Recreational Craft (RC) Directives 94/25/EC and 2003/44/EC

Directive 94/25/EC applies to recreational craft measuring between 2.5 and 24 metres hull length, regardless of the means of propulsion, and intended for sport and leisure purposes. This includes:

• partly completed recreational craft and
• specific components i.e. engine ignition systems, steering systems, fuel systems, etc as referred to in Annex II of the Directive.
• Exclusions include canoes, surfboards, craft specifically intended to be crewed and to carry passengers for commercial purposes, hydrofoils etc.

Directive 2003/44/EC extended the scope of the original Directive in terms of Design and Construction by:

• including personal watercraft (e.g. jet skis)
• amending some of the essential requirements (e.g. modification of Design category D)

introducing limits for exhaust emissions from propulsion engines intended for use in recreational craft and noise emissions from recreational craft
 

Copies of all three documents are available in hard copy from The Stationery Office (for SI 1996/1353: quote: ISBN 0-11-054751-9, for SI2004/1464: quote: ISBN 0 11 049361 3 and for SI 2004/3201: quote: ISBN 0 11 050796 7)
 

• From 16 June 1996, manufacturers or importers of recreational craft, partly completed recreational craft or specified components covered by the Recreational Craft Regulations 1996 (as amended) had the choice until 15 June 1998 of either complying with the Regulations or continue to comply with any UK national safety provisions.
• From 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005, boatbuilders and importers may choose to apply the “old” RCD or the “new” RCD. Most engine manufacturers may choose between the “new” RCD or any other national legislation applicable to their products.

Manufacturers and importers of two-stroke spark ignition engines will have up to 31 December 2006 to choose whether to apply the provisions of the “new” RCD or any other national legislation applicable to their products.
 

• The Commission has issued guidance on the application of Directive 94/25/EC entitled 'Recreational Craft Directive and Comments to the Directive Combined' which is available from the Commission's website
• Guidance on the application of the Amending Recreational Craft Directive 2003/44/EC entitled "Directive 2003/44/EC Amending the Recreational Craft Directive and Comments to the Directive Combined" is now available for downloading from the Commission's website.
• A comprehensive DTI Guidance booklet covering the Regulations in its consolidated form will be soon available.
• Directive 2003/44/EC amending Directive 94/25/EC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to recreational craft became mandatory on 1 January 2006. As of this date, all recreational craft placed on the market must comply with all the relevant provisions of the amended Directive (i.e. Directive 94/25/EC as amended by Directive 2003/44/EC).
  The Administrative Co-ordination Working Group (ADCO) of Market Surveillance Authorities in the EU/EEA Member States has therefore amended the common format for the written Declaration of Conformity elaborated for Directive 94/25/EC to include the new and amending provisions of Directive 2003/44/EC. This document, now available for downloading on the DTI website at rcd_doc.pdf replaces the one which had been in use up to 31 December 2005 (123 kB).
  Instructions on how to complete the Declaration of Conformity are available from the Commission’s website
• Under the Recreational Craft Regulations 2004 (as amended), Notified Bodies may be appointed to carry out various testing and certification functions. These procedures are necessary to demonstrate conformity with the essential safety requirements of the Recreational Craft Directive 2003/44/EC amending Directive 94/25/EC).
• A comprehensive DTI Guidance booklet  for organisations seeking Notified Body status is available together with a list of UK Notified Bodies.
• A list of EU Notified Bodies appointed under the Recreational Craft Directive 2003/44/EC amending Directive 94/25/EC is also available from the Commission’s website.

Further information, including lists of harmonised standards as published periodically in the Official Journal of the European Communities and lists of Notified Bodies appointed by EU/EEA Member States, is available from the European Commission's "Enterprise" website.