In the event that the United Kingdom leaves the European Union without a new economic deal, boatbuilders in Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will be required to obtain a new Manufacturers Identity Code from a remaining EU state to meet new legal requirements.
The Commission Implementing Regulation 2017/1 on procedures for watercraft identification states that any recreational watercraft within the scope of the Recreational Craft Directive 2013/53/EU most have a Watercraft Identification Number. Part of that code is the Manufacturers Identity Code.
According to the British Marine trade organization, codes registered with the group will no longer be accepted by the European Union as meeting the requirements of the implementing regulation detailed above. This means that UK vessel manufacturers won’t be able to legally place vessels in the EU market.
“In order to ensure that you will still be able to export a recreational vessel to the EU under a no deal scenario, you MUST register your MIC with one of the remaining 27 EU member state Recognized Organizations,” British Marine said in a statement.
The group added that due to EU commission rules, it doesn’t believe that it’s possible for a UK manufacturer to register its MIC code with another Euro state prior to the UK leaving the EU and becoming its own country. It can only be done once the UK has left the European Union.
British Marine has contacted current EU member states to learn how to obtain an MIC including the associated costs and time required for completion.
