The new Machinery Directive also establishes a clearer distinction between the Machinery Directive and the Low Voltage Directive. Products are no longer covered by one or other of these two Directives on the basis of the "main source of risks" identified during the risk assessment exercise. Instead, the Directive now indicates six categories of electrical machinery that are covered exclusively by the Low Voltage Directive. For all other machinery the safety objectives of the Low Voltage Directive apply as regards the electrical risks, but all the other essential requirements and the obligations regarding assessment of conformity and placing on the market are governed exclusively by the Machinery Directive.

The Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC now also applies to partly-completed machinery. The corresponding technical file must specify the requirements of the Directive with which the partly-completed machinery complies.

A clearer distinction has also been made with the Lifts Directive: Lifting appliances whose speed is not greater than 0.15 m/s are now covered by the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, as are construction site hoists.

The new Directive also contains a more detailed list of the safety components covered by the Machinery Directive.

The main changes and additions to the essential requirements are as follows: