EN 954-1 final decision - transition extension confirmed

18 December 2009: EN 954-1 extension confirmed as two years.

EN 954-1 final decision

The EC Machinery Working Group has today (8 December 2009) agreed to extend the transition period for EN 954-1, as confirmed to MachineBuilding.net by Marie Poidevin of CEN. This final decision follows a tumultuous few months in which there were first rumours, then official confirmation that the European Commission was extending the transition period of EN 954-1 until 31 December 2012, and then an astonishing reversal of this decision. Now, having gathered views from experts, the EC Machinery Working Group has made a majority decision to extend the transition period for EN 954-1, thereby enabling this machinery safety standard to provide a presumption of conformity to the (new) Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC (see the free guide to the new Machinery Directive).

But the saga does not end here, as the EC has not stated for how long this prolongation will be. Three years is a possibility, as this was the length of the extension announced in September, but it could easily be shorter and there is a slim possibility that the period will be longer (five years had been discussed at one point earlier in 2009). As soon as this information is published, MachineBuilding.net will report it. To keep up to date with further developments, subscribe to our free email newsletter.