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The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994

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Statutory Instruments

1994 No. 3260

CONSUMER PROTECTION

The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994

Made

15th December 1994

Laid before Parliament

16th December 1994

Coming into force

9th January 1995

Whereas the Secretary of State has, in accordance with section 11(5) of the Consumer Protection Act 1987(1), consulted such organisations as appear to him to be representative of interests substantially affected by these Regulations, such other persons as he considers appropriate and the Health and Safety Commission:

And whereas the Secretary of State is a Minister designated(2) for the purposes of section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972(3) in relation to measures for safety and consumer protection as respects electrical equipment and any provisions concerning the composition, labelling, marketing, classification or description of electrical equipment.

Now, therefore, the Secretary of State in exercise of powers conferred on him by section 11 of the said Act of 1987 and by section 2 of the said Act of 1972 and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf hereby makes the following Regulations:—

Citation and commencementU.K.

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 and shall come into force on 9th January 1995.

Commencement Information

I1Reg. 1 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Revocation, defence and consequential amendmentU.K.

2.—(1) The Low Voltage Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1989(4) are hereby revoked provided that the said Regulations of 1989 shall continue to apply to electrical equipment to which these Regulations do not apply by virtue of paragraph (4) of regulation 4 below.

(2) In Schedule 1 to the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992(5) for paragraph 1 there shall be substituted—

1.  Council Directive 73/23/EEC on the harmonization of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (OJ No. L77, 26.3.1973, p.29) as amended by Article 13 of Council Directive 93/68/EEC (OJ No. L220, 30.8.1993, p.1.).

(3) In any proceedings against a person for an offence under any of the relevant statutory provisions (as defined in section 53(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974(6) or article 2(2) of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978(7) which impose requirements with respect to any matter it shall be a defence for that person to show that the requirements of these Regulations were satisfied in relation to that matter.

(4) Where an improvement notice or a prohibition notice has been served on any person pursuant to section 21 or, as the case may be, section 22 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (or pursuant to article 23 or, as the case may be, article 24 of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978), if the person upon whom the notice was served appeals to an industrial tribunal pursuant to section 24 of the said Act (or article 26 of the said Order) and shows that the notice relates to any matter in respect of which the requirements of these Regulations are satisfied, the tribunal shall cancel the notice.

Commencement Information

I2Reg. 2 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

InterpretationU.K.

3.—(1) In these Regulations—

“the 1987 Act” means the Consumer Protection Act 1987(8);

“authorised representative” means a representative established within the Community appointed by a manufacturer of electrical equipment to act on his behalf in relation to these Regulations;

“the CE marking Directive” means Council Directive No 93/68/EEC(9);

“CE marking” means the CE conformity marking referred to in regulation 9 consisting of the initials “CE” taking the form of the specimen given in Schedule 1;

“the Community” means the European Economic Community and other States in the European Economic Area;

“electrical equipment” means, unless the context otherwise requires, any electrical equipment to which these Regulations apply by virtue of regulation 4 below;

“EEA Agreement” means the Agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2 May 1992 as adjusted by the Protocol signed at Brussels on 17 March 1993(10);

“end user” means the consumer which expression shall include an industrial and commercial consumer;

“harmonised standard” means a standard harmonised in accordance with Article 5 of the low voltage Directive;

“international safety provision” means a safety provision of a standard which has been published by the International Commission on the Rules for the Approval of Electrical Equipment or the International Electrotechnical Commission and which has been published in the Official Journal of the Communities pursuant to Article 6 of the low voltage Directive;

“the low voltage Directive” means Council Directive No.73/23/EEC(11) on the harmonisation of the laws of member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits as amended by the CE marking Directive;

“member State” means a State which is a Contracting Party to the EEA Agreement but until the EEA Agreement comes into force in relation to Liechtenstein does not include the state of Liechtenstein;

“national safety provision” means a safety provision which has the force of law in a member State of the Community or which is contained in a standard published and not withdrawn by a national standards body, not being a safety provision which is to the same effect as a safety provision of a harmonised standard or as an international safety provision;

“national standards body” means a body which has been notified under Article 11 of the low voltage Directive for the purposes of Article 5 of that Directive;

“safe” has the same meaning as in section 19(1) of the 1987 Act, except that, for the purpose of these Regulations, the references in that subsection to “risk” shall be construed as including references to any risk of—

(a)

death or injury to domestic animals; and

(b)

damage to property;

and as excluding any risk arising from the improper installation or maintenance of the electrical equipment in question or from the use of the equipment in applications for which it is not made;

“safety provision” means a provision made for the purpose of ensuring that the equipment in question is safe;

“supply” (except in reference to the electricity supply) includes offering to supply, agreeing to supply, exposing for supply and possessing for supply, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly.

(2) For the purposes of regulation 7(2) below a national safety provision is applicable to equipment in a particular member State if—

(a)the provision has the force of law in that member State or the national standards body publishing it has its principal office there, and

(b)the equipment was not manufactured in any other member State.

(3) Any reference in these Regulations to an electric shock is a reference to an electric shock of such severity as to be liable to cause death or personal injury.

Commencement Information

I3Reg. 3 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

ApplicationU.K.

4.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) below, these Regulations apply to any electrical equipment (including any electrical apparatus or device) designed or adapted for use with voltage (in the case of alternating current) of not less than 50 volts nor more than 1,000 volts or (in the case of direct current) of not less than 75 volts nor more than 1,500 volts.

(2) These Regulations do not apply to the electrical equipment set out in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

(3) These Regulations do not apply to any electrical equipment supplied for export to a place which is not within any member State.

(4) These Regulations do not apply to any electrical equipment which is placed on the market before 1st January 1997 and which complies with the provisions of the Low Voltage Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1989.

Commencement Information

I4Reg. 4 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Requirement for electrical equipment to be safe etc.U.K.

5.—(1) Electrical equipment shall be—

(a)safe;

(b)constructed in accordance with principles generally accepted within the member States as constituting good engineering practice in relation to safety matters and in particular shall be designed and constructed to ensure that it is safe when connected to the electricity supply system by providing a level of protection against electric shock which relies on a combination of insulation and the protective earthing conductor contained within the electricity supply system or which achieves that level of protection by other means; and

(c)in conformity with the principal elements of the safety objectives for electrical equipment set out in Schedule 3 to these Regulations.

(2) In determining whether electrical equipment satisfies the requirements of paragraph (1) above, no regard shall be had to any liability of the equipment to cause radio-electrical interference.

(3) In determining whether electrical equipment which—

(a)has previously been supplied to any end user; or

(b)is supplied solely by virtue of its being hired out whether in connection with the supply of other goods and services or otherwise provided that it satisfies the requirements of sub-paragraph (a) above

satisfies the requirements of paragraph 1 above, no regard shall be had to General Condition 1(b) of Schedule 3.

Commencement Information

I5Reg. 5 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Harmonised standardsU.K.

6.  Electrical equipment which satisfies the safety provisions of harmonised standards shall be taken to comply with the requirements of regulation 5(1) above unless there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the electrical equipment does not so comply.

Commencement Information

I6Reg. 6 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Conformity with other standards and requirementsU.K.

7.—(1) Where there are no relevant harmonised standards, electrical equipment which satisfies international safety provisions shall be taken to comply with the requirements of regulation 5(1) above unless there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the electrical equipment does not so comply.

(2) Where there are no relevant harmonised standards and no relevant international safety provisions, electrical equipment which has been manufactured in accordance with the national safety provisions applicable to that equipment in a member State and the compliance of the equipment with such provisions results in the equipment being at the time when the equipment is supplied in the United Kingdom at least as safe as it would be if it satisfied the requirements of regulation 5(1) above shall be taken to comply with the requirements of regulation 5(1) above unless there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the electrical equipment does not so comply.

Commencement Information

I7Reg. 7 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Reports on safety etc of electrical equipmentU.K.

8.  Where the conformity of any electrical equipment with the requirements of regulation 5(1) is called into question (whether in any proceedings or otherwise) any report prepared by a body notified in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 11 of the low voltage Directive for the purpose of Article 8.2 of that Directive may be relied upon for the purpose of establishing that the equipment does in fact satisfy those requirements and due regard shall be had to any such report by any person or court by whom the question of conformity falls to be determined.

Commencement Information

I8Reg. 8 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

CE markingU.K.

9.—(1) Subject to regulation 12, the manufacturer of electrical equipment or his authorised representative shall affix to all electrical equipment to which these Regulations apply (or to their packaging, instruction sheet or guarantee certificate) in a visible, easily legible and indelible form the CE marking as shown in Schedule 1 by way of confirmation that the electrical equipment conforms with all the requirements of these Regulations which relate to it.

(2) No person shall affix to electrical equipment any markings liable to deceive third parties as to the meaning and form of the CE marking affixed in accordance with these Regulations or which reduces the visibility or legibility of the CE marking so affixed.

(3) (a) Where electrical equipment is subject to other legally binding Community provisions which also provide for the affixing of the CE marking, the latter shall, subject to (b) below be taken to indicate conformity with the requirements of such provisions.

(b)Where a Community provision referred to in (a) above allows the manufacturer, during a transitional period, a choice of arrangements the CE marking shall indicate conformity only in respect of those requirements of the provision which are applied by the manufacturer and particulars of the provisions as published in the Official Journal of the European Communities must be given in the documents, notices or instructions which are required by the provisions and accompany the electrical equipment.

Commencement Information

I9Reg. 9 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

EC declaration of conformityU.K.

10.  Subject to regulation 12, the manufacturer of electrical equipment or his authorised representative shall draw up in respect of all electrical equipment to which these Regulations apply a written declaration of conformity which shall comprise:—

(a)the name and address of the manufacturer or his authorised representative;

(b)a description of the electrical equipment;

(c)a reference to the harmonised standards;

(d)where appropriate, references to the specifications with which conformity is declared;

(e)identification of the signatory who has been empowered to enter into commitments on behalf of the manufacturer or his authorised representative; and

(f)the last two digits of the year in which the CE marking was affixed.

Commencement Information

I10Reg. 10 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Internal Production ControlU.K.

11.—(1) Subject to regulation 12 and to paragraphs (2) and (3) below, the manufacturer of electrical equipment shall compile the technical documentation listed in Schedule 4 and keep it for a period of at least ten years after manufacture of electrical equipment of that model has ceased, together with the EC declaration of conformity referred to in regulation 10 above, available for inspection by an enforcement authority (which for the purposes of this regulation shall include, where appropriate, the Health and Safety Executive and the Northern Ireland Department for Economic Development) or any of its officers.

(2) Where the manufacturer of electrical equipment is not established in the Community, the technical documentation shall be kept in the manner provided for in paragraph (1) above by the manufacturer’s authorised representative.

(3) Where the manufacturer of electrical equipment is established outside the Community and has no authorised representative established in the Community, the technical documentation shall be kept in the manner provided for in paragraph (1) above by the person who supplies the electrical equipment on the first occasion that it is supplied in the Community.

(4) Every manufacturer of electrical equipment shall ensure that his manufacturing process produces electrical equipment which conforms to the technical documentation referred to in paragraph (1).

Commencement Information

I11Reg. 11 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Secondhand and hired equipmentU.K.

12.  Regulations 9(1), 10 and 11 shall not apply in relation to electrical equipment which—

(a)has previously been supplied to any end user; or

(b)is supplied solely by virtue of its being hired out whether in connection with the supply of other goods and services or otherwise provided that it satisfies the provisions of sub-paragraph (a) above.

Commencement Information

I12Reg. 12 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Compliance NoticesU.K.

13.—(1) Except in the case of electrical equipment which in the opinion of the enforcement authority is likely to jeopardise the safety or health of any person, where an enforcement authority has reasonable grounds for suspecting that the affixing of the CE marking to electrical equipment to which these Regulations apply involves a contravention of these Regulations or any part of them, it may serve a notice (a “compliance notice”) on the manufacturer of that electrical equipment or his authorised representative established in the Community and in such a case sections 13, 14, 16 or 17 of the 1987 Act or sections 21 or 22 of the 1974 Act shall not be applied until such a notice has been so served and the person upon whom it has been served has failed to comply with its requirements.

(2) Schedule 5 shall have effect in respect of a compliance notice.

Commencement Information

I13Reg. 13 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Prohibition on supplyU.K.

14.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) below, no person shall supply any electrical equipment in respect of which the requirements of regulations 5(1) and 9(1) above are not satisfied.

(2) For the purposes of this regulation a supply shall include the provision of electrical equipment by a manufacturer for use in his own premises and where a supply consists solely of such provision paragraph (1) above shall apply to the supply as if the words “and 9(1)” were omitted.

Commencement Information

I14Reg. 14 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Duties of enforcement authoritiesU.K.

15.  Every authority and council on whom a duty is imposed by virtue of section 27 of the 1987 Act—

(a)shall have regard, in performing that duty, in so far as it relates to any provision of these Regulations, to matters specified in any direction issued by the Secretary of State with respect to that provision; and

(b)shall give immediate notice to the Secretary of State of any suspension notice served by it or any application made by it for an order for forfeiture of any goods to which these Regulations apply or any other thing done in respect of any such goods for the purposes of or in connection with sections 14 to 17 of that Act.

Commencement Information

I15Reg. 15 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Commencement of ProceedingsU.K.

16.  Subject to regulation 17(3), in England, Wales and Northern Ireland a magistrates' court may try an information (in the case of England and Wales) or a complaint (in the case of Northern Ireland) in respect of an offence committed under section 12 of the 1987 Act in relation to a contravention of these Regulations if (in the case of England and Wales) the information is laid or (in the case of Northern Ireland) the complaint is made within twelve months from the time when the offence is committed, and in Scotland summary proceedings for such an offence may be begun at any time within twelve months from the time when the offence is committed.

Commencement Information

I16Reg. 16 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Regulations to be treated as safety regulations within the meaning of the 1987 ActU.K.

17.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) below, these Regulations shall be treated for all purposes as if they were safety regulations within the meaning of section 45(1) of the 1987 Act.

(2) Where a contravention of regulation 14 above arises from the supply of electrical equipment which fails to satisfy the requirements of regulation 5(1) above or of goods which would cause the relevant equipment to contravene those requirements because there is in each case a risk of death or injury to domestic animals or damage to property, or both, but no risk of the death of a person or of personal injury, the person who contravenes regulation 14 shall be guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment for not more than three months or with a fine not exceeding level five on the standard scale.

(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) above and the provisions of Part IV of the 1987 Act, in so far as these Regulations apply in relation to such electrical equipment as is mentioned in paragraph (4) below—

(a)the Health and Safety Executive (“the Executive”) (or, for Northern Ireland, the Department for Economic Development (“the Department”)) may make arrangements for the enforcement of these Regulations, and

(b)the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (“the 1974 Act”) (or the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (“the 1978 Order”)) mentioned in paragraph (5) below shall apply as if—

(i)these Regulations were health and safety regulations and, accordingly, relevant statutory provisions within the meaning of the 1974 Act (or the 1978 Order),

(ii)any reference therein to an enforcing authority were a reference to the Executive (or the Department),

(iii)any reference therein to any provision of the 1974 Act (or the 1978 Order) were a reference to that provision as, and so far as, it is applied by this paragraph,

and section 34(3) of the 1974 Act and article 32(3) of the 1978 Order shall have effect with the substitution for the words “six months” of the words “twelve months”.

(4) The electrical equipment referred to in paragraph (3) above is—

(a)electrical equipment designed for use or operation, whether exclusively or not, by persons at work; and

(b)electrical equipment designed for use, otherwise than at work, in non-domestic premises made available to persons at a place where they may use the equipment provided for their use there.

(5) The provisions referred to in paragraph (3) above are sections 18(6) and (7)(b), sections 19 to 26 (save for subsections (3), (4) and (6) of section 23), subsections (1)(e) to (h) and (o), (2), (2A), (3) (save for the words “Subject to any provision made by virtue of section 15(6)(d) or (e) or by virtue of paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 3”) and (4)(e) of section 33, section 34(3), (4) and (5), sections 35 to 39 (save for subsection (3) of section 36) and section 42 of the 1974 Act and articles 2(3), 21 to 28, paragraphs (1)(e) to (1), (2), (4), (5)(d) and (e) and (6) of article 31, paragraphs (3) and (4) of article 32 and articles 33 to 36 of the Order.

(6) The Executive or the Department shall, where action has been taken by it to prohibit or restrict the supply of any electrical equipment which bears the CE marking, forthwith inform the Secretary of State of the action taken, and the reason for it.

Commencement Information

I17Reg. 17 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Requirement to give information about electrical equipment which does not bear the CE markingU.K.

18.  A person who supplies electrical equipment which does not bear the CE marking laid down in regulation 9(1) shall, on his being required at a reasonable time to give such information, to an enforcement authority, the Executive or the Department, or to any of its officers, all the information which he has about—

(a)the date when the electrical equipment was first supplied in the Community; and

(b)the basis on which the electrical equipment does not bear the CE marking and information

Commencement Information

I18Reg. 18 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Ferrers

Minister of State for Small Firms and Consumer Affairs,

Department of Trade and Industry

15th December 1994

Regulation 3(1)

SCHEDULE 1U.K.SPECIMEN FORM OF CE MARKING TO BE PLACED ON OR TO ACCOMPANY ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Commencement Information

I19Sch. 1 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

  • If the CE marking is reduced or enlarged the proportions given in the above graduated drawing must be respected.

  • The various components of the CE marking must have substantially the same vertical dimension, which may not be less than 5 mm.

Regulation 4(2)

SCHEDULE 2U.K.ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT EXCLUDED FROM THESE REGULATIONS

Commencement Information

I20Sch. 2 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

  • Equipment for use in an explosive atmosphere

  • Equipment for radiology and medical purposes

  • Parts for goods lifts and passenger lifts

  • Electricity supply meters

  • Plugs and socket outlets for domestic use

  • Fence controllers

  • Specialised electrical equipment for use on ships, aircraft or railways, which complies with the safety provisions drawn up by international bodies in which the member States participate.

Regulation 5(1)

SCHEDULE 3U.K.PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS OF THE SAFETY OBJECTIVES FOR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT DESIGNED FOR USE WITHIN CERTAIN VOLTAGE LIMITS

General conditionsU.K.

1.—(a) The essential characteristics, the recognition and observance of which will ensure that electrical equipment will be used safely and in applications for which it was made, shall be marked on the equipment, or, if this is not possible, on an accompanying notice.

(b)The manufacturer’s brand name or trade mark should be clearly printed on the electrical equipment or, where that is not possible, on the packaging.

(c)The electrical equipment, together with its component parts should be made in such a way as to ensure that it can be safely and properly assembled and connected.

(d)The electrical equipment should be so designed and manufactured as to ensure that protection against the hazards set out in points 2 and 3 of this Schedule is assured providing that the equipment is used in applications for which it was made and is adequately maintained.

Commencement Information

I21Sch. 3 para. 1 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Protection against hazards arising from the electrical equipmentU.K.

2.—(a) Persons and domestic animals must be adequately protected against danger of physical injury or other harm which might be caused by electrical contact direct or indirect;

(b)Temperatures, arcs or radiation which would cause a danger must not be produced;

(c)Persons, domestic animals and property must be adequately protected against non-electrical dangers caused by the electrical equipment which are revealed by experience;

(d)The insulation must be suitable for foreseeable conditions.

Commencement Information

I22Sch. 3 para. 2 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Protection against hazards which may be caused by external influences on the electrical equipmentU.K.

3.—(a) The electrical equipment must meet the expected mechanical requirements in such a way that persons, domestic animals and property are not endangered;

(b)The electrical equipment must be resistant to non-mechanical influences in expected environmental conditions, in such a way that persons, domestic animals and property are not endangered;

(c)In foreseeable conditions of overload the electrical equipment must not endanger persons, domestic animals and property.

Commencement Information

I23Sch. 3 para. 3 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Regulation 11(1)

SCHEDULE 4U.K.TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

1.  Technical documentation must be such as to enable enforcement authorities to assess the conformity of electrical equipment to the requirements of these Regulations. It must, as far as is relevant for such assessment, cover the design, manufacture and operation of electrical equipment.U.K.

Commencement Information

I24Sch. 4 para. 1 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

The technical documentation must include:—U.K.

2.—(a) a general description of the electrical equipment;

(b)conceptual design and manufacturing drawings and schemes of components, sub-assemblies, circuits etc;

(c)descriptions and explanations necessary for the understanding of the drawings and schemes referred to in (b) and the operation of the electrical equipment;

(d)a list of the standards applied in full or in part and descriptions of the solutions adopted to satisfy the requirements of regulation 5(1) where standards have not been applied;

(e)results of design calculations made, examinations carried out etc;

(f)test reports.

Commencement Information

I25Sch. 4 para. 2 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Regulation 13

SCHEDULE 5U.K.COMPLIANCE NOTICE

The notice shall—U.K.

1.—(a) specify the description of the electrical equipment to which the notice relates;

(b)state that the enforcement authority suspects that affixing of the CE marking to the electrical equipment involves a contravention of a provision or provisions of these Regulations and the reasons for that suspicion;

(c)specify the provision or provisions referred to in paragraph (b) above;

(d)require that person—

(i)to secure that any electrical equipment to which the notice relates conforms as regards the provisions concerning the CE marking and to end the infringement within such period as may be specified by the notice; or

(ii)to provide evidence within that period to the satisfaction of the enforcement authority that all the provisions of these Regulations have been complied with; and

(e)warn that person that if the non-conformity continues (or if satisfactory evidence has not been produced under sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (d) above) within the period specified in the notice, further action may be taken under these Regulations in respect of that electrical equipment or any electrical equipment of the same type supplied by that person.

Commencement Information

I26Sch. 5 para. 1 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

2.  The notice may include directions as to the measures to be taken by that person to secure conformity of that electrical equipment with the provisions of these Regulations including different ways of securing conformity.

Commencement Information

I27Sch. 5 para. 2 in force at 9.1.1995, see reg. 1

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations consolidate with amendments the Low Voltage Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1989 (the “1989 Regulations”). They implement the requirements of Council Directive No. 73/23/EEC (OJ No. L77, 26.3.1973, p.29) on the harmonisation of the laws of member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits, as amended by Council Directive No. 93/68/EEC (OJ No. L220, 30.8.1993, p.1) (the “CE marking” Directive).

The 1989 Regulations applied (with certain exceptions) to any electrical equipment designed or adapted for use with voltage (in the case of alternating current) of not less than 50 volts nor more than 1,000 volts or (in the case of direct current) of not less than 75 volts nor more than 1,500 volts. They required electrical equipment to be safe and constructed in accordance with good engineering practice. These Regulations re-enact those requirements (with certain minor amendments) (regulations 4 and 5 and Schedules 2 and 3). Additionally, the 1989 Regulations provided that (subject to certain exceptions) electrical equipment would be deemed to satisfy the requirement that it be safe and constructed in accordance with good engineering practice if it satisfied harmonised standards or, in their absence, international safety provisions or, in the absence of both harmonised standards and international safety provisions, satisfied national safety provisions. Subject to certain minor amendments these provisions are re-enacted in the Regulations (regulations 6 and 7).

Those provisions of the CE marking Directive which relate to electrical equipment are implemented for the first time by these Regulations. The relevant new provisions are that the Regulations:—

1.  Require the affixing to all electrical equipment (or its packaging, instruction sheet or guarantee certificate) of the CE marking by way of confirmation that the equipment satisfies all the requirements of the Regulations which relate to it (regulation 9 and Schedule 1);U.K.

2.  Require that a written declaration of conformity comprising certain information relating to the electrical equipment be drawn up and kept available for inspection by an enforcement authority for a period of ten years after manufacture of electrical equipment of that model has ceased (regulations 10 and 11);U.K.

3.  Require that certain technical documentation relating to electrical equipment be compiled and kept available for inspection by an enforcement authority for a period of ten years after manufacture of electrical equipment of that model has ceased (regulation 11 and Schedule 4);U.K.

4.  Provide for the issuing of a compliance notice in respect of electrical equipment to which the CE marking has been unduly affixed, save where the electrical equipment in question is likely to damage the health or safety of any person (regulation 13 and Schedule 5).U.K.

In addition to the above provisions and to minor consequential drafting amendments, the Regulations make the following changes of substance and clarification:

1.  Secondhand electrical equipment or equipment which is hired out (save where its first hiring out is its first supply to an end user) must be safe but need not comply with the requirements of the Regulations relating to CE marking, the EC declaration of conformity and internal production control (regulations 5(3) and 12);U.K.

2.  Electrical equipment which satisfies the safety provisions of harmonised standards (or where appropriate international or national safety provisions) shall be taken to comply with the safety requirements of the Regulations unless there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that it does not so comply (regulations 6 and 7);U.K.

3.  The Health and Safety Executive may make arrangements for the enforcement of the Regulations in relation to equipment for use in the workplace under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (regulation 17(3));U.K.

4.  A person who supplies electrical equipment which does not bear the CE marking shall, if required, provide certain information to an enforcement authority (regulation 18);U.K.

The Regulations come into force on 9th January 1995 but they do not apply to any electrical equipment which is placed on the market before 1st January 1997 and which complies with the provisions of the 1989 Regulations (regulations 1 and 4(4)).

A Compliance Cost Assessment in respect of these Regulations is available and a copy can be obtained from the Consumer Affairs Division of the Department of Trade and Industry, Room 303, 10-18 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0NN. A copy has also been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

(7)

S.I.1978/1039 (N.1.9); relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1984/1159 (N.I.9) and S.I.1987/2049 (N.1.20).

(9)

OJ No.L220, 30.8.1993, p.1.

(10)

Protocol 47 and certain Annexes to the EEA Agreement were amended by Decision No.7/94 of the EEA Joint Committee which came into force on 1 July 1994, (OJ No.L160, 28.6.1994, p.1).Council Directive 93/68/EEC was added to Chapter XXII of Annex II to the EEA Agreement by item p in Annex 3 to the said Decision No 7/94.

(11)

OJ No.L77, 26.3.1973, p.29.

Yn ôl i’r brig

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