Packaging and processing machinery needs to meet an acceptable criterion to operate safely, and several core standards stand out to help machinery do so.
That’s according to PMMI Business Intelligence’s “The Impact of Global and Local Standards on OEMs & Suppliers,” a white paper that discusses why standards are important to machinery builders, what core standards are relevant to packaging and processing, how to determine what standard(s) to follow, and what is currently happening with standards. The report also includes a list of links to standards, documents, and resources that PMMI offers to its members.
Packaging and processing machinery must comply with an array of regulatory standards and normative standards, which address a variety of topics including risk assessment and risk reduction, mechanical safety, electrical safety, specific machine categories, hygienic design, specific product categories, hazardous environments, processing, and automation, the Business Intelligence team notes.
For packaging equipment, three primary European regulations apply: the Machinery Regulation, the Low Voltage Directive, and the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive. All three specify requirements for CE Marking, which is required on equipment sold in Europe.
Standards and practices have been widely recognized by other organizations such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and by end users as well. Environmental issues and health and safety directives also may apply.
In the U.S., ANSI/PMMI B155.1 outlines the risk assessment process. In addition, ANSI B11.19-2019 (R2024), Performance Requirements for Risk Reduction Measures: Safeguarding and Other Means of Reducing Risk applies broadly to machinery, equipment, and facilities. It provides performance requirements for the design, construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of the risk reduction measures applied to machines. This includes inherently-safe-by-design features, engineering controls (guards, control functions, and devices), and administrative controls.
Finally, the goal of these regulatory and normative standards is not to achieve zero risk in the work environment, but an acceptable level of risk.
For more insights from PMMI’s Business Intelligence team, find reports, including “2025 Performance Optimization: Insights for Packaging Line Readiness” and “2025 Aftermarket Parts & Services” at pmmi.org/business-intelligence.
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