TÜV SÜD unveils verification service to meet post-Brexit machinery rules

London - TÜV SÜD UK has launched an audit service to help users to verify before final purchase that newly acquired equipment has complied with the recently imposed UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) regulations.

The Machinery UKCA Audit service is a pre-delivery inspection designed to complement factory acceptance tests.

It will allow the purchaser to determine equipment is built and operating in accordance with the new legal requirements before final payment.

Any non-compliance issues identified at this stage are still the responsibility of the manufacturer and can be rectified before machinery is delivered, saving time and money.

Paul Taylor, business development director for industrial services at TÜV SÜD UK, said: “It is far too common for machinery to be delivered and installed with multiple non-compliance issues. 

“However, the process of identifying and correcting them at this stage becomes more difficult and time consuming. This often results in the end-user having to raise further capital to resolve outstanding problems, all of which could have been avoided.”

UKCA markings offered a visible sign that a product complies with all relevant UK regulations, he said. Therefore, it was essential that machinery end-users understand both their responsibilities and those of their machine’s manufacturer.

Since the transition period for the UK’s exit from the European Union came to an end on 31 Dec 2020, UKCA marking is required for new machinery placed on the market for the first time in Great Britain – consisting of England, Scotland and Wales. However, CE marking will continue to be accepted in Northern Ireland.

Up until 1 Jan 2022, machinery manufacturers have eight months’ grace for the acceptance of CE marking, thanks to a further transitional arrangement.

After this time, any machinery sold in the UK, irrespective of when that model was first placed on the market, must carry a UKCA marking.

In addition, all machinery must meet relevant essential health and safety requirements (EHSRs) as detailed in the UKCA Regulations and a technical file for the machinery must also be available. 

This must be complemented with a UK Declaration of Conformity or for partly completed machinery, a Declaration of Incorporation listing relevant UK legislation and UK designated standards.

For specific higher risk machinery that requires type-examination by a certification body, a UK Approved Body is required.