Technical Regulation
The Technical Regulation Team represents UK interests in the development and implementation of common, Europe-wide technical requirements for specific types of consumer and business goods. Responsibilities also cover consumer safety policy on electrical and gas appliances and certain European legislation setting out market surveillance and border controls requirements for most harmonised legislation for products.
Free trade and fair competition lie at the heart of achieving an open market for business in Europe. Fundamental to this are common, European technical requirements for specific types of products that set out broad performance or design characteristics to satisfy concerns, for example on health and safety. In essence it means that products meeting these “Essential Requirements” can be sold freely across Europe.
The Technical Regulation team represents UK interests in European negotiations and ensures effective implementation and enforcement of regulations in the UK. Products that comply with the relevant legislation typically carry the familiar CE marking.
If you are a manufacturer or importer of either business or consumer goods your products will need to conform to one or more of these technical regulations. Click on the list for more information on those likely to affect your business.
The UK Regulations implement the requirements of the relevant EU Directive in national law, set out arrangements for enforcement and for appointment of “notified bodies”. Most of the Directives for which the Technical Regulation Team is responsible are so-called “New Approach” Directives, which set out in general terms the “Essential Requirements” which must be met before products may be sold anywhere in the European Economic Area.
European harmonised standards provide the detailed technical specifications that product suppliers can choose to use to meet these Essential Requirements. If suppliers comply with those standards, their products are presumed to conform to the Essential Requirements that the standards address. The Notified Bodies referred to above have a role in many of the procedures for assessing the conformity of products with the requirements of the relevant legislation.
The Technical Regulation Team works closely with business, the British Standards Institution, the European Commission, other member states, the UK Accreditation Service and the UK’s market surveillance authorities.
For more information contact email technical.regulation@bis.gsi.gov.uk
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