Marine Equipment Directive (2014/90/EU)
What is the Marine Equipment Directive (MED)?
The Marine Equipment Directive (2014/90/EU) is a European law that ensures all safety equipment used on ships flying the flag of an EU country meets high, consistent safety and environmental standards.
This includes equipment like life jackets, fire extinguishers, navigation systems, and more — essentially, anything that helps keep ships safe and environmentally responsible.
Why is it important?
Ships travel across international waters, so it’s crucial that the safety equipment they carry is reliable and recognized globally. The MED helps:
- Improve safety at sea
- Prevent marine pollution
- Ensure fair and equal rules across all EU countries
Before this directive, different countries had different rules, which made it hard to trust or accept equipment certified elsewhere. The MED solves this by harmonizing standards across the EU.
How does it work?
- Independent testing: Equipment is tested by approved organizations called Notified Bodies.
- Certification: If it passes, the equipment gets a special mark called the “wheel mark”, showing it meets EU standards.
- Market surveillance: EU countries must monitor the market to ensure only safe, compliant equipment is used.
- Electronic tagging (optional): Some equipment may also have electronic tags to help track and prevent counterfeiting.
Who does it apply to?
The directive applies to all ships flying an EU flag, no matter where the equipment was installed. It ensures that every piece of marine equipment on board is safe, traceable, and compliant with international rules.
Which equipment is covered by MED?
The Directive applies to a wide range of marine equipment, grouped in annexes that align with international SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) standards:
- Life‑saving appliances (e.g. lifeboats, lifejackets)
- Pollution prevention gear (e.g. oily-water separators)
- Fire protection devices
- Navigation equipment
- Radio‑communications
- COLREG navigation lights
- Breathing apparatus for gas‑filled spaces
- Water-level detectors, etc
Notified Body #0493
As Notified Body #0493 we are authorized to conduct conformity assessments under the MED. This means we can help manufacturers ensure their marine equipment complies with the directive's requirements.
Centexbel is accredited for the assessment of Fire protection equipment
- Fire protection equipment: MED/3.3
- a) Fire-fighter’s outfit: protective clothing (close proximity clothing)
- Fire protection equipment: MED/3.5 Fire-fighter’s outfit: gloves
- Fire protection equipment: MED/3.18 Surface materials and floor coverings with low flame-spread characteristics:
- a) decorative veneers;
- b) paint systems;
- c) floor coverings;
- d) pipe insulation covers;
- e) adhesives used in the construction of ‘A’, ‘B’ & ‘C’ class divisions;
- f) combustible ducts membrane
- Fire protection equipment: MED/3.19 Draperies, curtains and other suspended textile materials and films
- Fire protection equipment: MED/3.20 Upholstered furniture
- a) complete piece of furniture (including cover material, filling material and non-flammable rack)
- b) cover material for any filling material
- c) cover material for flame-retardant filling material (tested in specific combination as intended for further application)
- d) flame-retardant filling material
- Fire protection equipment: MED/3.21 Bedding components
