32000L0014

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

Directive 2000/14/EC aims to:

• improve the control of noise emissions by 57 types of equipment used outdoors (listed in Articles 12 and 13 and in Annex I), such as:
  • compressors,
  • excavator-loaders,
  • different types of saws,
  • mixers;
• promote the smooth functioning of the European Union’s (EU) internal market;
• improve the health and well-being of citizens by reducing the noise emitted by equipment used outdoors.

The directive repeals and replaces nine legal instruments on noise emissions for each type of construction plant and equipment, as well as Directive 84/538/EEC on lawnmowers.

KEY POINTS

The directive’s purpose is fourfold:

• to harmonise noise-emission standards;
• to harmonise conformity-assessment¹ procedures;
• to harmonise noise-level conformity marking;
• to gather data on noise emissions.

The following types of equipment are excluded:

• non-powered attachments (to tools) that are separately placed on the market or put into service² (except for hand-held concrete-breakers and picks);
• all equipment intended for the transport of goods or persons by public road, by rail, by air or on waterways;
• equipment designed and constructed for use by the police or the military.

EU Member States are responsible for verifying that the rules laid down by the directive are being applied. Annexes V to VIII contain the various conformity assessment procedures to be used.

The manufacturer or the person placing the equipment on the market or putting it into service must ensure (under Articles 4 and 8) that:

• they have drawn up an EC declaration of conformity certifying that each item of equipment bearing the CE marking conforms to the directive;
• they have affixed an indelible legible marking to each item of equipment indicating the guaranteed sound power level.

Where a Member State ascertains that an item of equipment does not comply with these conditions, it must withdraw the equipment from the market or prohibit its use.

Labelling is compulsory for all items of equipment covered by the directive and must include:

• the CE marking visibly, legibly and indelibly affixed to each item of equipment;
• details of the sound power level LWA³ in dB(A)⁴ in relation to 1 pW⁵.

The noise emission limits laid down for certain types of equipment were introduced in two stages, so as to enable businesses to adapt to the new regulations. The emission limits for stage 1 took effect two years after the directive’s entry into force and more stringent limits entered into force in 2006.

Member States may set up notified bodies, which are responsible for monitoring the noise emission limits applicable to the equipment. These monitoring controls apply both to the equipment design phase and to the the equipment production phase. It should be noted, however, that it is not necessary to monitor the design of equipment that is subject only to compulsory marking.

To assess the impact of the directive, a procedure for the collection of noise emission data was established. This information serves as the basis for customers to choose less noisy equipment and for devising economic incentives and awards. Manufacturers or their authorised representatives are required to send to the relevant authorities in Member States, as well as to the European Commission, a copy of the EU declaration of conformity for equipment placed on the market.

The directive has 24 articles and 10 annexes covering:

• definitions of equipment;
• the EU declaration of conformity;
• the method of measuring airborne noise emitted by equipment for use outdoors;
• models of the CE marking of conformity and of the indication of the guaranteed sound power level;
• the internal control of production;
• the internal control of production with assessment of technical documentation and periodical checking;
• unit verification;
• full quality assurance;
• minimum criteria to be taken into account by Member States for the notification of bodies (the notified bodies mentioned above);
• unit verification and the model of conformity certificate.

The Commission may adapt Directive 2000/14/EC to technical progress by means of delegated acts.

Internal market emergency mode

Amending Directive (EU) 2024/2749 seeks to avoid disruptions to the internal market in the event of an emergency by ensuring that, once an internal market emergency mode, as set out in Regulation (EU) 2024/2747 (the Internal Market Emergency and Resilience Act), has been activated by means of an implementing act adopted by the Council of the European Union, designated crisis-relevant goods and services⁶ can be placed on the market as rapidly as possible.

Directive (EU) 2024/2749 amends Directive 2000/14/EC setting out how these emergency procedures would apply. Among other things, the new rules:

• require conformity-assessment bodies to prioritise applications for conformity of crisis-relevant products over those that are not;
• allow Member States, on an exceptional basis and where there is a duly justified request, to temporarily authorise the placing on the market of equipment without carrying out the normal conformity-assessment procedures, where the involvement of a notified body is mandatory and can ensure that all essential requirements are met.

FROM WHEN DO THE RULES APPLY?

Directive 2000/14/EC had to be transposed into national law by 3 July 2001. These rules have applied since 3 January 2002.

The rules adopted under amending Directive (EU) 2024/2749 have to be transposed into national law by 29 May 2026 and will apply from 30 May 2026.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

• Noise emission by outdoor equipment (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

1. Conformity assessment. The process confirming that a product satisfies the necessary process, service, system, person or body requirements.
2. Putting into service. The moment of first use by the end user for purposes for which the good was intended.
3. LWA. Measure of the acoustic energy emitted by a machine, i.e. the sound power.
4. dB(A). Average sound level in decibels as perceived by the human ear.
5. 1 pW. 1 picowatt – the international standard reference value of sound power when this quantity is expressed as a level in decibels.
6. Crisis-relevant goods and services. Goods or services that are non-substitutable, non-diversifiable or indispensable in the maintenance of vital societal functions or economic activities in order to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market and its supply chains, that are considered essential for responding to a crisis and that are listed in an implementing act adopted by the Council.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Directive 2000/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors (OJ L 162, 3.7.2000, pp. 1–78).

Successive amendments to Directive 2000/14/EC have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Regulation (EU) 2024/2747 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2024 establishing a framework of measures related to an internal market emergency and to the resilience of the internal market and amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2679/98 (Internal Market Emergency and Resilience Act) (OJ L, 2024/2747, 8.11.2024).

Directive (EU) 2024/2749 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2024 amending Directives 2000/14/EC, 2006/42/EC, 2010/35/EU, 2014/29/EU, 2014/30/EU, 2014/33/EU, 2014/34/EU, 2014/35/EU, 2014/53/EU and 2014/68/EU as regards emergency procedures for the conformity assessment, presumption of conformity, adoption of common specifications and market surveillance due to an internal market emergency (OJ L, 2024/2749, 8.11.2024).

Commission Recommendation of 6 August 2003 concerning the guidelines on the revised interim computation methods for industrial noise, aircraft noise, road traffic noise and railway noise, and related emission data (OJ L 212, 22.8.2003, pp. 49–64).

Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise – Declaration by the Commission in the Conciliation Committee on the Directive relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise (OJ L 189, 18.7.2002, pp. 12–25).

See consolidated version.