Update: No more collection of noise data

Last year, the European Commission started working on a directive to delete the reporting requirement from Outdoor Noise Directive 2000/14/EC.

The proposed amendment was part of the EU’s REFIT (Regulatory Fitness and Performance) Programme. This programme ensures that legislation remains fit for purpose with minimal burdens.

Article 16 of Outdoor Noise Directive 2000/14/EC required that manufacturers send a copy of the EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC) to the authorities. Authorities collected the data and published it periodically.

The original intention was to provide ‘a basis for informed consumer choice’. The Commission now finally concludes that it is an unnecessary administrative burden, since consumers are already informed of the noise emission level via the mandatory noise marking affixed on outdoor equipment. The noise level information is also included in the instruction manuals.

The proposal is now final, Directive (EU) 2024/2839 amends the Outdoor Noise Directive 2000/14/EC and deletes Article 16. It was published on November 7, 2024 and enters into force 20 days later.

The collection of noise data and the submission of an EU DoC is no longer required.

Please note that the obligation to state the noise level on the EU DoC remains!