There are currently over 800 harmonised standards listed in the EU Official Journal in accordance with the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. However, as the new Machinery Regulation will result in amended or new health and safety requirements (EHSRs for short), all documents must be reviewed and, if necessary, adapted to the new requirements.
As things stand, the EU Commission will also fully certify the presumption of conformity under the Machinery Regulation for all standards that are currently listed in the EU Official Journal under the Machinery Directive - provided they cover the same requirements. For the new requirements added under the Machinery Regulation, the CEN/CENELEC Technical Committees must carry out a review to determine the extent to which individual standards need to be adapted. The aim is to have an implementing decision with a complete list of harmonised standards in accordance with the Machinery Regulation by the end of 2026 (shortly before the deadline of 20 January 2027).
The EU Commission's standardisation mandate is to be adopted by the European standardisation organisations in 2024. This includes the creation of harmonised standards specifically for the new requirements of the Machinery Regulation, such as artificial intelligence and cyber resilience. In addition to the existing Annex ZA (reference of a European standard to the EHSRs to be covered by Directive 2006/42/EC), new publications of European standards that (still) cover the requirements of both sets of regulations will also contain an Annex ZB for Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230. Further information on the status of the harmonised standards can be found in the technical article "New Machinery Regulation: Status of harmonised standards"