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The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 set the safety requirements for new machinery placed on the market or put into service in Great Britain. They put duties on manufacturers, their authorised representatives, importers and distributors. Employers who use machinery have separate duties under PUWER.
What counts as machinery?
Broadly, an assembly of linked parts, at least one of which moves, powered by something other than human or animal effort. The regulations also cover interchangeable equipment, safety components, lifting accessories, chains, ropes and webbing, removable mechanical transmission devices and partly completed machinery.
What manufacturers must do
- Make sure the machinery meets the essential health and safety requirements (EHSRs) in the regulations.
- Carry out a risk assessment and design out hazards as far as possible.
- Compile a technical file showing how the requirements are met.
- Provide instructions in English.
- Follow the right conformity assessment procedure; some high risk machines need third party involvement.
- Draw up and sign a declaration of conformity.
- Fix the UKCA or CE marking.
UKCA or CE?
Since 1 October 2024, CE marking has been accepted indefinitely in Great Britain alongside UKCA marking, following the Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024. Northern Ireland and EU markets still require CE marking.
What buyers and employers should check
- The machine has a declaration of conformity and UKCA or CE marking
- Instructions are supplied in English
- Guards, interlocks, emergency stops and controls are fitted and work
- It is suitable for the way and place you intend to use it
- Your own risk assessment covers installation, use, cleaning and maintenance
A marking is a claim by the manufacturer, not a guarantee. If a new machine is obviously unsafe, do not put it into use. Report it to the supplier and, if needed, to HSE.
Who enforces the regulations?
HSE enforces them for machinery used at work, and Trading Standards for consumer products. The Office for Product Safety and Standards can also enforce.
The ACoP and official guidance
| Publication | Status | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008: Great Britain (gov.uk statutory guidance, updated March 2025) | Government guidance, not an ACoP | Scope, manufacturer duties, conformity assessment, technical files and marking. |
Designated standards, such as BS EN ISO 12100 on risk assessment for machinery, give a presumption of conformity with the requirements they cover.
An Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) has special legal status under section 16 of the Health and Safety at Work Act. If you are prosecuted and did not follow it, you must show that you met the law in some other way that was just as good. Guidance on Regulations has no special legal status, but inspectors refer to it and following it is normally enough to comply. Our guide to UK health and safety legislation lists every law and its ACoP or guidance in one place.
Training that helps
Our abrasive wheel safety training covers one of the most common machinery hazards. For engineers and managers, the NEBOSH National General Certificate covers work equipment and machinery guarding, and IOSH Managing Safely covers risk assessment. See also our guide to LOLER for lifting equipment.
Frequently asked questions
Is CE marking still accepted in Great Britain?
Yes. Since 1 October 2024, CE marking has been accepted indefinitely alongside UKCA marking.
What is a declaration of conformity?
A signed statement by the manufacturer that the machinery meets the regulations, which must be supplied with the machine.
Does a UKCA or CE mark mean a machine is safe?
Not necessarily. It is the manufacturer’s claim. Employers must still check the machine is safe and suitable under PUWER.
Is there an ACoP for machinery supply?
No. Government publishes statutory guidance on gov.uk.
Read the source
The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008; the gov.uk statutory guidance Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008: Great Britain (updated March 2025); and the Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024. Facts checked on 7 October 2026.
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