The UNECE Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP. 6) has worked in close cooperation with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the IEC System for Certification to Standards relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres (IECEx) to develop a model for legislation in the sector of equipment used in environments with an explosive atmosphere. The model was originally adopted by the WP. 6 at its 20th session, in November 2010.

This second version provides significant changes, including the participation in proficiency testing, independent conformity assessment bodies to support market surveillance, certification services and update to the most recent IEC standards. It was adopted by the WP.6 at its 32nd session, in November 2022.

Any Member State that has no regulatory framework in the explosive equipment sector can use the model as a blueprint for legislation. If countries already have such a framework, they could consider gradually converging towards this international model. Once the model has been adopted as national legislation, the sector will operate under a single common
regulatory framework in all participating countries.