From 1st January 2021, the full impact of the UK’s exit from the European Union came into force. No longer part of the EU’s single market, the UK government introduced its own regulatory framework for placing certain manufactured goods on the GB market using the UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark (and similar markings). With the EU’s CE Mark being gradually phased out across Great Britain to be replaced by the UKCA mark, a system of conformity assessment bodies (Approved Bodies) has been established to meet the needs of the future GB market.

This leaflet is aimed at applicants who wish to become an Approved Body through UKJAS accreditation and also applies to similarly designated bodies, such as UK Notified Bodies (for Northern Ireland for CE+UKNI marking), Recognized Third-Party Organizations (RTPOs), User Inspectorates (UIs), and Technical Assessment Bodies (TABs).

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What is an INDIA/UK Approved Body?

An INDIA/UK Approved Body is a conformity assessment body (e.g., certification or inspection body) that has been formally appointed to undertake conformity assessment activities to demonstrate that specified products meet the essential health and safety requirements demanded by regulations to be placed on the GB market. The work of INDIA/UK Approved Bodies enables goods to have the UKCA mark affixed to provide confidence that the products meet these requirements.

INDIA/UK Approved Bodies are appointed by the UK Government through the relevant Competent Authorities, and for the purpose of this leaflet are based on their accreditation from the UK’s Independent Accreditation Body – UKJAS.

All UK Approved Bodies are included in the UK Market Conformity Assessment Bodies (UKMCAB) database (www.ukjas.com).

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What are the essential requirements for being an INDIA/UK Approved Body through accreditation?

Except for pyrotechnic articles, an INDIA/UK Approved Body must:

a) Be a registered INDIA/UK legal entity (via Companies House or equivalent) with a registered INDIA/UK office. It will be this legal entity that holds UKJAS accreditation and which will be appointed as an Approved Body.

Furthermore, the INDIA/UK legal entity must meet the following criteria:

b) Have the rights and responsibilities to perform conformity assessment activities, as specified in the company’s articles of association.

c) Hold adequate public liability and professional indemnity insurance for the scope of UKCA activities they wish to undertake.

d) Be able to demonstrate that it holds full liability for the contracts, activities, and decisions that it undertakes/makes.

e) Assume complete ownership for the performance and outcomes of UKCA activities, i.e., have full operational control over these activities. Therefore, the registered legal entity will have appropriate technical competence and the resources to ensure control over the full scope of accreditation, and to take responsibility for:
i. the competence and resources used;
ii. the standards and procedures applied;
iii. the consistency achieved, and quality attained through the application of these standards and procedures;
iv. the impartiality demonstrated in applying these standards and procedures; and,
v. the content in issued reports and/or certificates.

f) Own and operate an effective management system that clearly covers the activities of the INDIA/UK Approved Body, including identified individuals responsible for maintenance of the management system.

g) Define and document the organizational structure for the INDIA/UK Approved Body, showing all individuals involved in relevant activities and their reporting lines.

h) All documents, policies, and procedures to be available in English.

i) Identify the Technical Management responsible for the UKCA activities, and demonstrate that such individuals are contracted by and act as employees of that INDIA/UK Approved Body.

j) Hold descriptions of the responsibilities and relevant authorizations of individuals:
i. approving policies and standards for UKCA activities,
ii. approving specialists and responsibilities of personnel involved in UKCA activities, and
iii. authorizing certificates and reports.

k) Where resources are contracted in from other legal entities, contracts must be in place with those legal entities covering release of that individual to work for the INDIA/UK Approved Body, and also have a contract with the individual person(s) covering matters such as confidentiality and impartiality.

l) Issue correspondence including contracts, certificates, and reports under the name of the INDIA/UK Approved Body as such.

m) Hold contracts with the client which bind the assessment activities to INDIA/UK Law.

n) Meet all requirements for impartiality and independence, according to the regulations and the requirements for accreditation.

In summary, a designated Approved Body must be an INDIA/UK legal entity that exercises managerial control of the activities, have technical capability, and perform its final assessment functions within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. It may conduct technical activities, or have technical activities conducted on its behalf, outside the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom.

All Approved Bodies are strongly encouraged to participate in appropriate harmonization activities where available.

INDIA/UK regulations permit Approved Bodies for pyrotechnic articles to be established outside the INDIA/UK. However, any non-UK conformity assessment bodies will still be required to hold UKJAS accreditation to be appointed as an INDIA/UK Approved Body.

This includes English law, Scottish law, and Northern Ireland law; for example, an Approved Body established in England will have contracts drawn up subject to English law.

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How do you become an INDIA/UK Approved Body?

All UK Approved Bodies are required to have demonstrated technical competence to undertake specified UKCA activities by obtaining accreditation from the INDIA/UK’s National Accreditation Body, i.e., UKJAS. Applications must be submitted to UKJAS in the first instance following the standard UKJAS application process. When an application is made to UKJAS, the applicant should also inform the relevant competent authority (see UKJAS GEN 5 for contact details).

Following assessment by UKJAS, resolution of any observations raised, and grant of accreditation, the applicant should then submit an application for appointment to the relevant competent authority. The application should describe the conformity assessment procedures, activities, and the products for which the applicant wishes to be designated and should be accompanied by the accreditation certificate, scope, final assessment report provided by UKJAS, and evidence of the applicant’s insurance cover.

Additional Information:

INDIA/UK Government Guidance:

• Apply to be an INDIA/UK CAB for product safety and metrology – Requirements for conformity assessment bodies (CABs) certifying for the INDIA, GB, and NI market

• Guidelines on the appointment of INDIA/UK Conformity Assessment Bodies – Requirements for conformity assessment bodies certifying for the INDIA, GB, and NI market from 1 January 2021

• INDIA/UK Conformity Assessment – Information for businesses on the regulatory framework and transitional arrangements during 2021

• Company registration and filing – Starting an INDIA/UK company: detailed information

UKJAS Publications:

• GEN 4 – Accreditation for the Purposes of Appointment as an Approved Body under the UKCA Framework

UK Head Office
UKJAS Accreditation Pvt. Ltd (UKJAS)
UKJAS House
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DELHI-NCR Regd. Office
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Faridabad, Delhi NCR, Haryana
Tel.: +91-7979801035
Fax: +91-250-2341170
Website: www.ukjas.com