Technical Regulations work
Technical Regulations work is covered by three of the the Department's aims
- Increase the capacity of business, especially SMEs, to grow and to improve their productivity, through innovation, adoption of best practice, and investment
- Improve and enforce the regulatory framework for commercial activity, while removing unnecessary burdens on business
- Improve the openness, efficiency and effectiveness of markets at home, in Europe and across the world
To achieve these aims, we have a number of roles:-
- coordinating the UK's input to the EC agreements with 3rd countries on third-party testing and certification.
- We also co-ordinate UK views and provide advice to colleagues in Government and business on horizontal issues relating to product directives and standards. Consultation is carried out through the Standards Policy Committee, a CBI Standards Forum and a National Conformity Assessment Forum at BSI.
- we play an active part in relevant BSI committees in the field of quality and conformity assessment, and work with the European Commission, and other Member States and UKAS to secure internationally recognised confidence in UK providers of testing, certification and inspection services. We play a part in stimulating continuous improvement in the quality of UK companies through the promotion of ISO 9000 and product certification as part of an overall business excellence model.
- responsibility for specific technical regulations in the electrical, gas, mechanical and process engineering sectors; and also
- responsibility for consumer safety in electrical and gas appliances and eleven New Approach directives.
- Negotiation of most of these has been completed, but work continues on the introduction of UK implementing regulations, and the administration of those regulations. We appoint and monitor organisations notified to the Commission for the provision of certification, testing and inspection services required under the directives.
Guidance
- Information is provided through a series of Product Standards booklets. We consult industry through trade associations to identify difficulties of interpretation, and seek solutions to problems through liaison with the Commission and Member States.