In the Official Journal of the European Union n.239 (September 15, 2011) was published the Directive 2011/75/EU amending the directive 96/98/CE on marine equipment (MED).

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The MED Directive covers all equipment and materials that are intended to be used on board seagoing (non-military) vessels. Therefore, these are equipment for radio communications and navigation, materials for fitting out the ship itself and fire-fighting equipment, including fire extinguishers, hoses, fire doors, sprinklers.

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With the new Directive 2011/75/EU, Annex A of 96/98/EC is fully replaced, listing the equipment, the types of tests (and related test standards) and the specific modules for conformity assessment.

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Concerning that equipment listed in Annex A.1 'Equipment for which international instruments already contain standards' - transferred from Annex A.2. 'Equipment for which there are no detailed test standards in international instruments' – marketing and use on board EU vessels is allowed until 5 October 2014, in case it was produced before 5 October 2012, in accordance with the approval procedures in force before that date.

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The Member States are therefore called to adopt and publish, by and no later than 5 October 2012, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this directive.

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