Machinery regulation increases safety requirements for pedelecs and e-scooters

The European Council and the European Parliament have reached a preliminary agreement on the Machinery Products Regulation. Light electric vehicles, such as pedelecs and e-scooters, find mention in it because of their potential danger.

Machinery Regulation sees danger in pedelecs and e-scooters

The European Council and the European Parliament want to jointly launch a new machinery regulation in order to increase the safety of various digital devices. In doing so, the bodies have now reached a preliminary agreement.

This affects robots, robotic lawnmowers, 3D printers, construction machinery and other “high-risk” machines. The new regulation combines the basic safety requirements that apply to the machines and their use throughout the EU. However, e-scooters and pedelecs are also affected by the new machinery regulation, for which manufacturers must now implement the regulations.

The European Council and the European Parliament have clearly defined the scope of the new regulation and the definitions it contains. “In particular, they have agreed not to exclude small private vehicles or light electric vehicles such as electric scooters and bicycles, as they are widely used and can pose a risk to those who use them,” the press release from the European Council states.

However, since the newly reached agreement is only preliminary in nature, it still needs to be approved by the Council and the European Parliament. Once the process has been completed and an official adoption has taken place, member states will have 42 months to apply the rules.

“The updated rules for machinery will help us to better protect workers as well as consumers in the EU and will harmonize safety regulations in all EU countries,” Jozef Síkela, Czech Minister for Industry and Trade, is certain.