The Machinery Directive (more formally known as Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 relating to machinery) is a European Union directive on machinery and certain parts thereof.[1]​ Its main objective is to ensure a common level of safety in machinery placed on the market or put into service in all Member States and to guarantee freedom of movement within the European Union by stating that "Member states shall not prohibit, restrict or prevent the placing on the market and/or the putting into service in their territory of machines that comply with the Directive".

Economic directives apply to products. They were taken under the new approach to facilitate the free movement of goods and products in the European Union by eliminating trade barriers in the European market. The particularity of these guidelines is that they establish the basic requirements or Essential Safety and Health Requirements (ESHR) that apply to all manufacturers who wish to put their products on the European market. If a product meets the essential health and safety requirements, it can be marketed.

One way to demonstrate compliance with the ESHR can be through compliance with harmonized European standards or any other solution that allows a similar level of security to be demonstrated.

Consequently, the Machinery Directive belongs to economic legislation. It applies to products designed to be sold (or licensed) in the European Union for the first time. It is aimed at manufacturers, importers and distributors of machinery and safety components and applies to new equipment. This directive harmonizes the level of safety of products designed and manufactured by different manufacturers. Machines already installed are outside the scope of this Directive, because they are already on the market. The resale of used machines is governed by national laws.

The directive applies to machinery, as well as interchangeable equipment, safety components, lifting accessories, chains/ropes/webbing, removable mechanical transmission devices and partially completed machinery.

Machinery that is covered by more specific directives is excluded from the scope of this directive. Machines excluded from the scope include:.