The Recreational Craft Directive, Directive 2013/53/EU, originally Directive 94/25/EC on recreational craft amended by Directive 2003/44/EC, is a European Union directive which sets out minimum technical, safety and environmental standards for boats, personal watercraft, marine engines and components in Europe. It covers boats between 2.5 and 24m, personal watercraft, engines and a number of components built since 1998. It ensures their suitability for sale and use in Europe.
The 2013 Directive is usually referred to as RCD2 to differentiate it from the 1994 original.
Directive 94/25/EC was the first piece of harmonised legislation in the EU to regulate the boating industry throughout Europe. It was brought in to harmonise the safety requirements related to the design and construction of boats across Europe. The Directive allowed for the creation and emergence of a single market for boats, personal watercraft, marine engines and components in the EU.
The Directive was revised in 2003 with the adoption of Directive 2003/44/EC. This amending directive brought personal watercraft within the scope of the Directive, as well as introducing new requirements for noise and low limits for exhaust emissions for marine engines.
Directive 94/25/EC on recreational craft, as amended by 2003/44/EC was revised in 2013. The European Commission's proposal brought the Directive in line with the New Legislative Framework, as well as bringing in stricter exhaust emissions limits and clarifying the concept of private importer. The proposal was published by the European Commission in July 2011 and was adopted in 2013 by the European Parliament and Council of the European Union.
Directive 94/25/EC, as amended by 2003/44/EC, applies to new and second hand recreational craft from 2.5m to 24m in length, personal watercraft, marine propulsion engines and components placed on the market for the first time after 1998.