CHAPTER V

APPROVAL OF CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT BODIES

Operational obligations of approved bodies
Article 32
1
Approved bodies shall carry out conformity assessments in accordance with the conformity assessment procedures provided for in Annexes V, VII and VIII.
1A.
Subject to the terms of its appointment an approved body must carry out the conformity assessment activities and procedures, in respect of which—
a
the body's approval was given under Article 21; or
b
the body's notification as a notified body was made.
2
Conformity assessments shall be carried out in a proportionate manner, avoiding unnecessary burdens for economic operators. Conformity assessment bodies shall perform their activities taking due account of the size of an undertaking, the sector in which it operates, its structure, the degree of complexity of the PPE technology in question and the mass or serial nature of the production process.
In so doing they shall nevertheless respect the degree of rigour and the level of protection required for the compliance of the PPE with the requirements of this Regulation.
3
Where an approved body finds that the essential health and safety requirements set out in Annex II or the corresponding designated standards or other technical specifications have not been met by a manufacturer, it shall require the manufacturer to take appropriate corrective measures and shall not issue a certificate or approval decision.
4
Where, in the course of the monitoring of conformity following the issue of a certificate or approval decision, an approved body finds that a PPE no longer complies, it shall require the manufacturer to take appropriate corrective measures and shall suspend or withdraw the certificate or the approval decision if necessary.
5
Where corrective measures are not taken or do not have the required effect, the approved body shall restrict, suspend or withdraw any certificates or approval decisions, as appropriate.
Word in Ch. 5 heading substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 35 para. 3(18); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 32 heading substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 35 para. 3(30)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 32(1A) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 35 para. 3(30)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 32(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 35 para. 3(30)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 32(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 35 para. 3(30)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 32(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 35 para. 3(30)(d); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Art. 32(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 35 para. 3(30)(e); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 32(4) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 35 para. 3(30)(d); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)