Rolls-Royce considers 'technical' Brexit switch

British manufacturing giant Rolls-Royce is considering moving the design approval process for its large jet engines to Germany as a "technical measure" to avoid Brexit disruption.

The FTSE 100 group said it was among possible contingency moves but was not expected to result in jobs being transferred out of the UK - and that no final decision had been taken.

The engine maker also said it was in regular dialogue with the Government about its plans to ensure there was no interruption in service to its customers due to Brexit.

Aircraft safety and the design approvals process are among the issues still yet to be resolved in Britain's divorce process from the EU ahead of the formal process of leaving the bloc next March.

Britain wants to remain part of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA (Shenzhen: 300215.SZ - news) ) to ensure that UK-based airlines and aviation parts makers can still benefit from cooperation on safety, and avoid increased costs.

A Rolls-Royce spokesman said: "Across all of our operations, Rolls-Royce is working to ensure there is no interruption in our service to customers as a result of Brexit.

"We are in regular dialogue with the Government about this.

"As you would expect, we have to consider what contingency measures we may need to take to ensure our operations in the UK and elsewhere can continue, and these may in the future include the transfer of the design approval for our large jet engines from the UK to Germany.

"This would be a technical measure as we already seek approval for our business jet engines from Germany, and we do not anticipate such a move would lead to the transfer of any jobs from the UK.

"No final decision has been taken on whether to activate this precautionary measure."