The Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE) has published a summary of the latest meeting of the European Commission Machinery Expert Group (MEG), held on 27 April 2026, providing an update on how the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 is being implemented and what members can expect next.
There are no immediate changes for the sector, but the direction is clear. The Commission is focusing on refining how risk is assessed, maintaining continuity with existing standards, and preparing for newer technologies such as AI and autonomous machinery.
A key discussion point was the Commission’s study into machinery-related accidents, which will help inform any future revisions to the list of high-risk machinery. Data collection and analysis have now been completed, with work ongoing to translate legal risk criteria into measurable indicators.
For members, this matters. How risk is defined feeds directly into classification, conformity assessment routes and, ultimately, cost and compliance. Industry stakeholders stressed the need to clearly separate accidents caused by design or compliance issues from those resulting from misuse or unforeseeable behaviour. At present, EU-level data does not always make that distinction, which raises concerns about how the findings could be interpreted.
Progress is also being made on the official guidance for the Machinery Regulation. This is being developed by a number of technical groups and is expected to provide practical interpretation of areas that are currently open to debate. Topics include substantial modification, safety functions, safety components, operator seating and restraint systems, vibration, and digital documentation.
This guidance will be particularly relevant for manufacturers and those modifying equipment, where clarity on definitions and responsibilities is essential.
On standards, the Commission confirmed that the vast majority of existing harmonised standards under the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC will be carried over into the new regulation. Only those that are clearly obsolete or withdrawn will be removed.
Work is underway to identify any gaps linked to new or updated Essential Health and Safety Requirements. These are mainly in areas such as AI-based safety functions, cybersecurity, autonomous behaviour and rollover risks. Where gaps are identified, standards may be published with restrictions rather than excluded altogether, providing a degree of continuity while new work is completed.
The first set of harmonised standards under the Machinery Regulation is expected in the third quarter of 2026. Members involved in product development or placing new equipment on the market should be aware of this timing.
The meeting also covered wider regulatory developments, including updates to standardisation and market surveillance rules, which are expected to form part of a broader European Product Act package later this year. Work is also continuing on the Digital Product Passport, which is likely to introduce a more structured way of recording and sharing compliance information across the supply chain.
From a practical perspective, there was one small but welcome change. Under the Outdoor Noise Directive, there is no longer a requirement to provide a physical Declaration of Conformity alongside noise information, reducing some administrative burden.
Overall, the message is one of continuity with targeted change. Existing frameworks remain largely in place, but there is a clear focus on improving how risk is defined and ensuring the regulatory framework keeps pace with newer technologies.
The CEA (Construction Equipment Association) will continue to monitor developments and feed into discussions where appropriate, ensuring that the views of UK manufacturers, OEMs and the wider supply chain are represented. The next MEG meeting is expected to take place online on 22 October 2026.
Source: Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE), “Machinery Expert Group (MEG): Key outcomes from the April 2026 meeting” – https://www.cece.eu/news/machinery-expert-group-meg-key-outcomes-from-the-april-2026-meeting
