Tag: Brexit

BSI will remain in CEN/CENELEC after Brexit!

As you probably know, the future of the UK’s involvement in the European Standards system has been in question ever since Brexit became a reality.  So I’m happy to let you know that BSI will remain in CEN/CENELEC after Brexit.  We’ve known for some time that it would take a modification of the rules to allow for this.  On November 23, 2018, a vote was taken.  BSI will be able to remain a full member of both CEN and CENELEC, the European equivalents of ISO and IEC.

BSI had 8 areas of concern that led it to work towards a modification of the rules to allow it to stay involved in CEN/CENELEC should the U.K. withdraw from the European Community.  Here’s the list:

  1. Standards provide a passport to trade.
  2. The European standards system has simplified the market structure in
    Europe through the use of the single national standard model across
    34 countries in the region.
  3. The European standards system is neither owned by nor is it an
    agency of the European Union.
  4. The UK has significant influence in the development of European
    standards.
  5. Maintaining full UK membership of CEN and CENELEC is important
    to the success of business in Europe post-Brexit.
  6. Maintaining full CEN and CENELEC membership also brings benefits
    to consumers and other public interest groups.
  7. BSI must therefore continue as a full member of CEN and CENELEC
    post-Brexit.
  8. Standards will provide a key element underpinning future free trade
    agreements between the UK and non-EU countries.

Apparently, until now the administrative rules governing CEN and CENELEC required membership in the European Union.  This solution has needed a 100% in favor vote from the existing stakeholders.  The positive outcome for BSI represents a political success as well as a pragmatic one.

How does this affect Document Center Inc. customers and other standards users?  BS EN standards will remain valid for use when trading with the European Union.  So any collection of BS EN standards used in your company can be left in place without worry.

Additionally, I would mention that at the recent ISO General Assembly in Geneva, there was much discussion of the role of standards and standardization in continuing the trend towards global free trade in spite of current political rhetoric.  This vote within the European standards bodies reflects the desire of many in our community to foster larger global goals.  After all, some of the most fundamental reasons for standards rest securely in the domain of public safety and well-being.  This development will surely bring a sigh of relief to many.

BSI has a press release and earlier position paper you can review to learn more.  If you have further questions, please get in touch with us.  We can be reached at info@document-center.com or by phone at 650-591-7600.    Should you want to review the status of any of your EN standards, please search on our website www.document-center.com.  We track and sell over a million standards for you.  As you can see, Document Center Inc. is committed not only to providing you with standards, but also the information you need to use your standards collection with confidence.  Make us your Standards Experts!

BS EN Standards and Brexit

Before I headed off to a week’s worth of U.S. and International standards meetings in Chicago earlier this month, I spoke with one of our Document Center customers.  What question came up yet again?  What’s the status with BS EN Standards and Brexit!  This was one of my top questions for my friends from the U.K. and Europe and I expected a definitive answer.  But no!  The way forward is still murky.

As expected, the official BSI (British Standards Institute) position has been that continued involvement with CEN and CENELEC is not in question.  However, there are some increasing concerns on the horizon.  These concerns will not make themselves evident until the shape of the political solution becomes more clear.

Here is the problem.  The rules of CEN and CENELEC have certain requirements for National Standards Bodies (NSBs), one of which differs slightly in the three official national language editions of the rules.  BSI has been reading this rule to mean that they could continue to the the U.K. National Standards Body (NSB) even without membership in either the EU or the Efta/EEA (the trade focused auxillary body that allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate).  Now it is starting to look like this will not work.  Revision of the rules may be necessary.  And any change requires a yes vote by 100% of the CEN/CENELEC membership.

This could mean trouble for BSI.   The fallback position would be to move to the adoption of ISO and IEC standards, counting on equivalence to pave the way for smooth trade with the continent.  Meantime, a host of questions immediately come up.  Who would be responsible for the official English language editions of the EN’s?  Would existing copies of the BS EN standards remain valid or be withdrawn?  OK, this could be a major headache for all involved.

Meantime, there are wider issues at hand for the U.K. regarding trade and technical specifications and standards.  To learn more about considerations being reviewed within the U.K., take a look at this interesting paper.  It’s Brexit Paper 14 generated by the Bar Council Brexit Working Group.  you’ll come away with the distinct impression that this has all opened up quite a can of worms!

Here at Document Center Inc., we’ll try to avoid the whiplash that comes with making predictions regarding “soft” and “hard” Brexit.  Even the British themselves will not know how this story ends until a political solution becomes clear.  The fate of BS EN Standards and Brexit itself still remain to be seen!

If you need to purchase EN standards, take a look at the Document Center webstore at www.document-center.com.  You will find a number of national editions of the various publications.  All are valid for your organization.  Any further questions?  Just get in touch with myself or our staff by phone (650-591-7600) or email (info@document-center.com).  Thank you.