The Government has rowed back on plans on to ditch CE marking on products and services allowing an indefinite extension to the use of European Conformity mark.

The decision to drop the cliff-edge switch at the end of 2024 to the new UK Conformity Assessed mark comes after intense lobbying from manufactures and contractors.

The Construction Leadership Council raised the alarm about the impact of the move to UKCA marking warning that global manufacturers were starting to withdraw products because transition arrangements were in a mess and manufacturers regarded the UK as too difficult to do business with.

Originally the switch to UKCA marking was planned to take place on 31 December 2022. But the Government was forced to give product manufacturers and producers more ‘breathing space’ announcing a two year delay to the end of 2024 because the present testing regime was in ‘chaos’.

Now the Government has confirmed that firms will be free to continue the use of CE marking alongside the new UKCA system.

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.”

Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation said: “This is a pragmatic and common sense decision that manufacturers will very much welcome and support.

“This announcement will help safeguard the competitiveness of manufacturers and aid the UK as a destination for investment.

“It should bring more confidence about doing business in the UK and recognises the need to work with the reality of doing business.”