June 2023
Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 is published
The new Machinery Regulation enters into force and replaces Directive 2006/42/EC once it applies.
Regulations
What is the EU Machinery Regulation?A practical guide for 2027.
A clear guide to Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, the shift to digital instructions and declarations and the official sources to follow.Guide · Last reviewed October 2026
The Machinery Regulation modernises how machines are made safe and documented.
It replaces the 2006 Machinery Directive with a directly applicable regulation. It adds rules for software, connectivity and AI and allows instructions and declarations to go digital.
Scope
Machinery and related products placed on the EU market.
Application
Applies from 20 January 2027.
Direction
Digital documentation, safer software and clearer conformity.
What the regulation changes
Four shifts matter most for manufacturers, importers and distributors.
01
Digital instructions
Instructions for use may be supplied in digital form. A paper version must still be provided free of charge when the buyer asks for it at the time of purchase.
02
Digital declaration of conformity
The EU declaration of conformity can be supplied digitally, with the machinery or a link to where it can be accessed.
03
Cybersecurity and software
Protection against corruption covers safety-related software and data, including protection against malicious attempts to alter machine behaviour.
04
Autonomous and AI functions
Machinery with self-evolving behaviour or autonomous mobility must stay within defined safety limits and remain supervisable.
When does it apply?
Most obligations apply from January 2027, after a transition period for standards and documentation.
2023 to 2026
Transition and standards work
Harmonised standards are revised and manufacturers redesign documentation, risk assessments and conformity processes.
20 January 2027
The regulation applies
Machinery and related products placed on the EU market must meet the new requirements. A few provisions applied earlier.
How to prepare
Start with your portfolio and documentation before redesigning labels or manuals.
- 01
Inventory every machine model and related product placed on the EU market.
- 02
Check whether any model falls into the high-risk categories of Annex I.
- 03
Review risk assessments for software, connectivity and autonomous functions.
- 04
Prepare digital instructions in every required language with a paper fallback.
- 05
Make digital instructions and declarations reachable from the machine itself.
- 06
Keep documentation available for the required period after market placement.
Machine documentation
EM
Industrial compressor
CX-220 · Serial 22-04817
Placed on market 2027 · EU
Instructions for use24 languages
EU declaration of conformitySigned v2
Safety softwareFirmware 4.1.3
Paper copy requestAvailable
One code on the machine, the right documents for its whole life.
A durable identifier links each machine to its current instructions, declaration and service history. It supports digital documentation without replacing conformity assessment.
Explore item-level identity →Official sources
Use primary EU material for compliance decisions. This page is educational and not legal advice.
EUR-Lex
Regulation (EU) 2023/1230
The official legal text of the Machinery Regulation.
European CommissionMachinery sector overview
Commission overview of the regulation, guidance and implementation.
European CommissionHarmonised standards for machinery
References to standards that give a presumption of conformity.
Machinery Regulation FAQ
Short answers to common questions about Regulation (EU) 2023/1230.
When does the EU Machinery Regulation apply?
Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 applies from 20 January 2027. It replaces the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC from that date.
Are paper manuals still required?
No, instructions may be supplied digitally. The manufacturer must still provide a paper version free of charge if the customer asks for it at the time of purchase. Non-professional users can need safety information in paper form.
How long must digital instructions remain available?
Digital instructions must remain accessible for the expected lifetime of the machinery and for at least ten years after it is placed on the market.
Is a QR code mandatory?
The regulation does not prescribe one specific carrier. A durable QR code or GS1 Digital Link on the machine is a practical way to point users to the digital instructions and declaration.
What changes for software and AI?
Safety-related software and data must be protected against corruption, and machinery with self-evolving or autonomous behaviour must be designed to stay within safe limits.
Is the Machinery Regulation linked to the Digital Product Passport?
They are separate legal frameworks. Both rely on reliable product information that can be reached digitally, so the same item-level identity can support both.
The practical takeaway