Description
These guidelines are prepared to assist with the conformity assessment procedures undertaken by Notified Bodies for recreational craft, personal watercraft, their components and their engines, in accordance with the Directive 94/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, dated 16 June 1994 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to recreational craft as amended by Directive 2003/44/EC. This Directive lays down the requirements for the assessment procedures to be followed by manufacturers when demonstrating conformity of their products. The English text of the Recreational Directive as amended and as published in the Official Journals L/164/15 from 30.06.1994, L/127/27 from 10.06.1995, L/41/20 from 15.02.2000 and L 214/18 from 26.08.2003 is the basic text used for a common understanding within the Recreational Craft Sectoral Group. When these guidelines provide information for craft and engines outside those conformity assessment procedures undertaken by Notified Bodies, this information is provided for guidance only. In addition to changes for design and construction, Directive 2003/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, dated 16 June 2003, provides a major extension of the scope of Directive 94/25/EC by including personal watercraft and by adding essential requirements on noise and exhaust emissions for craft with propulsion engines. Directive 2003/44/EC does not replace or revoke Directive 94/25/EC, but amends some of its provisions and adds some new requirements. The provisions of the original directive 94/25/EC which have not been changed by Directive 2003/44/EC therefore remain in force. Both directives should always be considered as a combined document. Whenever reference is made in these Guidelines to the RCD, to the Directive or to the amended Directive, this should be read to mean Directive 94/25/EC as amended by Directive 2003/44/EC.