The Office of Design and Engineering Standards issued Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 02-19 (Ch 1) “Change 1 to Guide to Marine Equipment Approvals Covered by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRAs),” Jan. 1, 2021.

On February 14, 2019, the United States of America (US) signed a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) for the Mutual Recognition of Certificates of Conformity for Marine Equipment. This agreement became effective upon the completion of the UK’s transition out of the EU on January 1, 2021. This MRA is parallel to the previously signed MRAs between the US and the European Community (EC), and the US and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, which are part of the European Economic Area (EEA).

The agreements allow reciprocal approvals to be given by the US and the other Party for certain marine products where it has been found that the approval process is identical or the equipment has equivalent requirements.

Guide to Marine Equipment Approvals Covered by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), NVIC 02-19, COMDTPUB 16700.4 describes how the MRA will work, answers some anticipated questions regarding the process for obtaining approval using the MRA, and how to determine compliance.

For full details, view or download NVIC 02-19 (Ch 1) and visit the Office of Design and Engineering Standards website.

This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official publications, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These publications remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.