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Is translation mandatory?
Yes. In Spain and other European countries it is compulsory to translate the instructions, maintenance and commissioning manuals for machines.
Which products are covered?
Manuals must be translated for machines, interchangeable equipment, safety components, lifting accessories, chains, ropes and webbing, removable mechanical transmission devices, and partly completed machinery marketed in the EEA, Switzerland and Türkiye.
What is a “machine”?
An assembly of linked parts or components, at least one of which moves, joined for a specific application and powered, or intended to be powered, by a drive system other than human or animal force.
Main exclusions (see Directive 2006/42/EC): certain safety components, weapons, specified means of transport, military equipment, household appliances, and low-voltage switching and control devices, among others.
Instructions intended solely for specialised personnel authorised by the manufacturer (for maintenance) need not be translated.
Where does this apply?
In all EU Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Türkiye.
Into which languages must the manual be translated?
Into the official language(s) of every country where the product will be placed on the market. In Spain, translation into Spanish is mandatory.
Are Spain’s co-official regional languages required?
Barring specific autonomous-community rules, manuals do not have to be translated into Catalan/Valencian, Galician, Basque or Aranese. (More info in local regulations.)
How must the translation be presented?
The documentation must state whether it is a “Original instructions” or a “Translation of the original instructions”. In the latter case, the translation must be faithful, meet the same requirements as the original and be supplied together with the original manual.
Must the entire manual be translated?
As a rule, yes.
However, maintenance instructions meant exclusively for specialised personnel authorised by the manufacturer or its authorised representative may be supplied in a non-EU language understood by that personnel.
This exception does not cover maintenance operations to be performed by the user or the user’s maintenance staff.
In every case, all safety-related information must be translated.
Who is responsible for translation?
If the manufacturer does not supply the original manual in the official language of the country of sale, the importer/distributor placing the machine on the market is responsible for providing a translation.
What if the manual is not translated?
In Spain, the absence of a translation (or an incomplete one) constitutes an infringement under Law 21/1992, of 16 July (Industry Law) and may lead to penalties for the manufacturer and distributor.
Categories of infringements and fines (Spain):
Minor: fines up to €3,000.
Serious: fines €3,000 to €90,000.
Very serious: fines €90,000 to €600,000.
CE Declaration of Conformity — must it be translated?
Yes. The manufacturer’s declaration that the product complies with the applicable EU legislation (the CE marking framework) must be translated into the language(s) required by the Member State where the product is placed on the market (Decision 768/2008/EC). See also the page on the CE Declaration of Conformity.
Legislation
Machinery Directive — Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (17 May 2006).
Royal Decree 1644/2008 (Spain) — rules on marketing and commissioning of machinery.
Law 21/1992, of 16 July, on Industry (Spain).
Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 on CE marking.
Legal notice: Accuracy is not guaranteed. Always check the current official legal texts.
Copyright: This article is protected by copyright and may not be used for commercial purposes without the express authorisation of the author, Alejandro Moreno Ramos. Non-commercial reproduction, in whole or in part, is permitted provided the source is cited (www.ingenierotraductor.com).
Last updated: 24 June 2025.
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