Published on: 10 June 2021

Following the UK's exit from the EU, currently there is a transition period where the UK will stop using the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) and the Shipwheel Mark. In place of this, the UK will start to use the UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark. In order for a body to be able to test and certify marine equipment to the UKCA mark they will need to become an approved body. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has now released guidance in the form of marine guidance notes (MGN) 554 amendment 1 on how to become an approved body.

MGN 554 sets out the procedure for Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) to follow in seeking designation as a UK Approved Body under the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

The MCA is responsible for designating Approved Bodies on behalf of the Secretary of State. Organisations wishing to obtain designation as a UK Approved Body should follow the procedures laid out in the MGN.

MGN 544 amendment 1 can be downloaded here.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.