Marine Equipment Directive

The MED sets out performance and testing standards to be met by marine equipment placed on board an EU ship.

As of 18 September 2016 the only applicable MED is Directive 2014/90/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on marine equipment and repealing Council Directive 96/98/EC.

What does the directive cover?

The directive covers types of marine equipment that fall under following International Conventions developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO):

• SOLAS 1974: Life-saving appliances/navigation equipment/radio equipment
• MARPOL 1973: Marine pollution
• COLREGS 1972: Prevention of collisions

Design, construction and performance requirements and testing standards for marine equipment is provided in the Annex to  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1397, which was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on the 13 September 2019 .

This Regulation became applicable on 3 October 2019. 

All manufacturers producing equipment to comply with the MED require involvement of a Notified Body (as Lloyd’s Register*) to assess products to the MED.

*All Notified Body activities are performed under the accreditation held by Lloyd's Register Verification.

We offer certification for the EC Type Examination (Module B), Unit Verification (Module G), Product Verification (Module F) and the production-control phase (Modules D or E) of the following categories of equipment:

• Life-saving appliances
• Marine pollution prevention equipment
• Fire protection equipment
• Navigation equipment
• Equipment required under COLREG 72
• Equipment under SOLAS II-1

Our application process is quick and easy – to start the process please complete the application checklist, which should be submitted to the LR Local Office.

Find out more by about the process by downloading our guidelines here.

Find out more about the LR Type Approval procedures by downloading our LR TA 14 here.

EC/US Mutual Recognition Agreement - The European Community (EC) and the United States (US) have signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on marine equipment. Under this agreement designated equipment certified as complying with the MED, as amended to date, will be accepted for sale in the US without the need for additional testing or certification and vice-versa.

1. LR has a long experience working with the MED, as it has been one of the very first Notified Bodies appointed under the original Marine Equipment Directive (96/98/EC), which came into force almost 20 years ago.

2. We provide one-stop-shop service starting from the initial enquiry to the issue of the certificate(s).

3. Our surveyors help you through each stage of the certification process. This includes:

•reviewing a technical construction file

•assessing a quality control system

•product sample inspection and testing

4. Products certified by LR as meeting requirements of Marine Equipment Directive 2014/90/EU will be accepted by all European and most non-European flag states.

5. Our global resources can ensure local country auditors who understand your business sector and culture.