EN 12853:2001+A1:2010
(Main + Amendment)Food processing machinery - Hand-held blenders and whisks - Safety and hygiene requirements
General Information
- Abstract
1.1 This European Standard specifies the safety and hygiene requirements for the design and manufacture of hand-held blenders and whisks used in the commercial and institutional catering, and in food shops.
The term "hand-held blenders" is used to refer to the equipment covered by this standard.
The machines covered by this standard are hand-held appliances whose tool is intended to process a foodstuff in a container. Tools are designed to crush, mix, mash, emulsify, etc. foodstuffs such as vegetables into soups, mashes, purees, sauces, mayonnaise, cream, dairy products and more generally to process all solid, liquid, pasty or powdery foodstuffs to obtain a homogeneous fluid.
These appliances are designed to process up to 100 l of food in one operation.
This standard applies to the following machines, according to their weight and to the operating modes required by their intended use:
- manually operated machines, using one or both hands, actuated throughout the whole operation (see figure 1);
- machines operating resting on the bottom of the container (see figure 2);
- machines fixed to or placed on a special support which can be fitted to the container (see figure 3). The support acts as a substitute for the operator for operations that take a long time or for food processing which may present risks of burns (steam or splashes).
Figure 1 - Manually operated machine Figure 2 - Free-standing machine Figure 3 - Fixed machine
1.2 This standard does not apply to:
- domestic machines;
- vertical crushers, sieves mounted on trolleys and beam mixers (beam mixers are covered by EN 12854:2003).
1.3 This European Standard specifies all significant hazards, hazardous situations and events relevant to hand-held blenders and whisks, when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see Clause 4).
This European Standard deals wi
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 04-May-2010
- Withdrawal Date
- 29-Nov-2010
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 153 - Food processing machinery - Safety and hygiene specifications
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 153/WG 4 - Catering equipment
- Current Stage
- 9060 - Closure of 2 Year Review Enquiry - Review Enquiry
- Start Date
- 04-Mar-2023
- Completion Date
- 04-Mar-2023
- Directive
- Harmonized Standard2006/42/EC - Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on machinery, and amending Directive 95/16/EC (recast)OJ Ref: C, C 284 OJ Date: 20-Oct-2010
Not Harmonized98/37/EC - Machinery
Overview
EN 12853:2001+A1:2010 is the CEN European standard that defines safety and hygiene requirements for hand-held blenders and whisks used in commercial and institutional catering and in food shops. It covers hand-held appliances designed to crush, mix, mash, emulsify and otherwise process solid, liquid, pasty or powdery foodstuffs into a homogeneous fluid, for batch sizes up to 100 L. The standard addresses manually operated, free‑standing (resting on container bottom) and support‑mounted (fixed) machines. Domestic appliances and certain other machine types (e.g., beam mixers covered by EN 12854) are excluded.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and machine types: manual, free‑standing and support‑mounted hand‑held blenders/whisks; rated power and operational characteristics described.
- Hazard identification: all significant hazards relevant to intended use and foreseeable misuse, including:
- Mechanical hazards (e.g., tool bursting, rotating blades)
- Electrical hazards (ingress of liquids, risk of electric shock)
- Thermal hazards (hot splashes, hot surfaces)
- Hygiene risks (cleanability, contamination, residues)
- Ergonomic hazards (operator fatigue, poor grip or control layout)
- Design and protective measures:
- Controls must prevent unintended starting while recognising that continuous hold‑to‑run may be impractical for long operations.
- Tools and attachments must be dimensioned to avoid bursting under kinetic loads.
- Enclosures and protection against liquid ingress (IP rating considerations) to reduce electrical risk.
- Principles and requirements for cleanability and hygienic design to prevent food contamination.
- Thermal protection, ergonomic design of grips and controls, and risk‑based application of guards and safety distances.
- Verification and information: testing, noise declaration (noise treated as non‑significant hazard but information required), instruction handbook and marking requirements are included.
- Regulatory linkage: informative Annex ZA relates the standard to the essential requirements of EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.
Applications and users
This standard is intended for:
- Manufacturers and designers of commercial hand‑held blenders and whisks - for safe, hygienic product design and CE conformity.
- Product safety and compliance engineers, testing laboratories and certification bodies - for risk assessment, verification and documentation.
- Procurement teams and technical buyers in commercial kitchens, catering businesses, institutional catering and food shops - to specify safe, hygienic equipment.
- Health & safety professionals and maintenance staff - to guide safe operation, cleaning and servicing procedures.
Related standards
Relevant referenced standards include EN 1672‑2 (hygiene), EN 60204‑1 (electrical equipment), EN ISO 12100 (risk assessment/design principles), EN ISO 13849‑1 (control systems), EN ISO 13857 (safety distances), and EN 614‑1 (ergonomics). These help implement the detailed safety and hygiene provisions of EN 12853.
Keywords: EN 12853:2001+A1:2010, hand-held blenders, whisks, food processing machinery, safety and hygiene requirements, CEN, commercial catering, hygienic design.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 06-Mar-2010
- Effective Date
- 25-Aug-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN 12853:2001+A1:2010 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Food processing machinery - Hand-held blenders and whisks - Safety and hygiene requirements". This standard covers: 1.1 This European Standard specifies the safety and hygiene requirements for the design and manufacture of hand-held blenders and whisks used in the commercial and institutional catering, and in food shops. The term "hand-held blenders" is used to refer to the equipment covered by this standard. The machines covered by this standard are hand-held appliances whose tool is intended to process a foodstuff in a container. Tools are designed to crush, mix, mash, emulsify, etc. foodstuffs such as vegetables into soups, mashes, purees, sauces, mayonnaise, cream, dairy products and more generally to process all solid, liquid, pasty or powdery foodstuffs to obtain a homogeneous fluid. These appliances are designed to process up to 100 l of food in one operation. This standard applies to the following machines, according to their weight and to the operating modes required by their intended use: - manually operated machines, using one or both hands, actuated throughout the whole operation (see figure 1); - machines operating resting on the bottom of the container (see figure 2); - machines fixed to or placed on a special support which can be fitted to the container (see figure 3). The support acts as a substitute for the operator for operations that take a long time or for food processing which may present risks of burns (steam or splashes). Figure 1 - Manually operated machine Figure 2 - Free-standing machine Figure 3 - Fixed machine 1.2 This standard does not apply to: - domestic machines; - vertical crushers, sieves mounted on trolleys and beam mixers (beam mixers are covered by EN 12854:2003). 1.3 This European Standard specifies all significant hazards, hazardous situations and events relevant to hand-held blenders and whisks, when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see Clause 4). This European Standard deals wi
1.1 This European Standard specifies the safety and hygiene requirements for the design and manufacture of hand-held blenders and whisks used in the commercial and institutional catering, and in food shops. The term "hand-held blenders" is used to refer to the equipment covered by this standard. The machines covered by this standard are hand-held appliances whose tool is intended to process a foodstuff in a container. Tools are designed to crush, mix, mash, emulsify, etc. foodstuffs such as vegetables into soups, mashes, purees, sauces, mayonnaise, cream, dairy products and more generally to process all solid, liquid, pasty or powdery foodstuffs to obtain a homogeneous fluid. These appliances are designed to process up to 100 l of food in one operation. This standard applies to the following machines, according to their weight and to the operating modes required by their intended use: - manually operated machines, using one or both hands, actuated throughout the whole operation (see figure 1); - machines operating resting on the bottom of the container (see figure 2); - machines fixed to or placed on a special support which can be fitted to the container (see figure 3). The support acts as a substitute for the operator for operations that take a long time or for food processing which may present risks of burns (steam or splashes). Figure 1 - Manually operated machine Figure 2 - Free-standing machine Figure 3 - Fixed machine 1.2 This standard does not apply to: - domestic machines; - vertical crushers, sieves mounted on trolleys and beam mixers (beam mixers are covered by EN 12854:2003). 1.3 This European Standard specifies all significant hazards, hazardous situations and events relevant to hand-held blenders and whisks, when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see Clause 4). This European Standard deals wi
EN 12853:2001+A1:2010 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 67.260 - Plants and equipment for the food industry. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 12853:2001+A1:2010 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 12853:2001, ISO 8598:1996, EN 60529:1991, EN ISO 13849-1:2008, EN ISO 12100-2:2003, EN 614-1:2006, EN ISO 13857:2008, EN ISO 4287:1998, EN ISO 3744:1995, EN ISO 14120:2015, EN ISO 4871:1996, EN 2286:1989, EN 1672-2:2005, EN ISO 13732-1:2006, EN ISO 12100-1:2003. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 12853:2001+A1:2010 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2006/42/EC, 98/37/EC; Standardization Mandates: M/396. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
EN 12853:2001+A1:2010 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Nahrungsmittelmaschinen - Handmixer und Handrührer - Sicherheits- und HygieneanforderungenMachines pour les produits alimentaires - Batteurs et fouets portatifs - Prescriptions relatives à la sécurité et à l'hygièneFood processing machinery - Hand-held blenders and whisks - Safety and hygiene requirements67.260Tovarne in oprema za živilsko industrijoPlants and equipment for the food industryICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 12853:2001+A1:2010SIST EN 12853:2002+A1:2010en,fr01-junij-2010SIST EN 12853:2002+A1:2010SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 12853:20021DGRPHãþD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 12853:2001+A1
May 2010 ICS 67.260 Supersedes EN 12853:2001English Version
Food processing machinery - Hand-held blenders and whisks - Safety and hygiene requirements
Machines pour les produits alimentaires - Batteurs et fouets portatifs - Prescriptions relatives à la sécurité et à l'hygiène Nahrungsmittelmaschinen - Handmixer und Handrührer - Sicherheits- und Hygieneanforderungen This European Standard was approved by CEN on 20 April 2001 and includes Amendment 1 approved by CEN on 25 March 2010.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2010 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 12853:2001+A1:2010: ESIST EN 12853:2002+A1:2010
Noise test code for hand-held blenders and whisks (Grade 2 of accuracy) . 18Annex B (normative)
Principles of design to ensure the cleanability of hand-held blenders and whisks . 21Annex ZA (informative)
!Relationship between this European Standard and the
Essential Requirements of EU Directive 2006/42/EC" . 30Bibliography . 31 SIST EN 12853:2002+A1:2010
Figure 1 Manually operated machine Figure 2 Free-standing machine Figure 3 Fixed machine !deleted text" SIST EN 12853:2002+A1:2010
Figure 4 — Description of a hand-held blender 4 !List of significant hazards 4.1 Mechanical hazards 4.1 General This clause contains all the significant hazards, hazardous situations and events, as far as they are dealt with in this European Standard, identified by risk assessment as significant for this type of machinery, and which require action to eliminate or reduce the risk." 4.2 Electrical hazards Electrical shocks hazards may arise due to the ingress of moisture and liquids into the appliance caused by: the appliance falling into liquid; or liquids being splashed or hosed onto the appliance; or the appliance being used in a high humidity environment such as a steam-filled kitchen; or the appliance being handled by a person with wet hands. 4.3 Thermal hazards Thermal hazards of burning hands and arms may arise from: contact with splashed processed hot food, steam or thermal radiations; contact with the hot handgrip. SIST EN 12853:2002+A1:2010
EN 60204-1, EN 60529, EN ISO 12100, EN ISO 13849-1 and EN ISO 13857, the manufacturer shall carry out a risk assessment to establish the requirements of the type B-standard. This specific risk assessment shall be part of the general risk assessment of the machine. When fixed guards, or parts of the machine acting as such, are not permanently fixed e.g. by welding, their fixing systems shall remain attached to the guards or to the machine when the guards are removed." 5.2 Mechanical hazards 5.2.1 Unintended starting Due to the weight of the appliance and the need to operate it manually, in most cases with both hands, and for up to ten minutes, the resulting physical fatigue that would affect the operator precludes the systematic use of hold-to-run controls. The switch shall be so designed and located that any unintended actuation of it is prevented during foreseeable handling of the machine (operational use, cleaning, storage, etc.). 5.2.2 Bursting of tool Rotary food processing attachments and tools shall be designed and dimensioned to avoid the hazard of bursting during rotation under the effect of kinetic energy. SIST EN 12853:2002+A1:2010
Key 1 Lower limit of the grip zone
Figure 5 Fixed guard on the drive side Figure 6 Safety distance between the grip
zone and the tool
Figure 7 Protecting guard 5.2.4.2 Other mobile parts Driving and transmission parts as well as supports shall be fitted with fixed guards preventing access to moving parts (other than the tool). Guards shall meet the requirements of !EN 953". Openings in the guards and in the structure of the machine shall meet the requirements of table 4 of !EN ISO 13857:2008". When the appliance includes removable processing attachments, so as to avoid trapping hazards, no part of the driving device shall protrude from outside the housing. 5.3 !Electrical hazards 5.3.1 General Electrical equipment, for example switches, that may be exposed to water, e.g. during cleaning, they shall be protected to an appropriate IP rating according to EN 60529 and EN 60204-1. Electrical equipment shall comply with EN 60204-1 with specific requirements of 5.3 taking precedence. 5.3.2 Safety requirements related to electromagnetic phenomena The machines shall have sufficient immunity to electromagnetic disturbances to enable them to operate safely as intended and not fail to danger when exposed to the levels and types of disturbances intended by the manufacturer. The manufacturer of the machines shall design, install and wire the equipment and sub-assemblies taking into account the recommendations of the suppliers of these sub-assemblies. SIST EN 12853:2002+A1:2010
EN 60204-1:2006, 7.2.3. In case of single phase machines, no such device is required for the earthed neutral conductor. 5.3.5 Protection against earth faults in control circuits For machinery supplied from a single-phase conductor and an earthed neutral conductor, there is no requirement for double pole interruption of the control circuit. The single pole interruption shall be in the phase conductor (see 9.4.3.1 of EN 60204-1:2006). 5.3.6 Emergency stop Machines shall be fitted with at least one emergency stop (see 10.7 of EN 60204-1:2006), as far as the risk assessment carried out by the manufacturer doesn't allow to establish that such a device would not reduce the stopping time, or would not enable the special measures, required to deal with the risk, to be taken. In general no emergency stop is required for hand-held blenders and whisks. In this cas
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