• Note:
  Conformity assessment can also act as a brake on technological innovation and on commercial realisation of product developments. There is a delicate balance that must be struck between the prevention of dangerous products from entering the market and the inhibition of the legitimate needs of manufacturers and users to introduce new products and techniques.
  
  A starting point is a clear technical specification of what is required, usually in the form of a standard. To the extent that the standards leave scope for differing means of achieving the safety objectives, the designers and certifiers of the products are left to negotiate what is and is not acceptable. For a fair and open market to operate successfully whilst maintaining an adequate level of safety, the certifiers need to co-ordinate their criteria so that a degree of uniformity and consistency is achieved across the market. This requirement applies at national, European and global levels in order to provide the necessary safety assurance to users and regulatory authorities.

L/10 provides the UK forum within which these issues are discussed with those concerned. It also provides a brief to those attending the European ExNB and ATEX Standing Committee meetings and appoints the delegates to the global IECEx meetings.

L/10 has the potential to exert considerable influence on conformity assessment matters at all three levels to the benefit of British industry.

In addition to concerns over ATEX and the need to participate in IECEx, there is the specific target and benefit of bringing the certification processes of both into a single activity. It can only realise this potential if it has the full support and active participation of all those who stand to benefit.