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There are many terms that are used in the world of standards. These words are used to have a specific and precise meaning, but it’s all too easy to understand the general meaning without appreciating the finer detail. You read a paragraph and think you understand what it’s saying, but then find yourself unsure about exactly what certain terms mean.
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU) in 2020 and the end of the Brexit transition period, some of the terminology around standards and product marking have changed.
Here’s a handy explainer setting out some of the most commonly-used terms, a companion to our article on what every business should know about post-Brexit standards and product marking.
What are designated standards?
Some standards are ‘designated’ by the UK government. These are the standards that businesses can use to show that their products, services or processes conform to essential requirements of UK legislation.
New or revised standards for designation published after 1 January 2021 contain information relevant to UK regulations within the national foreword, and directs users to check the latest listing of designated standards on the gov.uk website.
Occasionally, a designated standard may also show as ‘withdrawn’: this usually happens when a newer edition of the standard has been published as a British Standard, but the government has not yet designated the newer version.
Designated standards can be identified and obtained through the BSI shop by selecting ‘designated standards’ among search filters on the left-hand column. The definitive list of designated standards is also available on the UK government website.
What does presumption of conformity mean?
Designated standards in the UK are aimed at providing a so-called “presumption of conformity” to the essential requirements of relevant legislation. In other words, products comply with the relevant UK regulation. Note that the obligation to conform is in all cases to the legislation, not to the standard. For most regulations, manufacturers and others are at liberty to find other means of conformity to legal requirements. Using standards to do this is voluntary. Whether you use a standard or other means, in the event of a query, for example, from a trading standards authority, evidence of conformity to the regulation will be needed. Use of the standard can provide this.
What is UKCA product marking?
UKCA marking is a new marking that shows presumption of conformity with UK regulations. The UK previously used CE marking while a member of the EU.
Post-Brexit, Northern Ireland will retain CE marking. England, Scotland and Wales are adopting the UKCA marking for products and services used in those countries. Products manufactured in England, Scotland and Wales but destined for the EU will still need CE marking.
The UKCA marking was introduced on 1 January 2021, but the CE marking can be used in England, Scotland and Wales until 31 December 2022. (Or 30 June 2023 for medical devices). CE marking will continue for relevant products in Northern Ireland and the rest of Europe. In Northern Ireland, there is also a new UKNI mark which is explained here.
What are harmonized standards?
These are EU standards written in response to a request from the European Commission to the European Standards Organizations (CEN, CENELEC and ESTI) to support “essential requirements” of certain pieces of European legislation or regulation Importantly. Their use to demonstrate conformity to EU law is only recognized when they are cited in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) for that purpose.
What is a standard cited in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU)?
The European Commission publishes the references of European standards in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). Usually these are harmonized standards. This “citation” in the OJEU demonstrates that products, services, or processes comply with relevant EU legislation.
Many of these standards have an Annex ZA or ZZ which can help to identify more closely how the standard provides conformity to the applicable EU legislation.
Once published in the OJEU, references remain even when the end date for presumption of conformity has passed. For example, when a newer edition of a standard is published, a date is added to the reference, after which point their use is no longer to be recognized for presumption of conformity to EU legislation.
Who are CEN, CENELEC, ETSI?
These are acronyms for the three bodies recognized in EU law as European Standards Organizations (ESO), although they are independent of the EU. They are also recognized in relevant UK legislation, alongside BSI, to support the designated standards system :
CENELEC is responsible for electrotechnical standardization, ETSI for standardization in the telecommunications field and CEN for all other technical areas.
What does BS, EN, ISO, EN and IEC mean?
Prefixes can tell you who developed a standard and where in the world it comes from. Here are some of the most common prefixes you might come across in the UK:
This guide should provide some clarity about commonly used regulatory standards terminology. If you need further guidance, BSI members can seek advice from the Knowledge Centre research team.
Find out more:
Please note that all dates and deadlines were correct at the time this article was published.
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