16


CONTINUING TRADE WITH THE EU G


iven the close economic relationship between the UK and the rest of Europe, low friction market access to the EU and EFTA countries continues to


be essential for UK businesses who export goods and services. In contrast to new customs and compliance checks, standards are a welcome area of continuity for UK business following the UK’s exit from the EU, helping to keep down the overall cost of meeting regulatory requirements linked to placing products on the market across Europe.. As a founding member of both CEN and CENELEC, the regional European standards bodies, BSI has always played a leading role in developing European standards, as well as international standards through membership of ISO and IEC. CEN and CENELEC are not EU agencies but private member associations. Their role is to develop voluntary, consensus- based European standards, aligned with international standards, for the needs of helping market access across Europe.


“Our stakeholders have consistently made clear that they want BSI to continue to work within CEN and CENELEC, which form an integral part of the international


standards system” Daniel Mansfi eld


SIGN OF THE TIMES


“Our stakeholders have consistently made clear that they want BSI to continue to work within CEN and CENELEC. They form an integral part of the international standards system, ensuring that UK experts have a hand in shaping the terms of European and global trade,” said Daniel. In June 2021, the CEN and CENELEC General Assemblies overwhelmingly agreed to revise the membership arrangements of their statutes. The changes come after a careful review by the CEN and CENELEC members of their governance provisions. For the UK, this review considered the impact of the changed political situation with Europe following EU exit. The revision of the statutes creates a


new full membership category for BSI. This category is for members who have an agreement with the EU or can demonstrate compatible market regulation. BSI will undergo an assessment against the new category of membership in late summer.


The results of the assessment will be used by the General Assemblies to confi rm BSI’s membership status in November. BSI will then transfer to the new category of full membership from 1 January 2022. The new membership arrangements will ensure UK experts retain all the rights of participation, leadership and voting in standards developing committees as now. BSI will also continue to adopt and update European standards. UK adoptions of European standards are identical in technical content to the European standards published by all other CEN and CENELEC members. “The signifi cance of this means continuity for the UK and for CEN and CENELEC,” said Daniel. “This outcome will maintain the way that UK expert stakeholders from all communities engage with CEN and CENELEC through BSI, retaining all the rights they have now.”


Daniel Mansfi eld


CONTENTS


SUBSCRIBE


CONTACT THE TEAM


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20