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Major Changes In CE Marking18th March 2010 Over the past 12 months, the majority of manufacturers, importers and suppliers have seen some big changes in CE Marking their equipment, with the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive (2004/108/EC), which came fully into force in July and the new Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) which changed at the end of December. Both of which went relatively smoothly, although we will admit there are still a couple of teething problems with the new Machinery Directive in the lack of standards ready and available and problems obtaining information required under the new safety control systems standards. So with two of the three main CE Marking Directives changing in 2009, you may have incorrectly thought that there will be no more major changes to come for a while, when in fact some of the biggest changes are yet to come! Probably the biggest change will be the ‘New Legislative Framework,’ (NLF) which replaced the ‘New Approach’ on the 1st January 2010. The NLF will replace the need for each member state to implement each Directive and its associated amendments into the national law of the country, but will instead adopt the EU Regulation that is directly implemented throughout the European Economic Area. The aim is to strengthen enforcement procedures and provide further harmonisation and consistency across the Directives.  Another important change will be the new CE Marking requirements in the proposed amendment to the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive. With all applicable equipment / components affixed with a CE Mark, as well as the manufacturer/importer holding the technical documentation and an EC Declaration of Conformity. The Energy Using Products (EUP) will also be something that will affect many manufacturers of electrical equipment. EUP currently applies to equipment that has a significant environmental impact, with sales of at least 250,000 units per annum. However the current EUP Directive (2005/32/EC), will become the Energy Related Products (ERP) Directive (2009/125/EC) or Eco-design Directive later in 2010, which will apply to “any good that has an impact on energy consumption during use which is placed on the market and/or put into service, and includes parts intended to be incorporated into energy-related products covered by this Directive.” For more information and assistance with these forthcoming changes, the CE Marking Association has arranged an excellent line-up of speakers for the next May Member’s Meeting (details below). If you have any questions, please call us on 01527 595066.
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