Posted on December 12th, 2022

The government has postponed a key post-Brexit change to the certification of construction products.

The delay, which will see the rule change come into effect on 30 June 2025, has been welcomed by a number of trade bodies.

The CE mark is a certification stamp indicating conformity with EU health, safety and environmental protection standards. Once the UK ceases to recognise its validity, manufacturers of a wide variety of products will need to use the replacement UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark and assessment process instead.

The government had previously pushed back the switch by a year to 1 January 2023.

Various trade bodies have argued that the creation of a separate UK certification scheme will add cost and complexity for firms that ship products to customers between the UK and Europe.

Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) chief executive John Newcomb said the decision meant a “cliff edge on New Year’s Eve” had been avoided. If products and goods had not achieved UKCA status by the end of this year, it would have been impossible to sell them.

“It has been clear for many months that more time was required for companies to find qualified people to conduct UKCA tests and to prepare the necessary documents and packaging for their goods,” Newcomb said.

The rules relate to products used in England, Wales and Scotland, but do not apply to Northern Ireland due to the Northern Ireland protocol, which aligns Belfast with EU rules.

Construction Products Association (CPA) chief executive Peter Caplehorn also welcomed the change, saying the industry had avoided the “potentially catastrophic situation” that was unfolding. He added that the CPA would continue to engage with the government to resolve issues over the transition, particularly the “practical and commercial factors that are needed to ensure smooth market conditions”.

“Until then, manufacturers can now get back to supporting the UK construction industry and the urgent need to grow the economy,” Caplehorn added.

Newcomb, from the BMF, had argued in November 2021 that the previous one-year extension was unlikely to solve the underlying issue.

At the time, he said: “[There are] not enough approved companies or qualified people to conduct the huge number of assessments and certifications required.” 

Newcomb added that the extension “did nothing” to nurture the testing capacity and capability in the UK.

Article by: Construction News