THE DEPARTMENT for Business and Trade has today announced an indefinite extension to the use of CE marking for manufactured goods sold in the UK.

Following extensive lobbying by industry, the Government has climbed down and agreed British firms will be able to continue the use of Conformité Européenne (CE) marking alongside the UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) mark.

The CE mark is used across Europe to certify that manufactured products meet safety standards. Until Brexit, UK manufacturers certified their goods by getting them tested by a third-party to attain the CE mark.

In 2019, government announced that the CE mark would be scrapped in the UK as part of post-Brexit arrangements. Goods sold in the UK would be safety certified by the UKCA mark. However, the UKCA mark would not be recognised in Europe meaning manufacturers exporting to Europe would have to safety certify to both standards, doubling costs.

Capacity and Costs

Many construction firms were concerned that the deadline for the introduction of the UK-only CA mark was unrealistic as there was not enough capacity to re-test all the construction products for the certification. They also said the costs of re-testing were significant and poorly timed in the post-pandemic recovery period.

The deadline to end recognition of the CE mark in the UK was extended until 30 June 2025, in December 2022, the latest extension of a series since the UKCA mark’s first use at the start of 2021.

The Department for Business and Trade said, “The Business Secretary acted urgently on this issue, to prevent a cliff-edge moment in December 2024 when UKCA was set for entry. This 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.”

Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation said: “The extension will provide businesses with flexibility and choice to use either the UKCA or CE approach to sell products in Great Britain.”

>> Read more about CE marking in the news

The post ‘Indefinite Extension’ for CE Marking Deadline appeared first on Roofing Today.