The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

Amendment to Part 4 E+W+S

27.  For Part 4, substitute—

“PART 4 E+W+S APPROVAL OF CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT BODIES

Approved bodies

42.— (1) An approved body is a conformity assessment body which—

(a) has been approved by the Executive pursuant to the procedure set out in regulation 43 (approval of conformity assessment bodies); or

(b) immediately before exit day was a notified body in respect of which the Executive has taken no action under regulation 46(1) or (2) as they had effect immediately before exit day.

(2) Paragraph (1) has effect subject to regulation 46 (restriction, suspension or withdrawal of approval).

(3) In this Part—

“notified body” means a body—

(a)

which the Executive had before exit day notified to the European Commission and the member States of the European Union, in accordance with Article 17 of the ATEX Directive; and

(b)

in respect of which no objections had been raised as referred to in regulation 42(1)(b) as it had effect immediately before exit day;

“approved body requirements” means the requirements set out in Schedule 2.

Approval of conformity assessment bodies

43.— (1) The Executive may approve only those conformity assessment bodies that qualify for approval.

(2) A conformity assessment body qualifies for approval if the first and second conditions below are met.

(3) The first condition is that the conformity assessment body has applied to the Executive to become an approved body and that application is accompanied by—

(a) a description of—

(i) the conformity assessment activities that the conformity assessment body intends to carry out;

(ii) the conformity assessment procedure in respect of which the conformity assessment body claims to be competent;

(iii) the category of products in respect of which the conformity assessment body claims to be competent; and

(b) either—

(i) an accreditation certificate, or

(ii) the documentary evidence necessary for the Executive to verify, recognise and regularly monitor the conformity assessment body's compliance with the approved body requirements.

(4) The second condition is that the Executive is satisfied that the conformity assessment body meets the approved body requirements.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4), the Executive may accept an accreditation certificate, provided in accordance with paragraph (3)(b), as sufficient evidence that the conformity assessment body meets the approved body requirements.

(6) When deciding whether to approve a conformity assessment body that applies for approval, the Executive may—

(a) have regard to any other matter which appears to the Executive to be relevant; and

(b) set conditions that the conformity assessment body must meet.

(7) For the purposes of this regulation “accreditation certificate” means a certificate, issued by the UK national accreditation body, attesting that a conformity assessment body meets the approved body requirements.

Presumption of conformity of approved bodies

44.— (1) Where a conformity assessment body demonstrates its conformity with the criteria laid down in a designated standard (or part of such standard), the Executive is to presume that the conformity assessment body meets the approved body requirements covered by that standard (or part of that standard).

(2) The presumption in paragraph (1) is rebuttable.

Monitoring

45.   The Executive shall monitor each approved body with a view to verifying that the body—

(a) continues to meet the approved body requirements;

(b) meets any conditions set—

(i) in accordance with regulation 43(6)(b), or

(ii) in the case of an approved body which was a notified body immediately before exit day, in accordance with regulation 43(6)(b) as it applied immediately before exit day; and

(c) carries out its functions in accordance with these Regulations.

Restriction, suspension or withdrawal of approval

46.— (1) Where the Executive determines that an approved body—

(a) no longer meets an approved body requirement, or

(b) is failing to fulfil its obligations under these Regulations, other than a condition referred to in regulation 45(b),

the Executive shall restrict, suspend or withdraw the body's status as an approved body under regulation 42 (approved bodies).

(2) Where the Executive determines that an approved body no longer meets a condition referred to in regulation 45(b), the Executive may restrict, suspend or withdraw the body's status as an approved body under regulation 42.

(3) In deciding what action is required under paragraph (1) or (2) the Executive shall have regard to the seriousness of the non-compliance.

(4) Before taking action under paragraph (1) or (2) the Executive shall—

(a) give notice in writing to the approved body of the proposed action and the reasons for it;

(b) give the approved body an opportunity to make representations to the Executive regarding the proposed action within a reasonable period from the date of the notice; and

(c) consider any such representations made by the approved body.

(5) Where the Executive has taken action in respect of an approved body under paragraph (1) or (2), or where an approved body has ceased its activity, the approved body shall, at the request of the Executive—

(a) transfer its files relating to the activities it has undertaken as an approved body to another approved body or to the Executive, or

(b) keep its files relating to the activities it has undertaken as an approved body available for the Executive and market surveillance authorities for a period of 10 years from the date they were created.

(6) The activities undertaken by an approved body referred to in paragraph (5) include any activities that the body has undertaken as a notified body.

Operational matters in relation to approved bodies

47.— (1) Subject to the terms of its appointment, an approved body shall carry out the conformity assessment activities and procedures—

(a) in respect of which the body's approval was given under regulation 43 (approval of conformity assessment bodies), or

(b) in respect of which the body's notification as a notified body was made.

(2) Where an approved body carries out a conformity assessment procedure, it shall do so in accordance with Schedule 3.

(3) An approved body shall make provision for a manufacturer to be able to make an appeal against a refusal by the approved body—

(a) to issue a Type examination certificate referred to in Part 1 of Schedule 3A;

(b) to affix, or cause to be affixed, the body's identification number pursuant to regulation 41 (UK marking).

Subsidiaries and contractors

48.— (1) An approved body may subcontract specific conformity assessment activities, or use a subsidiary to carry out such activities provided—

(a) the body is satisfied that the subcontractor or subsidiary meet the approved body requirements;

(b) the body has informed the Executive that it is satisfied that the subcontractor or subsidiary meet those requirements; and

(c) the economic operator for whom the activities are to be carried out has consented to the activities being carried out by that person.

(2) The approved body which subcontracts specific conformity assessment activities or uses a subsidiary to carry out such activities remains responsible for the proper performance of those activities (irrespective of where the subcontractor or subsidiary is established).

(3) Where an approved body subcontracts, or uses a subsidiary to carry out, a specific conformity assessment activity, the approved body shall, for a period of 10 years beginning on the day on which the activity is first carried out, keep available for inspection by the Executive all relevant documents concerning—

(a) the assessment of the qualifications of the subcontractor or the subsidiary; and

(b) the conformity assessment activity carried out by the subcontractor or subsidiary.

(4) In this regulation “subsidiary” has the meaning given to it in section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006 M1 ;

Register of approved bodies

49.— (1) The Executive shall—

(a) assign an approved body identification number to each approved body; and

(b) compile and maintain a register of—

(i) approved bodies;

(ii) their approved body notification numbers;

(iii) the activities for which they have been approved; and

(iv) any restrictions on those activities.

(2) The register referred to in paragraph (1) shall be made publicly available.

UK national accreditation body

50.   The Executive may authorise the UK national accreditation body to carry out the following activities on behalf of the Executive—

(a) assessing whether a conformity assessment body meets the approved body requirements;

(b) monitoring approved bodies in accordance with regulation 45(monitoring); and

(c) compiling and maintaining the register of approved bodies, in accordance with regulation 49(register of approved bodies).”.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 32 para. 27 in force at 31.12.2020 on IP completion day (in accordance with 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)), see reg. 1

Marginal Citations

M1 2006 c. 46.