Machinery. Recast

 The committee adopted the report by Andreas SCHWAB (EPP-ED, ) amending the Council's common position under the 2nd reading of the codecision procedure:

- a new recital 19a called for the Commission to present by 2007 a proposal for a framework directive on uniform use of the CE marking in respect of all directives in force;

- electric motors should be listed among the products excluded from the scope of the directive in Art. 1(2). Moreover, to avoid pointless administrative formalities in the case of harmless products, the list should include a general category defined as follows: "machinery which, owing to its shape, size, function, or purpose, and to the energy stored within it or used by it, is harmless";

- the reference to scrapping of machinery was deleted from Annex I on the grounds that this lies outside the control of manufacturers, who should therefore not be made responsible for it;

- the requirement to declare uncertainties should be deleted in that it would represent a costly burden for manufacturers, especially SMEs. Moreover, the very meaning of 'uncertainties' is subject to ongoing scientific and academic debate and cannot easily be applied or interpreted;

- Member States which take measures against machinery on health and safety grounds should, "without delay, reinforce market surveillance with regard to machinery presenting the same risk by virtue of its technical characteristics".