Great Britain
Northern Ireland
UK Machinery Safety Law Sets 20 January 2027 Transition
SI 2026/867 changes machinery conformity and enforcement arrangements across Great Britain and Northern Ireland from January 2027.
Dr Steven Brennan
2 min readAI-drafted, expert reviewed
The UK has made new machinery safety legislation that will change conformity and enforcement arrangements from 20 January 2027. SI 2026/867, made on 22 July 2026 after parliamentary approval, affects manufacturers, authorised representatives, importers, distributors and industrial purchasers across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Machinery Safety Routes In Great Britain
In Great Britain, the instrument amends the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. It preserves a recognised CE route based on Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 while retaining a UK marking route. This does not directly apply the EU Machinery Regulation as GB law.
Businesses using the CE route will need applicable Annex III essential health and safety compliance, English technical documentation, the relevant Article 25 conformity assessment, an EU declaration of conformity and CE marking. Technical files and accessible declarations must be retained for at least ten years. Qualifying Northern Ireland goods keep an unfettered access route into Great Britain.
Northern Ireland Machinery Enforcement
In Northern Ireland, the EU Machinery Regulation applies under the Windsor Framework from 20 January 2027. SI 2026/867 establishes UK notified bodies, UK(NI) marking, market surveillance and enforcement. CE-only placement remains possible where an EU conformity route is used. UK(NI) is required when a UK notified body performs the assessment.
HSENI will enforce machinery safety for work products, while district councils cover non-work products. Continuing non-compliance can lead to withdrawal or recall. Specified offences carry up to three months’ imprisonment and the statutory maximum fine on summary conviction, or two years and a fine on indictment.
What Manufacturers Should Do
Map products by destination market, confirm the chosen assessment route, update declarations and English instructions, and check ten-year document retention. Procurement teams should also verify notified-body status and revise supplier contracts before the 2027 change.
Topics
Questions about this change
What Changes For Machinery Sold In Great Britain?
Businesses may use recognised EU Machinery Regulation requirements with CE marking or a UK marking route under the amended 2008 Regulations. They should confirm essential requirements, conformity assessment, English technical documentation, declarations, instructions and ten-year retention for each machinery line before placement.
When Is UK(NI) Marking Required In Northern Ireland?
UK(NI) accompanies CE when a UK notified body carries out conformity assessment. Machinery assessed through an EU route may remain CE-only. Importers should verify the route, marking and supporting documentation before placing products on the Northern Ireland market from 20 January 2027.
Dr Steven Brennan
CEO and co-founder of Foresight, and a co-opted member of ECHA's Committee for Socio-economic Analysis. He holds a PhD in chemical engineering.
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