These Recreational Craft Sectoral Group (RSG) Guidelines, otherwise known as 2026 RSG guidelines, are primarily intended for use by the Notified Bodies, manufacturers of boats and equipment and Market Surveillance authorities and provide critical support in terms of compliance to the EU’s Recreational Craft Directive and the UK’s Recreational Craft Regulations essential requirements.
Given the scope of the RCD and the variety of different types of watercraft, PWC, and components, the RSG Guidelines make an assessment of the relevant harmonised standards which can be applied, identify where there are potential ‘gaps’ and provides support where no standards are available to ensure that compliance with the RCD essential requirements (which are mandatory) are met.
The RSG Guidelines are organised into six parts:
Part I: RCD Articles
Part II: Essential Requirements including:
Annex I of RCD: Essential requirements
Annex II of RCD: Components of watercraft
Annex III of RCD: Declaration by the manufacturer or the importer of the partly completed watercraft
Annex IV of RCD: EU Declaration of Conformity
Annex VI of RCD: Supplementary requirements when internal production control plus supervised production tests set out in Module A1 is used
Annex VII of RCD: Conformity of production assessment for exhaust and noise emissions
Annex VIII Supplementary procedure to be applied under conformity to type based on internal production control (Module C)
Annex IX Technical documentation
Part III: Conformity Assessment Procedures including:
Annex II of Decision No 768/2008/EC as specified in Article 24 Supplementary requirements? of RCD II
Part IV: Post-Construction Assessment (PCA) including:
Annex V of RCD: Equivalent conformity based on post-construction assessment (module PCA)
Part V: Harmonised Standards with Annexes ZA
Part VI: Recommendations for Use prepared by RSG
It should be noted that these RSG Guidelines will form part of the RCD evaluation study and review process and remain an important tool for all stakeholders engaged in the recreational marine sector.
Download the guidelines: New 2026 RSG guidelines