MED

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Overview

Directive 2014/90/EU, also known as the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) is a piece of legislation written by the European Commission to ensure the quality of marine equipment placed on board European Flagged Ships. The Directive covers equipment which has to be carried on ships which are subject to International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Conventions e.g. Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The aim of the Directive is to increase marine safety and reduce the risk of marine pollution.

Performance standard, testing standard & carriage requirement

The design, construction and performance requirements and testing standards are contained in a Commission Implementing Regulation which is updated annually and published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Typical system components

• Directive (Current: 2014/90/EU)
• Implementing Regulation - on design, construction and performance requirements and testing standards for marine equipment (each repeals the previous one):

1. (EU) 2017/306 of 6 February 2017
2. (EU) 2018/773 of 15 May 2018
3. (EU) 2019/1397 of 6 August 2019

The Annex of the Implementing Regulation is divided into the following sections:

1. Life-saving appliances
2. Marine-pollution prevention
3. Fire protection equipment
4. Navigation equipment
5. Radiocommunication equipment
6. Equipment required under COLREG 72
7. Other safety equipment
8. Equipment under SOLAS Chapter II-1
9. Equipment for which the set of standards for MED certification is not complete

The above sections provide the following information for each item listed:

1. Number and item designation
2. Regulations of SOLAS 74, as amended, and the relevant resolutions and circulars of the IMO, as applicable
3. Testing standards
4. Modules for conformity assessment (modules as defined in the Directive)
5. First placing on the market (date)
6. Last placing on board (date)

Detailed requirements - Implementing Regulation

The aim of Article 3 is to allow a transition period for the provisions of a new line item in an Implementing Regulation to come fully in force; this allows time for manufacturers to get the approvals that they need to meet the requirements of a new line item.

To take an example from the 3rd Implementing Regulation: item MED/5.20 (Fire-fighter's two-way radiotelephone apparatus) is listed as a ‘New item inserted by Implementing Regulation 2019/1397’ (i.e. it is a new item in the 3rd Implementing Regulation). The applicable Article is 3.3, under which provision Fire-fighter's two-way radiotelephone apparatus that is compliant with the national regulations of an EU state can continue to be placed on board of an EU ship until 3 October 2022 (i.e. 3 years from the date of publication of the 3rd Implementing Regulation). After this date, Fire-fighter's two-way radiotelephone apparatus must meet the full requirements of line item MED/5.20.

(Performance Standard)

Defintions
Term	Defition
Term 2	Defintion 2
Module A - Title
Section title	Para number	Requirement

See also

(Content)