The audit involves a site visit by the Bicycle Association's auditor to the UK manufacturer or importer of the e-bikes, and uses a standard template to evaluate the brand's compliance. This includes checking for:

• Evidence of the brand having procedures in place ensuring each e-bike model is in full and proper compliance with product safety requirements, specifically the conformity assessement required for UKCA or CE marking under Machinery, EMC, RoHS and any other relevant product safety legislation.
• Evidence of standards-based testing being carried out and correctly evidenced, to appropriate and up to date international standards, for the brand's e-bikes and battery systems. Typically this will be to the standard BS EN15194 for e-bikes, and BS EN 50604 for battery packs.
• Evidence that all e-bikes meet the definition of Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (i.e. are road-legal e-bikes for the UK).
• Evidence of safe compatibility between the e-bike, battery pack & charger
• Evidence that appropriate measures to maintain battery performance and safety are taken whilst the e-bikes / batteries are in the organisation’s custody.
• Review of battery safety, charging and maintenance information provided to consumers.
• Verification of the brand's compliance with Producer Responsibility regulations as applicable - for example to ensure that they fulfil their obligations for the safe collection and disposal of end of life battery packs.
• Review of safety-relevant quality processes including supply chain measures, failure/warranty reporting and investigation procedures, recall procedure preparedness.

The audit will be organised in five main modules:

1. Operational controls
2. Quality Management System
3. Technical files
4. Product assessment
5. Site safety

The audit is designed to be pragmatic and flexible, so where an organization already holds relevant and currently valid third party audit reports; accreditations; certificates or test reports which cover one or more aspect of the audit content, we will accept those as sufficient, for the aspects within their scope. So for example, the audit would consider:

• ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems
• ISO 14001 Environmental management
• ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety management systems
• BRC Consumer Products Standards: Global Standard for Consumer Products – General Merchandise
• Recognised GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) audit
• Third party audit company certification and reports e.g. Intertek Supplier Qualification Program (SQP)
• For e-bike drive systems: evidence of the exclusive use of complete battery and drive systems for which credible third party certification is available.
• A suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment for the premises in compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (or equivalent legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland)
• Insurance company site report (covering battery safety aspects)
• Other relevant, credible certification or evidence will be considered on a case by case basis.

In the first phase of the audit scheme the Bicycle Association will commission one of its associate contractors, a qualified auditor and highly experienced industry compliance expert, to carry out the audits. This will enable us to implement it swiftly, to provide extra consumer confidence in the brands which are listed on the register as swiftly as possible.

However, we intend that fully external oversight of this auditing scheme will be put in place as soon as possible after the start-up phase. This is likely to take the form of an "audit of the audit" conducted by an officially recognised certification body.

The audit is conducted to a standard template, so that it is as objective as possible.

All e-bike brands with a presence in the UK market and the confidence to submit to the audit are welcome to participate. 

If your company is already a member of the Bicycle Association, please visit this Audit booking page (member login required) where you will find comprehensive details and can start the formal Audit process.

As this is an industry initiative, to ensure that the costs are shared equitably we do request that e-bike suppliers join our Association to access the brand audit. The only restriction on membership is that members must commit to our Code of Practice, which should not be an issue for reputable e-bike suppliers.

Please note that pending official guidance about the legality of the e-bike conversion kits concept and requirements for proper sales to consumers (and hence the compatibility of the kits concept with our Code of Practice), suppliers of e-bike conversion kits are not currently eligible for BA membership. When official guidance clarifies these issues we will review this position, with the aim of potentially setting up a separate Register for e-bike conversion kit brands.

To join the BA (if not already a member) and participate, please just contact the Bicycle Association using the form below. We will provide you with full information about participation and the audit requirements, and an outline of costs, as soon as possible.