Since the EU Regulation on Machinery (Regulation 1230/2023) there have been stipulations regarding the provision of digital operating instructions for electric bicycles. In principle, operating instructions can now be provided in digital format, provided that they comply with certain requirements. These are described in Chapter II, Article 10, Section (7) of the Regulation on Machinery. As an electric bicycle is intended for use by non-professional users, safety information that is essential for safe putting into operation and its safe use must be provided in paper format.
The guide to the application of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC has been updated (Edition 2.3) and now also contains provisions on digital operating instructions and the associated obligation to provide safety information in paper format in § 255.
In the document “Essential safety information for electric bicycles”, the ZIV explains together with member companies and the German association for technical communication - tekom Deutschland e.V., velotech.de GmbH and Zedler-Institut, what manufacturers should pay attention to in the operating instructions in order to fulfil the requirements.
The document can be used as a template, which then only needs to be completed by the respective companies in the placeholders. Further information is available at:
the German website of the ZIV
the German explanation of safety information
and in the actual German document “Essential Safety Information EPAC”
Author: Daniel Hrkac
