Council Directive 96/98/EC on Marin Equipment (MED)
In order to improve wider product compatibility and to promote safety and environmental protection, the European Union, in working towards the unification of product technology and test standards, develops EC Directives for technological standardization in various fields, which are then adopted as domestic law by member nations. Accordingly, the EC Directive called Council Directive 96/98/EC on Marine Equipment (MED) has been implemented since the 1st of January 1999.
The EC Directive requires that a group to be appointed as Notified Body be established in the EU area. NK Rotterdam office has been designated by the Government of the Netherlands as a Notified Body in related to the MED Assessment/Certification service by ClassNK. ClassNK can now carry out MED Assessment/Certification services for materials and equipment in Annex 1 of the Directive related to life saving appliances, fire fighting, fire protection, and marine-pollution (not navigation, radio communication and COLREG) according to the type of module requested in an application and issue a Conformity Certificate.
The list for the latest applicable material and equipment and EU Directives on Marine Equipment which have been issued are as follows.