AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE / UK RESPONSIBLE PERSON (ELECTRICAL & LOW VOLTAGE EQUIPMENT)

The LVD covers health and safety risks on electrical equipment operating with an input or output voltage of between

• 50 and 1000 V for alternating current
• 75 and 1500 V for direct current

It applies to a wide range of electrical equipment for both consumer and professional usage, such as

• household appliances
• cables
• power supply units
• laser equipment
• certain components, e.g. fuses

The new LVD does not require notified bodies to assess if products to be placed on the market comply with the applicable EU legislation. The manufacturer alone is responsible for determining this by carrying out conformity assessment procedures.

The obligations of manufacturers of electrical equipment include:

• Before placing electrical equipment on the GB market, the manufacturer must ensure that the equipment has been designed and manufactured in accordance with the principal elements of the safety objectives. These are set out in Schedule 1 to the Regulations. Manufacturers must also have a relevant conformity assessment procedure carried out and technical documentation drawn up.
• Once this has been done, the manufacturer must draw up a declaration of conformity, and affix the UKCA markingvisibly, legibly and indelibly to the equipment. Where this is not possible or warranted because of the nature of the equipment, the UKCA marking must be affixed on the packaging and accompanying documents. In any event, until 31 December 2022, the UKCA marking may be affixed to a label or a document accompanying the equipment.
• Qualifying Northern Ireland goods can be placed on the GB market with the CE and CE UKNI conformity markings.

The obligations of manufacturers of electrical equipment include:

• Manufacturers must keep technical documentation and the declaration of conformity for 10 years after the equipment has been placed on the GB market and make them available for inspection to the market surveillance authority.
• Manufacturers must also label the equipment with their name, registered trade name or registered trade mark and address; the type batch or serial number (or other identification); and ensure that it is accompanied by instructions which are clear, legible and in easily understandable English.
• Manufacturers must ensure that procedures are in place for series production to remain in conformity with Part 2 of the 2016 Regulations. In doing so, they must take account of any changes in electrical equipment design or characteristics, and any change in a harmonised standard or in another technical specification by reference to which the EU Declaration of Conformity was drawn up.

The obligations of manufacturers of electrical equipment include:

• Manufacturers must, when appropriate with regard to any risk posed to consumers, carry out sample testing of equipment they have placed on the GB market and must investigate any complaints that the electrical equipment is not in conformity with the legal requirements of the 2016 Regulations and keep records of these complaints.
• Manufacturers must take action where they have reason to believe that the electrical equipment they have placed on the GB market is not in conformity with the legal requirements of the 2016 Regulations; where the equipment presents a risk, the manufacturer must immediately inform the market surveillance authority.
• Manufacturers must also cooperate with and provide information to enforcing authorities, such as local trading standards authorities, following any reasoned requests within 10 years of placing the equipment on the market.