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from the industry

It will hopefully be ‘business as usual’ in all aspects of BSI standards-making and publishing activity.

International level UK membership of the two international standardisation organisations, ISO and IEC, will be unaffected by an exit from the EU. BSI is committed to representing the UK’s interests in the creation of international standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges. UK membership of CEN, CENELEC and ETSI Membership of CEN, CENELEC and ETSI has been essential to the UK’s participation in international trade as a member of the WTO and essential in fulfilling its obligations as a member of the European Single Market. UK membership and participation in ETSI should not change significantly since ETSI membership is not limited to European companies and organisations. However, on the UK leaving the EU, there would be consequences for the UK’s eligibility to participate in CEN and CENELEC. This impact will depend on the political decisions made over future trade agreements. A range of four options is considered below to illustrate the impact: 1. The UK applies for membership of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and then seeks to sign the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement (like Norway and Iceland)

challenge. BSI would meet both the membership requirements of the CEN and CENELEC statutes and the criteria for membership (ways of working). In these circumstances, the impact would be minimal in terms of the UK’s membership rights within CEN and CENELEC. However, there would be impact in terms of relationships with partner countries and on the ability of the UK’s NSB to influence regulatory policy at European level For options 3 and 4, BSI would need to argue for the continuation of UK membership of CEN and CENELEC. Continuing membership in these circumstances would depend upon other CEN and CENELEC members agreeing to change the statutes to create a category of membership fitting the UK situation. Arguments could include historical membership, economic significance, commitment to and involvement in the system and the difficulty of EU countries exporting to the UK having to deal with a different standards regime in the UK. Acceptance of these arguments would probably depend upon whether the UK continued to commit to the adoption of all European standards (on a voluntary basis as a non-member of the EU). Summary n BSI will continue to develop and publish British Standards. n BSI’s membership of ETSI will not be affected as its rules of membership are different from other EU standards bodies. n EU exit will not affect the UK’s membership of the two main international standardisation organisations, ISO and IEC. n UK involvement in CEN and CENELEC may have to change but it is BSI’s intention to maintain full participation in European standards' development.

or

2. The UK applies for membership of EFTA but remains outside the EEA, negotiating bilateral trade agreements with the EU (like Switzerland).

or

3. The UK relies on the World Trade Organisation Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO TBT) Agreement to protect the UK in international trade.

or

4. The UK negotiates bilateral trade agreements with the EU, without being an EFTA member.

In the case of the first two options (1 and 2), it is anticipated that BSI would retain membership of CEN and CENELEC without

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Vol. 38 No. 4 - November 2016 Issue