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  • Machine safety
- June 26, 2026

Machine Safety in Agriculture and Horticulture

Machine safety plays a crucial role in agriculture and horticulture. The sector is characterized by a wide variety of machinery, ranging from tractors and implements to harvesters, precision farming systems, and autonomous vehicles. Due to the combination of heavy mechanical loads, varying working conditions, and close collaboration between humans and machines, machine safety in this sector requires specific knowledge and standards.

The foundation is based on European machinery legislation, CE marking, and risk assessment. In addition, specific standards have been developed for many agricultural and landscaping machines that take into account the particular risks within this sector.

Specific Standards for Agricultural Machinery

Standards for agricultural and forestry machinery are developed within CEN/TC 144 (Tractors and Machinery for Agriculture and Forestry) at the European level and ISO/TC 23 (Tractors and Machinery for Agriculture and Forestry) at the international level.

These standards cover, among other things:

  • machine safety;
  • safety features;
  • tractors and implements;
  • precision agriculture;
  • autonomous machines;
  • control systems;
  • crop protection equipment.

Many of these standards have been harmonized under European machinery legislation and help manufacturers demonstrate compliance.

Relevant sources:

Fedecom, CEMA, and Standardization

Fedecom represents Dutch manufacturers of agricultural, gardening, and landscaping machinery and is actively involved in standardization through NEN, CEN, and ISO. This allows Dutch practical experience and innovation-related issues to be incorporated into the development of new standards.

Furthermore, through CEMA (European Agricultural Machinery Association), Fedecom is involved in European legislation and standardization regarding agricultural machinery, machine safety, and new technologies such as digitization, automation, and autonomous systems.

This commitment ensures that Dutch companies gain timely insight into future developments in the field of machine safety and regulations.

Through NEN, CEN, and CEMA, Fedecom contributes to these developments, ensuring that knowledge and practical experience from the Dutch agricultural, horticultural, and vegetable technology sectors are incorporated into future standards.

Future Developments

Machine safety in agriculture and horticulture is evolving rapidly. The introduction of the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, the rise of autonomous machines, robotization, and digitization are creating new safety challenges. As a result, existing standards are constantly being updated and new standards are being developed.

It is important for manufacturers, importers, and users of agricultural machinery to keep up with these developments and to take new requirements into account in a timely manner.

Relevant sources: