9.7.97 [EN | Official Journal of the European Communities No L 181/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) DIRECTIVE 97/23/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 29 May 1997 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning pressure equipment THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Furopean Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof, Having regard to the proposals from the Commission ('), Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty (?), in the light of the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee on 4 February 1997, 1. Whereas the internal market is an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is ensured,; 2. Whereas there are differences in the content and scope of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions in force in the Member States with regard to the safety and protection of health of persons and, where appropriate, domestic animals or property, where pressure equipment not covered by present Community legislation is concerned; whereas the certification and inspection procedures for such equipment differ from one Member State to another; whereas such disparities may well constitute barriers to trade within the Community; 3. Whereas the harmonization of national legislation is the only means of removing these barriers to free (') OJ No C 246, 9. 9. 1993, p. 1 and O] No C 207, 27. 7. 1994, p. S. (2) OJ No C 52, 19. 2. 1994, p. 10. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 19 April 1994 (O] No C 128, 9. 5. 1994, p. 61), common position of the Council of 29 March 1996 (O] No C 147, 21. 5. 1996, p- 1), Decision of the European Parliament of 17 July 1996 (O] No C 261, 9. 9. 1996, p. 68). Council Decision of 17 April 1997. trade; whereas this objective cannot be achieved satisfactorily by the individual Member States; whereas this Directive only lays down indispensable requirements for the free circulation of the equipment to which it is applicable; Whereas equipment subject to a pressure of not more than 0,5 bar does not pose a significant hazard due to pressure; whereas there should not therefore be any obstacle to its free movement within the Community; whereas this Directive applies to equipment subject to a maximum allowable pressure PS exceeding 0,5 bar; Whereas this Directive relates also to assemblies composed of several pieces of pressure equipment assembled to constitute an integrated and functional whole; whereas these assemblies may range from simple assemblies such as pressure cookers to complex assemblies such as watertube boilers; whereas, if the manufacturer of an assembly intends it to be placed on the market and put into service as an assembly — and not in the form of its constituent non-assembled elements — that assembly must conform to this Directive; whereas, on the other hand, this Directive does not cover the assembly of pressure equipment on the site and under the responsibility of the user, as in the case of industrial installations; Whereas this Directive harmonizes national provisions on hazards due to pressure; whereas the other hazards which this equipment may present accordingly may fall within the scope of other Directives dealing with such hazards; whereas, however, pressure equipment may be included among products covered by other Directives based on Article 100a of the Treaty; whereas the provisions laid down in some of those Directives deal with the hazard due to pressure; whereas those provisions are considered adequate to provide appropriate protection where the hazard due to pressure associated with such equipment remains