The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has announced an indefinite extension to the use of CE marking for businesses alongside UKCA to prevent a “cliff-edge” moment in December 2024 when UKCA was set for entry.
This comes as part of a wider package of regulations designed to ease business burdens and help grow the economy by cutting barriers and red tape.
The government said the intervention will ensure businesses no longer face uncertainty over the regulations and can cut back on unnecessary costs freeing them up to focus on innovation and growth.
Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “The government is tackling red tape, cutting burdens for business, and creating certainty for firms – we have listened to industry, and we are taking action to deliver.
“By extending CE marking use across the UK, firms can focus their time and money on creating jobs and growing the economy.”
Warning from CPA
However, Peter L. Caplehorn, chief executive of the Construction Products Association (CPA), warned “The UK government’s announcement today, after confirmation from the Department for Levelling Up, Houisng and Communities, does not pertain to the construction products sector.
“Rather, the situation for our sector remains the same; that is, recognition of the CE mark for construction products in Great Britain will continue until 30 June 2025, when implementation of the UKCA marking scheme is set to become mandatory.
“We fear that policy makers do not fully understand or appreciate the gravity of this policy position not only for our sector and the construction industry, but indeed for any government ambitions related to the UK’s housing, schools, hospitals, infrastructure and wider built environment.
“The CPA has long argued that every day that manufacturers have to wait for clarification from government causes more damage. This uncertainty has exacerbated product availability issues, led to UK and foreign manufacturers pulling products from the UK market, diminished investment and R&D, and therefore negatively impacted jobs and the ability of the product sector to support the UK construction industry every day.
“We hope that today’s announcement reflects a new appreciation by policy makers of the cost and burden caused by the UKCA Mark scheme. We will appreciate further discussions with the government to ensure the UK construction products sector sees similar clarity very soon.”
