Recreational Craft

Importing a Boat from outside the EEA

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If you are thinking about importing a recreational craft you should be aware that boats have to meet the requirements of the Recreational Craft Regulations 2004 before they can be used or sold in the UK and other EU and EEA states.

There have been regulations in force since 1998. They implement an EU Directive 94/25/EC on Recreational Craft, usually known as the RCD.

All EU and EEA member states have implemented the Directive into their National laws. This guide is based on the UK's Recreational Craft Regulations 2004. Other member states will have similar provisions.

Scope

The RCD applies to complete or partly completed craft, powered and sailing, from 2.5m to 24m, intended to be used for sports and leisure purposes. The RCD now also applies to personal water craft and propulsion engines, inboard and outboard.

Other Directives may also apply to some of the equipment fitted to the craft, such as radio transmitters, electrical and electronic equipment and gas appliances.

The RCD places the responsibility for ensuring that the craft meets all the requirements with the person who is responsible for placing the craft on the market.

The RCD deems all craft imported from outside the EEA to be a new 'placing on the market'. Craft are deemed to be placed on the market when they clear Customs in Europe. This is because once they have cleared Customs, they are available to be used or to be sold on. The craft could be impounded by either Customs or Trading Standards.

No distinction is made between used and un-used boats. They should comply at this point and must be fully compliant before they are used in EEA waters.

If arrangements have been for a Post Construction Assessment to be carried out, the craft could be allowed to carry on.

As the importer, it is your responsibility to ensure the craft will meet the requirements before it is used for the first time anywhere in the European Economic Area. The RCD does not treat any differently a personal import for own use and applies to private individuals as well as businesses.

What are the options?

In common with most CE marking Directives, the intention is that the manufacturer effectively builds compliance into the product during the manufacturing phase. It has now been recognised that recreational craft are unusual because already existing craft are traded worldwide.

A Post-Construction Procedure has now been added to the latest version of the RCD. From the 1st January 2006, there is no alternative, the Post Construction Procedure must now be followed.

What has to be done?

The steps laid down in the Directive for post-construction approval are :-

1. The person who is taking responsibility for placing the craft on the EU market must lodge an application for a post-construction report with one of the Notified Bodies. A list of Notified Bodies can be found on the DTI website.
2. The Notified Body must be provided with any available documents and technical files or information available from the date the craft was first placed on the market in its country of origin.
3. The Notified Body examines the individual craft and carries out calculations and other assessments to ensure its equivalent conformity with the RCD i.e. it meets all the Essential Requirements that apply it.
4. The Builders plate must have the words Post Construction Certificate on it and the number of the Notified Body who carried out the assessment next to the CE mark.
5. The Notified Body gives the person responsible a report and informs them of their responsibilities.
6. The responsible person draws up a Declaration of Conformity.

The Responsible Person

You, as the importer are the responsible person and can go through the entire process yourself. You can employ the service of specialists to help with the process but you remain the responsible person. You can find someone who will place the product on the market under their responsibility. There are specialist firms and consultants who can do the complete job.

Technical File

Producing a Technical file is not compulsory as it is with the other conformity assessment procedures. The Notified Body report replaces the Technical File in a Post Construction Assessment.

Declaration Of Conformity

After receiving the Notified Body report you can put the CE Mark on the craft builder's plate and draw up a written Declaration of Conformity.

There is no prescribed form for the Declaration of Conformity, but the RCD does list what it must contain.

A model form has been devised and is available by following this link (www.hants.gov.uk/regulatory/busadvice/conformity.html) or ask for Factsheet 'RCD Model Declaration of Conformity'. You should include a copy of the declaration of conformity in the owner's manual and keep a copy with the Notified Body report. You need to give an Annex IIIa declaration to the purchaser if the craft is only partly completed.

You are legally obliged to keep copies of these documents available for inspection for 10 years. The enforcement authorities of any EU member state can request copies of these documents at any time during these 10 years.

Under product liability legislation, you will also have a liability, for 6 years, if the product you placed on the market is defective and causes death or injury to anyone.

Penaltie

Failure to comply with any of the requirements could lead to a criminal prosecution with a maximum fine of £5,000 and/or 3 months in prison. The enforcement authorities in all EU member states also have powers to remove non-compliant craft from the market and apply for their destruction.

Further help and advice

This factsheet is intended to be a brief overview to the Recreational Craft Regulations 2004.

The Department of Trade and Industry publishes guidance notes to the regulations and these are available from their web site:

www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/strd/ecdirect/page12637.html

The EU publishes guides and has links to the Notified Bodies group, RSG:

Or contact your local Trading Standards Service: http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/  Copies of the regulations are available on the web from HMSO: http://www.hmso.gov.uk

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newapproach/standardization/harmstds/reflist/reccraft.html

Help and advice is also available through trade, professional and representative bodies:

BMF - http://www.britishmarine.co.uk

YBDSA - http://www.ybdsa.co.uk

RYA - http://www.rya.org.uk/

as well as the growing number of private companies and consultants who specialise in the RCD.

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This advice is designed to provide basic guidance to traders. It is not a complete or authoritative statement of the law. For further advice or assistance on this or any other Trading Standards legislation, please contact your nearest office.

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