Spotlight

The Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
Sense and purpose

Who issues the DoC?

The declaration of conformity (DoC) is always issued by the manufacturer of the equipment.

What is the purpose of the DoC?

With the DoC, the manufacturer declares that the equipment he makes available on the market meets the requirements of the MED and the applicable implementing regulation. He also accepts the obligations and responsibilities set out in Article 12(1) of the MED ("Manufacturers' obligations").

What is particularly important?

The contents of a DoC must be sufficiently meaningful to allow clear attribution to the equipment concerned. This applies in particular to the manufacturer's name, type/equipment name and possibly trademarks.

What happens with the DoC?

A copy of the DoC must be taken on board the ship together with the equipment. The ship's command is obliged to keep this declaration of conformity on board until the equipment is sorted out. A copy of the DoC must also be sent to the notified body.

What are the consequences of an incorrect or missing DoC?

EA faulty or missing DoC can result in equipment being rejected during the on-board inspection (e.g. for new installations or retrofits). If a faulty or missing DoC is discovered during a Port State Control, this may have negative consequences for the ship concerned.
Furthermore, an incorrect or missing DoC constitutes a formal non-compliance according to Article 29 of the MED. In the extreme case, this can lead to a ban on placing on the market as well as to a recall of the affected equipment.