Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend that the BSI will continue to (1) be a full member of the European standards system, and (2) an EU-notified body, post-Brexit; if so, what will be the mechanisms by which those outcomes are achieved; and how they intend that BSI will continue to have an impact on European technical and safety standards post-Brexit.

The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the UK’s National Standards Body. BSI is independent of the UK Government and the European standards organisations are independent of the European Union. BSI has made clear its preference to remain a member of the European standards organisations, and thereby to continue in the development of all European standards, including those focusing on technical and safety aspects.

We are working with BSI to ensure that our future relationship with the European Standards Organisations continues to support a productive, open and competitive business environment in the UK.

Outside its work as the National Standards Body, BSI Group also has a role as a Notified Body providing third-party testing of products. The UK Government recognises the valuable role of third-party testing in providing confidence. We want to ensure that UK companies have the maximum freedom to operate within European markets, and to let European businesses do the same in the UK.