Directive 2000/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors.

The aim of this Directive is the harmonization of the laws of the Member States relating to noise emission standards, conformity assessment procedures, marking, technical documentation and collection of data concerning the noise emission in the environment of equipment for use outdoors. The Directive applies to equipment for use outdoors listed out in articles 12 and 13 and defined in Annex I. Such equipment shall not be placed on the market or put into service until the manufacturer ensures that: (1) the equipment satisfies the requirements concerning the noise emission in the environment of this Directive; (2) the conformity assessment procedures referred to in article 14 have been completed; (3) the equipment bears CE marking. Article 9 refers to the measures to be undertaken by Member States in respect of equipment that does not fulfill the requirements hereby established. Article 14 describes the conformity procedure above-mentioned. Article 16 concerns the collection of noise data. The following Annexes are attached: (I) Definitions of equipment; (II) EC Declaration of conformity; (III) Methods of measurements of airborne noise emitted by equipment for use outdoors; (IV) Models of the CE marking of conformity and of the indication of the guaranteed sound power level; (V) Internal control of production; (VI) Internal control of production with assessment of technical documentation and periodical checking; (VII) Unit verification; (VIII) Full quality assurance; (IX) Minimum criteria to be taken into account by Member States for the notification of bodies; (X) Model of conformity certificate.