Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to paragraph 31 of the Government's response, dated 27 March 2018 to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee's report on the safety of electrical goods, HC920, whether the UK block on the fridge freezer Standard being accepted at European level is still in place; and if he will make a statement.

The UK’s objection to the adoption of the CENELEC standard on household refrigeration appliances by the EU Committee on Standards has been in place since 2016. This reflects the specific concerns that the standard should go further in relation to fire safety. However, the UK does support other recent changes to the Standard including issues relating to electrical safety, mechanical safety and refrigerant safety.

All household refrigeration appliances sold in the UK must be safe before they can be placed on the market as they must comply with the relevant Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations.