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.

The main changes introduced by the Directive 2014/90/EU are outlined in the further part of this information. Please refer to the "Summary of the key changes introduced by the Directive 2014/90/EU" below.

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) 2017/306, which was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on the 24 February 2017.

This Regulation entered into force on the 16 March 2017 and became directly applicable.

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 Limited.

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.

Summary of the key changes introduced by the Directive 2014/90/EU

Scope of the Directive: Applicable also to the equipment placed on board.

Standards for marine equipment: In addition to the list of existing organizations which sets testing standards, the following have been added:

• the International Telecommunication Union (ITU),
• the regulatory authorities recognised in the mutual recognition agreements to which the Union is a party, and
• the European Commission.

An adequate analysis and assessment of the risk(s): Technical documentation shall include an adequate analysis and assessment of the risk(s).

Wheelmark: Wheelmark to be followed by the identification number of the notified body involved in the production control phase, and the year in which the mark is affixed.

Electronic Tag: Introduction of the possibility of marking equipment with an electronic tagging in addition to or instead of the Wheelmark.

Obligation of economic operators: Introduction of definitions and responsibilities of economic operators (manufacturer, authorised representative, importer and distributor). Manufacturers not located in the EU are required to appoint, by written mandate, an authorised representative within the EU.

Authorised representative: Must be appointed by a manufacturer who is not located in the territory of at least one Member State.

The Declaration of Conformity should:

• state fulfilment with the requirements provided in the Directive 2014/90/EU;
• follow the model provided in Annex III of the Decision 768/2008/EC;
• contain the elements specified in the relevant Modules as provided in the Directive 2014/90/EU;
• be kept up to date;
• provided to the ship and kept on board until the equipment is removed
• shall be provided to the notified body or to the bodies which carried out the relevant conformity assessment procedures.
• translated by the manufacturer into language(s) required by the flag Member State, include language commonly used in the maritime transport sector.

Annex A: Replaced by Annex to Regulation (EU) 2017/306.

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.