Anyone making a machine available in another EU country also needs a declaration of conformity translation – into the language that country requires. The document is often just one page, yet with it the manufacturer declares, bindingly, that the machine meets the requirements – the precondition for CE marking. With the EU Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, which applies from 20 January 2027, the language requirements deserve a close look.
What the Machinery Regulation says about the language of the declaration
Under Article 21 of the Machinery Regulation, the EU declaration of conformity must be translated into the language or languages required by the member state in which the machine is placed on the market or made available. For partly completed machinery the same applies to the EU declaration of incorporation.
Germany has laid down the language in its implementing act (MaschinenDG): the EU declaration of conformity must be in German, as must the operating instructions and safety information. Other countries generally require their national language. An overview of all EU and EEA countries is in the language table of our guide to the EU Machinery Regulation.
Why one page needs so much care
The declaration of conformity is not marketing copy. It contains precisely defined information that must match the machine, the rating plate and the technical file when a market surveillance authority checks it:
- name and address of the manufacturer and, where applicable, the authorised representative,
- unambiguous identification of the machine – type, model, serial number or serial number range,
- the legislation and harmonised standards applied,
- place, date, and the name and function of the signatory.
Typical translation errors are therefore rarely stylistic and mostly factual: a standard reference reproduced incorrectly, a “translated” type designation, a changed date format that swaps day and month, or a wording that alters the scope of the declaration. Any of these can constitute a formal non-conformity.
How to get the declaration of conformity translation right
- Leave fixed elements untranslated: type designations, serial numbers, standard numbers and names stay unchanged.
- Use official titles: legal acts and standards are cited with their official title in the target language, not translated freely.
- Create a template per language: once checked, the translation serves as the template for all further machines. Stored in the translation memory, only the changed details need translating in future.
- Plan a second check: a second specialist translator compares source and translation line by line.
- Update together with the operating instructions: if the standards applied or the machine designation change, every language version must follow.
Frequently asked questions
Is an English declaration of conformity enough for all EU countries?
No. The declaration must be translated into the language the country concerned prescribes. In Germany that is German; other member states generally require their national language.
Does this also apply to the declaration of incorporation?
Yes. For partly completed machinery, the EU declaration of incorporation must also be in the language determined by the member state – in Germany, German.
What we offer
YTranslations translates EU declarations of conformity, declarations of incorporation and operating instructions for machinery manufacturers into all EU languages. We work with client-specific templates, a termbase and a translation memory, so that every new declaration is ready quickly and consistently. See our technical translation page.
Free Machinery Regulation language check: send us your declaration of conformity or one page of your operating instructions together with your target markets through the language check form. You will receive the languages you need and an estimate of effort and timeline.
Last updated: September 2026. This article does not constitute legal advice; the authoritative texts are Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 and the national implementing acts.
