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The impact of Brexit on the EA Multilateral Agreement

News
18 February 2019

With the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union, UKAS will no longer meet the membership criteria of EA, the association of National Accreditation Bodies in Europe as per EC Regulation 765/2008.

UKAS, the National Accreditation Body (NAB) of the United Kingdom, is a member of EA and a signatory to the EA Multilateral Agreement (MLA). With the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union, UKAS will no longer meet the EA membership criteria as they are not a NAB in a Member State or candidate country.

EA has expressed the importance of having UKAS as member, even after the withdrawal of the UK from the EU. Accordingly, EA has revised its Articles of Association and introduced the option of a transition period, which will allow UKAS to maintain its membership for further 2 years. During this transition period EA will analyze together with UKAS the results of the negotiation between the EU and the UK and then revise the EA membership criteria with the aim that UKAS remains an EA member. That means also that UKAS will continue to be peer evaluated by EA in order to maintain its MLA signatory status.

For more information on the Brexit process and the impact on UKAS’ accreditation, please visit the website of the European Commission.