The European Community Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 97/23/EC is but one of the many directives that have been implemented to ensure that certain equipment delivered to member states within the Community meets specified Essential Safety Requirements (ESRs). In general, the PED is applicable to all pressure equipment and assemblies of equipment with maximum working pressure greater than 0.5 bar, unless specifically excluded by Article 1, Section 3 of the Directive. Pressure equipment that complies with the Directive is marked with the CE mark, which confirms that a product complies with all relevant European Union product directives. European Union (EU) product directives are laws passed by the EU that must be implemented by all European Economic Area (EEA) member states. Directives are intended to remove technical trade barriers by establishing a commonly accepted level of safety, e.g., Directive 97/23/EC covering Pressurized Equipment. The PED is a law and, therefore, must be complied with by manufacturers who are supplying covered pressure equipment to Europe. Although some of the practices and requirements are somewhat at variance to the National Codes/Standards applied in the USA, conformity to the requirements of the Directive can be assured through proper application of the requirements of the Directive together with the guidance of a competent Notified Body during the process.