The European Parliament and the Council issued the 2014/68/EU directive on the regulation of the pressure equipment market on May 15, 2014, replacing the old 97/23/EC directive. This Directive specifies the design, manufacture and conformity assessment of pressure equipment and components. It also specifies the relevant obligations of manufacture, operation and importers.

These components can range from simple components such as pressure cookers to complex components such as water tube boilers. If the manufacturer of a component intends to put it on the market and put it into use as a component - rather than in the form of a non-assembled component it comprises - the component shall comply with this Directive. However, this Directive does not apply to the assembly of pressure equipment on site, nor does it apply to the responsibilities of users who are not manufacturers, such as industrial installation.

• Classification and compliance assessment procedures for pressure equipment: