The Recreational Craft Directive has been introduced by the The European Commission to ensure a uniform level of safety in the design and manufacture of recreational craft throughout the European Economic Area . The Directive applies to all craft intended to be used for sporting and recreational purposes with a hull length of between 2.5 and 24 metres.
Exclusions There are also certain specific exclusions from the Directive.
Craft built for use by the builder are also excluded from the Directive provided they are not subsequently placed on the market for at least five years. The Directive has both administrative and protection requirements. The administration requirements are that the product be marked with the CE logo , and that the manufacturer compile a file of technical information. In the case of complete craft or hulls, this file is to include test reports or calculations demonstrating that the craft has adequate stability in the anticipated sea conditions. The manufacturer also has to complete a Declaration of Conformity.