1.4 Correlation between directives and harmonized European standards

Harmonized European standards specify the basic requirements of the EU directives for safety and health protection as they are named, for example, in Annex I of the Machinery Directive. In accordance with the Machinery Directive, Article 5 (2), it applies here that when the protective level of an applicable harmonized standard is reached the corresponding requirement from the directive also applies as satisfied (i.e. conformity with the corresponding directive).

In contrast to directives and their national implementation under the national law of the Member State, standards are not legally binding. If the level of protection described in standards of this kind is reached by other measures, then such solutions are also possible. The difference between satisfying an applicable harmonized standard and a deviating solution, however, does have consequences. The manufacturer must prove compliance with the directive with additional documentation. Differences can also result with the conformity procedure when harmonized standards are only partly met or no applicable harmonized standards are available, see the versions in EU machinery directive 2006/42/EC.