Digital EU declaration of conformity for machinery

By Redaktion Maschinenpass · As of 6 November 2026 · Machinery Regulation

Short answer

Under Art. 10(8) the EU declaration of conformity must either accompany the machine or be accessible through an internet address or a machine-readable code. In the second case the address is stated in the instructions, and the declaration stays online for the lifetime and at least ten years. Omnibus IV would make a fully digital declaration with direct access mandatory but has not been adopted.

On this page

Enclosure, or internet address and code
Status of Omnibus IV
Digital signature

Enclosure, or internet address and code

Option 1: the declaration is enclosed with the machine.
Option 2: the machine is accompanied by an internet address or machine-readable code through which the declaration is accessible. The instructions state the address (Annex III 1.7.4.2 No 1 point (c)).
Availability: for the lifetime, at least ten years; the start is placing on the market or putting into service (Art. 10(8) second subparagraph).

Digital access is regulated in Art. 10(8), not Art. 21. Art. 21 covers content, keeping the declaration up to date and languages.

Status of Omnibus IV

Not law yetAgreement on 9 June 2026, confirmed by Coreper on 26 June 2026, IMCO endorsement on 14 July 2026, plenary indicatively on 23 November 2026. Not published in the Official Journal. For machinery the digital rules would apply 30 months after entry into force.

A solution built today should aim at the expected text: a direct link or code to the declaration, without login, personal data or app. A code that only leads to an input form for the serial number would not be future-proof.

Digital signature

Open legal questionThe form of signature for a fully digital declaration was not resolved in our research. Have this checked legally.

What this means in practice

Keep the declaration versioned per model and record for each unit which version applied when it was placed on the market.
State the address in the instructions and on the product.

Frequently asked questions

May the declaration be online only?

Yes, if an internet address or code accompanies the machine and the declaration stays available for the lifetime, at least ten years (Art. 10(8)).

Sources and references

References come from the editorial research of 5 November 2026. Consolidated versions and summaries are not legally binding; the Official Journal is authoritative. Standards texts were not read.

Verordnung (EU) 2023/1230, konsolidierte Fassung vom 27.07.2026 (EUR-Lex, nicht rechtsverbindlich) (Primary source)
Berichtigung 2025/90297 der deutschen Fassung vom 01.04.2025 (EUR-Lex) (Primary source)
Omnibus IV, vorläufige Einigung, Text PE790.900 vom 26.06.2026 (Europäisches Parlament, IMCO), Art. 5 and Annex IV (Primary source)
Rat der EU, Informationsvermerk 10980/26 vom 26.06.2026 (Primary source)
Legislative Observatory, Verfahren 2025/0134(COD) (Omnibus IV) (Primary source)
Maschinenverordnung-Durchführungsgesetz (MaschinenDG), BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 302, Section 2 (language), section 12 (applies from 20 January 2027) (Primary source)

Change log

6 November 2026: First version.

No legal adviceThis page gives general information and is not legal advice. It rests on editorial research that has not yet been reviewed by third parties. The duties stay with each economic operator. Check all statements against the Official Journal before basing decisions on them.

Provide documents per serial number

Maschinenpass keeps instructions, declaration and file per serial number. The "Example" page shows a passport with fictional data.

View example Start as manufacturer