (EU28, EFTA and Turkey). The 92% of respondents believed that the MD reduced costs.

The publication of the European Commission document Evaluation of the Machinery Directive (Directive 2006/42/EC), dates back to May of this year.

This evaluation is part of one of the Commission's activities to ensure that EU legislation is suitable for the development of emerging digital technologies and innovative products. Technology is developing rapidly and, clearly, Europe wants to seize the opportunities that lie ahead. The results published today are extremely encouraging and show that the directive is both fit for purpose and conducive to European innovation.

The evaluation covers all categories of products falling within the scope of the Directive and 33 countries (EU28, EFTA and Turkey). Focussing on the period from 2010 to 2016, the evaluation seeks, where possible, to uncover the trends in this period.

The evaluation relates to the operation of the Directive, including the processes involved in its transposition, implementation and execution, as well as the evaluation and monitoring procedures. The evaluation assesses the performance of the Directive according to five criteria: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, consistency and value added by the EU.

All those interviewed agreed that the directive adds value, both as a facilitator to the internal market and in guaranteeing the health and safety requirements relating to the machines. In addition, 92% of respondents believe that the directive has reduced costs, compared to what they might have been if applying national legislation alone. The evaluation by the European Commission shows that the directive continues to strike a good balance between consumer protection and the fostering of innovation in the EU.

Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Commissioner for internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs, states: "European industry is competitive, not only because we have great innovative minds, but also because we have a conducive framework. We are happy to see that our existing legislation is fit for purpose in a changing world. It makes our EU products both safe and competitive. Technology changes rapidly, so we will continue to monitor the situation and we are ready to act if the need arises."

Faentia Consulting follows with particular interest these EU initiatives aimed, not only at continuous improvement, but also at assuring the market that the process of marketing a product within the Union is philosophically and conceptually correct. Our thanks to the EU working groups for the work done and for the projects "in progress".