Brexit - Importance for the recreational boating industry
Following the signing of the exit agreement by the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU), the Brexit came into force on February 1, 2020.
The transitional phase, during which the United Kingdom (UK) remains part of the EU market and the EU customs union, ends on 31 December 2020.
From that date, the UK will introduce new legislation for products sold in the UK.
Post Brexit - Access to the UK market
The Recreational Craft Directive 2013/53/EU is the European guideline for the approval of recreational craft on the EU market. The legal implementation of the Recreational Craft Directive in the United Kingdom are the "Recreational Craft Regulations".
In practice, the new (Post Brexit) UK legislation remains the same as before, with the following exceptions:
- The CE mark is exchanged for the UKCA mark
- Notified Bodies must be accredited and established in the United Kingdom in order to issue certificates
Important dates
Notified Bodies from the United Kingdom (UK notified bodies) will lose their accreditation for the EU market on 31 December 2020. As a result, their certificates for series constructions will also lose their validity. This concerns Module B and A1 certificates.
The United Kingdom will continue to allow recreational craft with CE marking on its own market until the end of 2021. After that, the UKCA marking is mandatory for the UK market.
Summarized
In the future, the UKCA mark will be required for the sale of recreational craft to the UK. This can be used from 01.01.2021 and will be mandatory from 01.01.2022. British manufacturers who want to deliver to the EU still need the CE mark.
On our own behalf
Our long and good cooperation as authorized inspectors for the British notified body HPi-CEproof Ltd. (HPi-CE) will continue even after Brexit.
Looking ahead, HPi-CE had already founded a company in Ireland in June 2016, which since December 5, 2018 under the name HPi Verification Services (Ireland) Ltd. (EU Notified Body number 2810) is accredited as a notified body of the EU.
Therefore we can offer you the complete handling of your CE certification for the European market as usual.
Furthermore, we are expanding our range of services to include UKCA certification of recreational craft intended for the British market.
With HPi-CEproof (UK) on board, we have a competent partner at our side who has been accredited as a notified body of the United Kingdom from the start.
Please do not hesitate to contact us!