Supplying equipment and Brexit

During the current transition period, while the European Union and UK negotiate new arrangements for a trade deal post Brexit, existing health and safety protections remain in place.

However, in preparation for a new UK product certification system post Brexit, the Product Safety and Metrology etc (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 brought in a number of amendments to the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. These are due to take effect on “IP completion day” – 31 December 2020. They aim to address failures of retained EU law to operate effectively and other deficiencies arising from the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union.

As this booklet was being updated in June 2020, government advice was that these regulations “may apply” from 1 January 2021. In September 2019, it published guidance explaining how existing product safety legislation would be amended in a “no deal” scenario.