The Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 2016

Enforcement action in respect of vessels which are not in conformity

59.—(1) Where, in the course of the evaluation referred to in regulation 58 (evaluation of vessels presenting a risk), an enforcing authority finds that the vessel is not in conformity with Part 2, it must, without delay, require a relevant economic operator to—

(a) take appropriate corrective actions to bring the vessel into compliance with those requirements within a prescribed period;

(b) withdraw the vessel from the market within a prescribed period; or

(c) recall the vessel within a prescribed period.

(2) The enforcing authority must inform the notified body which carried out the conformity assessment procedure in respect of the vessel of—

(a) the respects in which the vessel is not in conformity with Part 2; and

(b) the corrective actions which it requires the relevant economic operator to take.

(3) Where the enforcing authority is not the Secretary of State and it considers that the lack of conformity referred to in paragraph (1) is not restricted to the United Kingdom, it must notify the Secretary of State of—

(a) the results of the evaluation; and

(b) the corrective actions which it requires the relevant economic operator to take.

(4) Where the Secretary of State receives a notice under paragraph (3), or otherwise considers that the lack of conformity referred to in paragraph (1) is not restricted to the United Kingdom, the Secretary of State must inform the European Commission and other Member States of—

(a) the results of the evaluation; and

(b) the actions which the enforcing authority requires the relevant economic operator to take.

(5) Where the relevant economic operator does not take adequate corrective action within the prescribed period referred to in paragraph (1), the enforcing authority must take all appropriate measures to—

(a) prohibit or restrict the vessel being made available on the market in the United Kingdom;

(b) withdraw the vessel from the United Kingdom market; or

(c) recall the vessel.

(6) Where the enforcing authority is not the Secretary of State and it takes measures under paragraph (5), it must notify the Secretary of State of those measures without delay.

(7) Where the Secretary of State receives a notice under paragraph (6), or takes measures under paragraph (5), the Secretary of State must notify the European Commission and the other Member States of those measures without delay.

(8) The notices in paragraphs (6) and (7) must include all available details and, in particular—

(a) the data necessary for the identification of the vessel;

(b) the origin of the vessel;

(c) the nature of the lack of conformity alleged and the risk involved;

(d) the nature and duration of the measures taken;

(e) the arguments put forward by the relevant economic operator; and

(f) whether the lack of conformity is due to either of the following—

(i) the failure of the vessel to meet relevant requirements relating to the health or safety of persons, to the protection of domestic animals or to property; or

(ii) shortcomings in a harmonised standard referred to in regulation 39 (presumption of conformity of category A vessels) conferring a presumption of conformity.

(9) In this regulation, “prescribed period” means a period which is—

(a) prescribed by the enforcing authority; and is

(b) reasonable and commensurate with the nature of the risk presented by the vessel.

(10) An economic operator must ensure that it takes the action required by an enforcing authority under paragraph (1) of this regulation in respect of all the vessels that it has made available on the market throughout the EU.