Brexit, standards and Eurocodes

Scott Steedman CBE FREng FICE

Director of Standards
12 November 2018 (updated 27 Nov 18)

europeanpolicy@bsigroup.com
www.bsigroup.com/brexit

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International
BSI and standards
is the national European body
standards
(NSB)bodies
and member of ISO, IEC & the ESOs

ISO CEN
(International Organization for Standardization) (European Committee for Standardization)
164 National Standards Body members globally

CENELEC
(European Committee for Electrotechnical
IEC Standardization)
(International Electrotechnical Commission)
80 members (National Committees) CEN & CENELEC have 34 member countries
and 80 affiliates globally (EU ×28, EFTA ×3, FYROM, Serbia and Turkey).
25 countries including the UK have common
members of both CEN and CENELEC.

ITU
ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards
(International Telecommunications Union)
Institute)
Agency of the UN. Members are national
Industry, government and NSB members
governments and industry
(BSI supports DCMS)

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BSI’s policy as the NSB on the use of international standards

Our aim is to:

“Manufacturers want to
• Develop a single standard on any given issue, that is make one product for
adopted worldwide and used voluntarily. multiple markets based on
one standard, one test,
• Provide the infrastructure for industry and other
rather than products for
stakeholders to influence the development of standards. individual markets based
• Influence and then adopt ISO, IEC, CEN, CENELEC and on multiple standards and
tests.”
ETSI standards as British Standards.
• Accelerate innovation, support growth, reduce barriers Stephen Phipson, CEO,
to trade and promote market access globally. EEF

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European standards – the most developed part of the international system
The ESS is a cooperation between 34
countries in the region which provides for:
• Identical adoption of European
standards as national standards, and
• Withdrawal of conflicting national
standards.
This facilitates reciprocal market access
using identical national standards that link
to ISO and IEC.
Around 20,000 ENs have replaced 160,000
national standards across Europe.
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27/11/2018
“Having one standard across
Europe means that technical
experts in their field channel their
efforts into a single process, rather
than duplicating work in several
organizations. This has a positive
impact on business competitiveness
and ultimately reduces cost for
consumers.”
Malcolm Kent, Director Clarity
Engineering, Technical Officer,
Construction Equipment Association
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 Use of Eurocodes worldwide

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British Standards number around 37,000

BSI manage the catalogue of national standards,

numbering around 37,000. Around 2,500 standards
National are published every year and around 1,500 are
16% withdrawn as superceded or no longer needed.
International
27%
95% of BSI’s work, year on year, is on European
and international standards.
84% of British Standards are international and
European. 16% are homegrown national standards.
Identical European
European and 32%
International
25% 57% of the national catalogue has been through
CEN and CENELEC processes.

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Engagement with stakeholders, government and CEN, CENELEC

BSI stakeholders

UK Government

CEN and CENELEC

members

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Engagement with government
BSI action
• Detailed engagement and briefings on the
role of standards and the importance of
continued membership of CEN and CENELEC.
• Letter to Business Secretary from BSI with
over 30 signatories requested government
commitment to standards, the independence
of the NSB and the continuation of the
current regulatory model and its use of
voluntary standards
• Secondments into DExEU, BEIS and DIT
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UK Government
Response
• Response from Secretary of State
confirming BSI’s independent role as NSB
and importance of participation in
European Standardization System.
• BSI was referenced in July 2018 White
Paper where there is explicit confirmation
of single national standard model.
• Both Withdrawal Bill and ‘No deal’ notices
confirm maintenance of regulatory model.
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BSI stakeholder position on Brexit and standards

• BSI has engaged closely with its stakeholders since the referendum, including committee
members, subscribing members, industry and consumer associations and government.
• BSI has overwhelming stakeholder support for its policy position, which is that post-Brexit,
BSI will continue to provide UK experts with the standards development framework to
support trade in the UK, across Europe and globally.
• BSI has worked closely with CEN and CENELEC members and governance bodies to develop
a common understanding and proposals that remove the risk of challenge to BSI’s
continued membership or to the integrity of the European system itself.
• On 23 November 2018 CEN and CENELEC approved a plan to secure BSI’s membership of
both organisations. There will be a review of BSI’s performance in 2020 and final word
changes to the statutes and internal regulations will be agreed by the end of that year.

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BSI and Brexit: Summary

• BSI has a duty as the national standards body to deliver the standards infrastructure for that
our stakeholders need.
• Our stakeholders want to continue to participate in international and European
standardization activities in ISO, IEC, CEN, CENELEC and ETSI without loss of influence post
Brexit.
• Government, industry and consumers are committed to the single national standard model.
• UK stakeholders and BSI are fully committed to the European standardization system
including the fundamental principles of standstill, adoption and withdrawal. This position has
been backed by the UK Government.
• Continued full membership of CEN and CENELEC was secured by BSI on 23 November.

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