Garden shredders and chippers: EN 50434:2014 stays in the list of harmonised standards for the Machinery Directive with a restriction — no presumption of conformity for machines whose shredding means rotate faster than 300 r/min (ejected objects, foreseeable misuse)
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/80, published on 13 January 2026, settles Germany’s formal objection of 24 May 2023 to EN 50434:2014 (mains-operated shredders and chippers). It replaces row 622 in Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1586 with row 622a carrying a restriction concerning points 1.1.2(a) and 1.3.3 of Annex I to Directive 2006/42/EC; the standard joins the list of rows published or maintained with restrictions.
- Content of the restriction: the standard confers no presumption of conformity — limited to machines where the shredding means can rotate at speeds exceeding 300 r·min⁻¹ — with point 1.1.2(a) (machinery operated without putting persons at risk, also taking into account reasonably foreseeable misuse) and point 1.3.3 (precautions against risks from ejected objects, which shall also consider long objects such as tall trees).
- Germany’s objection cited point 1.1.2(a) and point 2.3(b) of Annex I (ejection of inserted branches or parts of them) as well as non-critical shortcomings concerning some protective devices, the instructions and the marking. The Machinery Expert Group discussed it on 9 November 2023, 12 April 2024, 17 October 2024 and 11 April 2025; the Commission found points 1.1.2(a) and 1.3.3 relevant, and the committee under Article 22 of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 agreed in a written procedure of 10 October 2025 (further information was sent to it on 18 November 2025).
- Scope of EN 50434:2014 according to the EVS record: safety requirements and their verification for hand-fed shredders/chippers with an integral electric motor of up to 250 V single phase, used in a stationary position by an operator standing on the ground, with feed intake openings that in total fit into a square of 250 mm × 250 mm (measurement — clause 20.101.1). Out of scope: combustion-engine machines (EN 13683), battery or externally powered machines, three-phase machines and agricultural and forestry wood chippers (EN 13525); EMC and environmental aspects other than noise are not considered.
- According to the EVS record the standard has been withdrawn since 2 May 2025 and replaced by EVS-EN IEC 62841-4-8:2025, but still confers a presumption of conformity with Directive 2006/42/EC until a corresponding amendment is published in the Official Journal of the EU — the record already quotes the restriction from Decision 2026/80. The decision entered into force on the day of publication.