Some standards are enforced by regulation, such as health and safety regulations, but for most standards, compliance is voluntary.
BS numbers
The display of a British Standard number (e.g. BS 1234) on a product shows that the manufacturer claims to have made the product in accordance with the British Standard. Sometimes BS will be accompanied by the letters EN and/or ISO. These mean that the standard was developed as a European (EN) or International (ISO) standard and then adopted by the UK as a British Standard.
Responsibility
Any supplier may reference or use the BS number on or in association with their goods and services. It is their responsibility to ensure such claims are correct. False or misleading claims can lead to prosecution by the relevant trading standards authority.
Declaration of conformity
Marking of a BS number on or in relation to a product thus represents the manufacturer’s declaration of conformity, i.e. a claim by or on behalf of the supplier that the product meets the requirements of the standard. The accuracy of the claim is therefore solely the responsibility of the person making the claim. Such a declaration is not to be confused with third party certification of conformity which may also be desirable.
For further information about conformity evaluation and testing, please Contact Us.
