Obligations of Manufacturers

When placing their products on the market, manufacturers shall ensure that they have been designed and manufactured in accordance with the requirements set out in the relevant part of the legislation.
Manufacturers shall draw up the required technical documentation and carry out the conformity assessment procedure applicable or have it carried out. Where compliance of a product with the applicable requirements has been demonstrated by that procedure, manufacturers shall draw up an EC declaration of conformity and affix the conformity marking.
Manufacturers shall keep the technical documentation and the EC declaration of conformity for ... [period to be specified in proportion to the lifecycle of the product and the level of risk] after the product has been placed on the market.
Manufacturers shall ensure that procedures are in place for series production to remain in conformity. Changes in product design or characteristics and changes in the harmonised standards or in technical specifications by reference to which conformity of a product is declared shall be adequately taken into account.

When deemed appropriate with regard to the risks presented by a product, manufacturers shall, to protect the health and safety of consumers, carry out sample testing of marketed products, investigate, and, if necessary, keep a register of complaints, of non-conforming products and product recalls, and shall keep distributors informed of any such monitoring.
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.
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. The address must indicate a single point at which the manufacturer can be contacted.
Manufacturers shall ensure that the product is accompanied by instructions and safety information in a languagewhich can be easily understood by consumers and other end-users, as determined by the Member State concerned.
Manufacturers who consider or have reason to believe that a product which they have placed on the market is not in conformity with the applicable Community harmonisation legislation shall immediately take the necessary corrective measures to bring that product into conformity, to withdraw it or recall it, if appropriate. Furthermore, where the product presents a risk, manufacturers shall immediately inform the competent national authorities of the Member States in which they made the product available to that effect, giving details, in particular, of the non-compliance and of any corrective measures taken.
Manufacturers shall, further to a reasoned request from a competent national authority, 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 that authority. They shall cooperate with that authority, at its request, on any action taken toeliminate the risks posed by products which they have placed on the market.

Machine Directive