Directive 2014/90/EU of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

CHAPTER 3 OBLIGATIONS OF ECONOMIC OPERATORS

Article 12 Obligations of manufacturers

1. By affixing the wheel mark, manufacturers shall take on responsibility for guaranteeing that the marine equipment to which the mark is affixed has been designed and manufactured in accordance with the technical specifications and standards implemented in accordance with Article 35(2), and shall assume the obligations laid down in paragraphs 2 to 9 of this Article.

2. Manufacturers shall draw up the required technical documentation and have the applicable conformity assessment procedures carried out.

3. Where the compliance of marine equipment with the applicable requirements has been demonstrated by the conformity assessment procedure, manufacturers shall draw up an EU declaration of conformity in accordance with Article 16 and affix the wheel mark in accordance with Articles 9 and 10.

4. Manufacturers shall keep the technical documentation and the EU declaration of conformity referred to in Article 16 for at least 10 years after the wheel mark has been affixed and in no case for a period shorter than the expected life of the marine equipment concerned.

5. Manufacturers shall ensure that procedures are in place for series production to remain in conformity. Changes in marine equipment design or characteristics and changes in the requirements in the international instruments as referred to in Article 4, on the basis of which conformity of marine equipment is declared, shall be taken into account. When necessary in accordance with Annex II, manufacturers shall have a new conformity assessment carried out.

6. Manufacturers shall ensure that their products bear a type, batch or serial number or other element allowing their identification, or, where the size or nature of the product does not allow it, that the required information is provided on the packaging or in a document accompanying the product or both, as appropriate.

7. Manufacturers shall indicate their name, registered trade name or registered trade mark and the address at which they can be contacted on the product or, where that is not possible, on its packaging or in a document accompanying the product or both, as appropriate. The address must indicate a single point at which the manufacturer can be contacted.

8. Manufacturers shall ensure that the product is accompanied by instructions and all necessary information for safe installation on board and safe use of the product, including limitations of use, if any, that can be easily understood by the users, together with any other documentation required by the international instruments or testing standards.

9. Manufacturers who consider or have reason to believe that a product to which they have affixed the wheel mark is not in conformity with the applicable design, construction and performance requirements and with the testing standards implemented in accordance with Article 35(2) and (3), shall immediately take the necessary corrective measures to bring that product into conformity, to withdraw it or to recall it, if appropriate. In addition, where the product presents a risk, manufacturers shall immediately inform the competent national authorities of the Member States, giving details, in particular, of the non-compliance and of any corrective measures taken.

10. Manufacturers shall, further to a reasoned request from a competent authority, promptly provide it with all the information and documentation necessary to demonstrate the conformity of the product, in a language which can be easily understood by or is acceptable to that authority, grant that authority access to their premises for market surveillance purposes in accordance with Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 and provide samples or access to samples in accordance with Article 25(4) of this Directive. They shall cooperate with that authority, at its request, on any action taken to eliminate the risks posed by products which they have placed on the market.

Article 13 Authorised representatives

1. A manufacturer who is not located in the territory of at least one Member State shall, by a written mandate, appoint an authorised representative for the Union and shall indicate in the mandate the name of the authorised representative and the address at which it can be contacted.

2. Fulfilment of the obligations laid down in Article 12(1) and the drawing-up of technical documentation shall not form part of the authorised representative’s mandate.

3. An authorised representative shall perform the tasks specified in the mandate received from the manufacturer. The mandate shall allow the authorised representative to do at least the following:

(a) keep the EU declaration of conformity and the technical documentation at the disposal of national surveillance authorities for at least 10 years after the wheel mark has been affixed and in no case for a period shorter than the expected life of the marine equipment concerned;

(b) further to a reasoned request from a competent authority, provide that authority with all the information and documentation necessary to demonstrate the conformity of a product;

(c) cooperate with the competent authorities, at their request, on any action taken to eliminate the risks posed by products covered by its mandate.

Article 14 Other economic operators

1. Importers shall indicate their name, registered trade name or registered trade mark and the address at which they can be contacted on the product or, where that is not possible, on its packaging or in a document accompanying the product or both, as appropriate.

2. Importers and distributors shall, further to a reasoned request from a competent authority, provide it with all the information and documentation necessary to demonstrate the conformity of a product in a language which can be easily understood by, or is acceptable to, that authority. They shall cooperate with that authority, at its request, on any action taken to eliminate the risks posed by products which they have placed on the market.

3. An importer or distributor shall be considered a manufacturer for the purposes of this Directive and shall be subject to the obligations of the manufacturer under Article 12, where it places marine equipment on the market or on board an EU ship under its name or trademark or modifies marine equipment already placed on the market in such a way that compliance with the applicable requirements may be affected.

4. For a period of at least 10 years after the wheel mark has been affixed and in no case for a period shorter than the expected life of the marine equipment concerned, economic operators shall, on request, identify the following to the market surveillance authorities:

(a) any economic operator who has supplied them with a product;

(b) any economic operator to whom they have supplied a product.