The UK Government has now published its response to the recent Call for Evidence on future machinery safety legislation, alongside findings from an extensive stakeholder engagement programme led by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Between July and October 2025, DBT sought industry views on two critical issues: the UK’s approach to the EU’s new Machinery Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1230) and the continued recognition of CE-marked machinery in Great Britain. Alongside the formal consultation, officials held roundtables and engaged directly with businesses and representative bodies at trade fairs and conferences across ten UK and international locations, speaking with more than 200 stakeholders from industry, conformity assessment bodies, professional associations and enforcement authorities.
What Industry Said
Feedback from the majority of respondents supported:
-
Continued recognition of CE-marked machinery in Great Britain
-
Introducing measures in Great Britain that closely align with those being implemented in the EU and Northern Ireland, to minimise duplication and support frictionless trade
This reflects a clear industry preference for stability, regulatory coherence and reduced administrative burden.
What Happens Next
In response, the UK Government intends to:
-
Implement the new EU Machinery Regulation in Northern Ireland by October 2026, in line with Windsor Framework obligations
-
Continue recognising CE-marked machinery in Great Britain, allowing products compliant with the EU Machinery Regulation to be placed on the GB market
-
Update the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, as they apply in Great Britain, to introduce measures similar to those in the EU Regulation, tailored to the GB context including UK conformity assessment arrangements
Secondary legislation is now being prepared, with the aim of providing legislative certainty as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
What This Means for Manufacturers
For manufacturers operating across the UK and EU markets, this approach signals continuity rather than divergence. Continued CE recognition in Great Britain should help avoid the cost and complexity of parallel compliance regimes, while alignment with the EU framework supports smoother cross-border trade, particularly for businesses with supply chains spanning Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The stated objective is to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens while ensuring machinery users remain protected from undue harm.
A further update will follow once the relevant legislation is formally laid. In the meantime, businesses can direct any questions to machinery@businessandtrade.gov.uk.