Kitchen machines: the Commission will not publish the reference of EN 60335-2-14:2006 under the Low Voltage Directive — after Germany’s objection that the test device for checking access to blender blades does not reflect the dimensions of the human body
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1464, published on 18 July 2025, settles Germany’s formal objection to EN 60335-2-14:2006 (with amendments A1:2008, A11:2012, A12:2016 and corrigenda AC:2007, A11:2012/AC:2016). The Commission found that the standard does not meet the safety objectives of Annex I to Directive 2014/35/EU (point 1(c), point 2(a) and (c), point 3(b)), so it does not publish its reference in the Official Journal of the EU.
- Substance of the objection of 15 December 2014: the standard’s provisions insufficiently prevent unintentional starting of the cutting blades in blenders (except hand-held blenders) where the blades can be touched. Germany argued that the test device used under the standard to assess whether a blade is accessible does not reflect the dimensions of the human body and does not take anthropometric data into account. The objection was still lodged under Directive 2006/95/EC.
- Course of events: the reference of the standard was last published by communication 2016/C 173/06 (under Directive 2006/95/EC); the first list under Directive 2014/35/EU (communication 2016/C 249/03) no longer included it, so there was no presumption of conformity. On 12 August 2021 Germany updated the objection against the standard as last amended by EN 60335-2-14/A2:2021; the Electrical Equipment Committee discussed it on 25 June 2024.
- Consequence for testing: a blender manufacturer cannot base a presumption of conformity with the Low Voltage Directive on EN 60335-2-14:2006 and its amendments — conformity with the essential requirements must be demonstrated otherwise. The decision contains no assessment of a newer edition of the standard. It entered into force on the day of publication.
- According to the records in the Estonian EVS catalogue, EVS-EN 60335-2-14:2006 has been withdrawn since 1 November 2023 and replaced by EVS-EN IEC 60335-2-14:2023 (basis: IEC 60335-2-14:2016; A1:2023 and A11:2023 added in December 2023); both records show “None” in the directives field. Scope: safety of electric kitchen machines for household use with a rated voltage of up to 250 V — including blenders, food processors, centrifugal juicers, mincers, coffee mills up to 500 g and slicing machines. The standard’s history on the EVS record does not list amendment A2:2021, which recital 6 of the decision mentions.