GUIDELINES ON THE APPLICATION OF
DIRECTIVE 2006/95/EC
(ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT DESIGNED FOR USE WITHIN CERTAIN
VOLTAGE LIMITS)
AUGUST 2007
(Last Modified: January 2012)
2
Dear User,
The provisions of the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2006/95/EC have
been in force for thirty years and have been pivotal in promoting the
Single Market for electrical equipment in Europe and assuring that
citizens are provided with a high level of protection.
I am therefore very pleased to have been asked to introduce this third edition of the
LVD Guidelines, which seeks to provide a “user friendly” reference to issues regarding
the Directive. The fact that it is not greatly different from previous editions shows that
consensus has been relatively easily achieved in this sector and there exits a stability of
understanding as to how the Directive needs to be applied in practical terms. The main
purpose of the amendments is to deal with the codification of the previous Directive
73/23/EEC and the interface with the “new” Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. It
highlights the editorial corrigendum
1
to Directive 93/68/EC, that clarifies Article 10 (1)
regarding the placing of the CE marking and also touches upon the interface with the
General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC, reflecting guidance issued by DG
SANCO.
Whilst stakeholders should note that this text is not legally binding in the sense of legal
acts in the Community, it does provide a very good insight into the views of those
stakeholders – representatives from the member states, industry, users, standardisation
and notified bodies – who were involved in its development.
Any further suggestions on the content of the guidelines are most welcome.
Luis Montoya
(Head of Unit I/4, DG Enterprise and Industry)
August 2007
1. See corrigendum in OJ L299/32 of 28.10.2006.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION I
Introduction
(Paragraphs 1-4)
SECTION II
The “LOW VOLTAGE”
Directive
(Paragraphs 5-6)
SECTION III
Scope of the “LOW
VOLTAGE” Directive
(Paragraphs 7-12)
SECTION IV
Safety requirements for
placing on the EU market
electrical equipment covered
by the “LOW VOLTAGE”
Directive
(Paragraphs 13-19)
SECTION V
Confromity assessement
procedures under the “LOW
VOLTAGE” Directive
(Paragraphs 20-27)
SECTION VI
Relationship between the
“LOW VOLTAGE” Directive
and certain other Union
Directives
(Paragraphs 28-39)
ANNEX I
Additional Information
ANNEX II
Examples of products within
or outside the scope of LVD
ANNEX III
Criteria applied for the
allocation of products covered
by standards in the EN 60335
series under LVD or MD
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I. INTRODUCTION
1. These guidelines have been prepared with a view to assist all parties
2
directly or
indirectly involved in the application of Directive 2006/95/EC, the "Low
Voltage" Directive
3
. They supersede guidance on the application of that
Directive which was given in the Commission’s communication of 15 December
1981
4
and the “Guidelines on the application of Council Directive 73/23/EEC” of
February 2001.
They have been drawn up by European Commission services and discussed with
a Working Party of Government Experts, representatives of European industry,
consumer protection organisations and European standardisation bodies. These
guidelines, which are updated when necessary, reflect the consensus views
reached between Commission services and representatives of the Member States
in the LVD Working Party and LVD ADCO.
2. Readers' attention is drawn to the fact that this Guide is intended only for
facilitating the application of the “Low Voltage” Directive and it is the text of the
Directive that is legally binding.
This document is not a legally binding interpretation of the Directive. However,
it represents a reference for ensuring consistent application of the Directive by all
those involved.
3. These guidelines are not exhaustive: they focus on certain issues only, which, in
the light of the experience, are of direct and specific interest for the application
of the “Low Voltage” Directive. They are intended to complement the “Guide to
the implementation of Union harmonisation directives”, edition 2000
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, as far as
issues related in particular to the application of this Directive are concerned. In
particular, for the definitions of concepts like “placing on the market”,
“manufacturer”, authorised representative”, “importer or person responsible for
placing the product on the market”, the Guide mentioned above should be
consulted.
2
By virtue of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA), electrical equipment that complies with
the Low Voltage Directive also benefits from free movement in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The
same is true in Switzerland by virtue of the mutual recognition agreement with the EU and in Turkey by
virtue of the EU-Turkey Customs Union. So the relevant references of the Low Voltage Directive and its
Guide should be read in conjunction with these Agreements.
3. Directive 2006/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the
harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain
voltage limits (codified version) OJEU L 374, 27.12.2006
4
OJ L 374, 27.12.2006, p. 10–19
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European Commission “Guide to the implementation of directives based on the new approach and the global
approach – 2000 Edition” - Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities -
ISBN 92-828-7500-8. The catalogue number is CO-22-99-014-EN-C. It can be obtained through sale points
of the Official Journal of the EC.
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The issues covered by these guidelines are:
• the scope of the ”Low Voltage” Directive
• the safety requirements applicable
• the conformity assessment procedure applicable, including CE marking
• the relationships with certain other Directives.
4. Reader’s attention is drawn to the fact that certain products subject to the “Low
Voltage” Directive are also subject to other directives. In order to be allowed on
the EU market these products must comply also with the provisions of those
directives. These guidelines refer to the application of the “Low Voltage”
Directive and clarify the relationship between that Directive and certain other
directives.
Additional documents which relate to the application of the new approach
directives or of the Low-Voltage Directive are available on the Commission
website (see Annex I).
