I do agree, however, the requirement is not that manufacturers only show compliance with essential requirements, as, related to the standards, there's this requirement:
It only requires a description, not a justification, so it's still not a requirement as I mentioned anyway.
It only requires a description, not a justification, so it's still not a requirement as I mentioned anyway.
Your quote from the MDD (reproduced below) is from Annex II, so it only applies in those cases where the manufacturer chooses the Annex II route. Besides, it only requires listing the standards that will be applied. In my understanding, if the manufacturer chooses NOT to apply some standards, or even just doesn't apply some standards without a clear decision/consideration, this clause doesn't require doing anything about it.
3.2. Application of the quality system must ensure that the products conform to the provisions of this Directive which apply to them at every stage, from design to final inspection. All the elements, requirements and provisions adopted by the manufacturer for his quality system must be documented in a systematic and orderly manner in the form of written policies and procedures such as quality programmes, quality plans, quality manuals and quality records.
It shall include in particular the corresponding documentation, data and records arising from the procedures referred to in point (c).
It shall include in particular an adequate description of:
(...)
(c) the procedures for monitoring and verifying the design of the products, including the corresponding documentation, and in particular:
(...)
— the design specifications, including the standards which will be applied and the results of the risk analysis, and also a description of the solutions adopted to fulfil the essential requirements which apply to the products if the standards referred to in Article 5 are not applied in full,
(...)
It shall include in particular the corresponding documentation, data and records arising from the procedures referred to in point (c).
It shall include in particular an adequate description of:
(...)
(c) the procedures for monitoring and verifying the design of the products, including the corresponding documentation, and in particular:
(...)
— the design specifications, including the standards which will be applied and the results of the risk analysis, and also a description of the solutions adopted to fulfil the essential requirements which apply to the products if the standards referred to in Article 5 are not applied in full,
(...)