RIBA Chief Executive, Alan Vallance says:
“I’m delighted that Secretary of State Greg Clark has taken the decision to direct the British Standards Institute (BSI) to take all necessary steps to remain part of the European standards bodies, including two key bodies for the architecture sector CEN and CENELEC. RIBA members have raised retention of common standards as a top concern as Britain leaves the EU and the RIBA has been making the case to government for many months that this action is needed. It is vital that the UK’s influence on international standards, and worldwide reputation for quality and professionalism in the built environment, is maintained.”
European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) set common standards that are applied across the whole of the European single market. CEN and CENELEC ensure the protection of consumers, facilitate cross-border trade, ensure the interoperability of products, encourage innovation and technological development, include environmental protection and enable businesses to grow.
For more information on the RIBA’s response to Brexit, read the Global by Design Report.