Reviewed: 8 October 2026 | For UK machinery manufacturers and importers
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Still using the same machinery safety standards list on every Declaration of Conformity? Before your next delivery, check whether those references still support your compliance route.
Start with three questions:
- – Is the exact standard edition listed for your chosen GB or EU route?
- – Is there a restriction or approaching withdrawal date?
- – Do your risk assessment and test reports support the standards you declare?
ConformTest can review your standards list and supporting technical documentation to identify gaps and the next steps.
Why review your machinery safety standards now?
The GOV.UK machinery designated standards page was updated on 8 August 2026. Its current notice provides the references and withdrawal dates businesses need to check when using designated standards under GB machinery legislation. This is an existing update worth reviewing before your next project or delivery. [1]
A practical example is EN ISO 13849-1, covering safety-related parts of control systems. The GB notice lists the 2023 edition, while the 2015 edition has a scheduled removal date of 15 May 2027. [2]
If your documentation cites the 2015 edition, plan a review of the applicable requirements and supporting evidence. Simply replacing “2015” with “2023” in the declaration does not demonstrate that the machine has been assessed against the newer edition.
Does an older standard make a machine non-compliant?
Not automatically. A standard’s publication date, its designation and the end of its transition period are different things.
Designated machinery safety standards and support a presumption of conformity only for the essential requirements they cover, subject to any restrictions. They do not replace the law or the manufacturer’s responsibility for compliance. When a reference is removed, continued reliance on that edition needs reassessment; removal alone is not a finding that every machine previously assessed against it is unsafe. [3]
GB designated standards or EU harmonised standards?
For a GB assessment using designated machinery safety standards, check the relevant GOV.UK notice. For an EU conformity assessment, check the references published in the Official Journal of the European Union, including amendments and withdrawal provisions. The European Commission’s machinery page links to those decisions. [3][4]
Do not assume that the same reference has identical status in both systems. Identify your destination market and conformity route first, including when using a recognised CE route for GB supply. For EU deliveries spanning a legislative transition, also check which legislation applies when the machinery is placed on the market.
Five checks for your machinery technical file
Use this as a practical review checklist:
- Record full references. Include edition years and amendments, rather than just a standard number.
- Match the standard to the machine. Check its scope, intended use and any relevant machine-specific standard.
- Check official status. Record restrictions, transition dates and the source you checked.
- Compare the evidence. Review the risk assessment, drawings, calculations and test reports against the edition actually applied.
- Document the outcome. Identify whether the gap calls for further assessment, testing, design work or a justified documentation update.
For example, the August GB notice includes EN ISO 12100:2010 for risk assessment and risk reduction, and EN 60204-1:2018 for electrical equipment of machines. These are examples to consider within an assessment, not a complete machinery safety standards list for every machine. [2]
Need to check the machinery safety standards in your technical file?
ConformTest supports machinery manufacturers and importers with technical file reviews, ISO 12100 risk assessments, electrical safety inspections and CE/UKCA conformity assessment support.
Share your machinery type, destination market and existing Declaration of Conformity or standards list. We can help identify what needs closer review before you proceed.