BPMA calls for protection for Britain’s £0.5 billion-worth of EU pump exports
9 Jan 2018
The British Pump Manufacturers Association has added its voice to industry leaders demanding barrier-free trade to continue with the European Union after the UK’s withdrawal as a member.
A BPMA position paper – endorsed by the organisation’s council, CEO and director Steve Schofield and its annual general meeting – has been circulated to government and parliamentarians.
In addition to demanding the most open market possible with the EU, the document also calls for protection for the position of EU nationals working in the sector and the retention of the CE safety mark on pumps sold to the union member states.
Said the BPMA: “Almost 80% of our industry employs EU nationals and they wish to continue to do so. We believe that a controlled movement of people with a certain level of skills will continue to be a benefit to our sector and the UK in general.”
It added that guarantees should be provided for highly-skilled overseas students to continue residence.
Almost 80% of our industry employs EU nationals and they wish to continue to do so.
BPMA
“Universities should be able to continue to offer placements for overseas students from within and outside of the EU. They should be given a privileged status to remain in the UK two years after their tertiary education before applying for permanent residency.
“We request that any future agreements regarding EU Nationals working in the UK does not create a skills shortage in our sector.”
Overall, the UK pumps industry employs more than 10,000 people including UK and other EU citizens. An estimated £0.5 billion of pumps is exported to Europe, with double that amount imported from the EU to the UK.
The BPMA, which says its members account for approximately 85% of the total UK production of pumps, says that continuation of the CE mark would minimise the risk to exports to the 27 member states of the union.
“Pumps placed on the market within the EU are currently required to meet certain safety, environment and energy related directives and regulations,” demanded the association.
“The CE mark, along with the declaration of conformity, gives customers the satisfaction that pump products meet these strict requirements.”
Members demanded that the CE mark remained unchanged and that the technical file should be retained in the UK if needed, with UK notified bodies used.
