Changes for Northern Ireland economic operators
Changes which businesses making construction products available on the market in Northern Ireland need to be aware of.
Distributors who first make a product available on the market in Northern Ireland from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or NI will now be classified as ‘importers’. This change in status will bring new obligations, such as a requirement for importers to label their products with their name and address.
Examples of other obligations on importers include:
- ensuring the assessment and the verification of constancy of performance have been carried out by the manufacturer
- drawing up relevant technical documentation
- ensuring that the product bears the conformity marking, and that the manufacturer has complied with their labelling obligations
- keeping records for 10 years
- carrying out sample testing
After the end of the transition period, authorised representatives will need to be established in either NI or the EEA to act on the manufacturer’s behalf in relation to specified tasks.
Manufacturers with an authorised representative based in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) will need to appoint a new authorised representative in either NI or the EEA.
NI economic operators - whether manufacturers, importers, distributors, or authorised representatives - should consider taking professional advice to make sure that they understand their status and obligations under the new NI regulatory framework.