Accreditation of the first UK certification body for the new WEEE standard PAS 141 will take place this summer.
The Publically Available Specification (PAS) 141:2011 will be officially launched soon and is designed to increase reuse and cut down on illegal exports of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and used electrical and electronic equipment (UEEE).
UEEE and WEEE treatment facilities looking to achieve PAS 141 status will be independently assessed by UKAS accredited certification bodies to ensure they meet the standards.
Reused equipment from PAS 141 approved organisations will have labels on them to identify they have been processed in compliance with the standard and to differentiate them from items produced by facilities which are not compliant.
It has been designed by industry experts along with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) to provide consumers with reassurance that used apparatus is electrically safe to use and functionally fit for purpose. It will also be used to differentiate bona fide exports from illegal exports of WEEE under the guise of being sent abroad for reuse.
UKAS is now looking for UK-based certification bodies to gain accreditation to issue PAS 141 status for those organisations that meet the standards set out in the specification. David Hayward at UKAS should be contacted for more information at info@ukas.com or 020 8917 8400.
Valpak has been appointed as PAS 141 scheme administrators by BIS to administer certification schemes and registration of a trade mark and use of labels. Carys White is the contact there at carys.white@valpak.co.uk or 08450 682 572.
