The Government has halted plans to scrap CE marking in favour of switching to the new UK Conformity Assessed mark.
Building safety minister Rushanara Ali has confirmed that the planned 30 June 2025 time limit for recognising CE Marking has been abandoned.
The minister said that any plan to resurrect the previous administration’s aim to switch all manufactured products over would only be introduced with a two-year notice period, but declined to set any future date.
The new delay has been prompted by a lack of capacity in the present testing regime to deliver the switch over to a new UK conformity mark.
The minister also said the delay would also allow the Government to respond to any relevant recommendations from tomorrow’s Grenfell Inquiry report regarding product testing reforms.
In a statement to Parliament, Ali said: “I can announce today that the Government will extend the period of recognition of CE marking for construction products. The CE mark will continue to be available when placing construction products on the market across the UK.
“We have listened to the findings from the Independent Review of the Construction Products Testing Regime.
“This was clear that there is currently insufficient testing and certification capacity in the UK alone to provide the volume of conformity assessment that would be required were CE recognition to end.
“We are also clear that ending recognition of CE marking without reforming the domestic regime would create trade barriers and negatively affect the supply of products that meet recognised standards.”
She added: “I am also determined to address the inadequacies across the wider construction products regime. Residents and communities need to be confident that their homes will be safe and well-built now and in the future.
“To ensure this, the Government will want to take into account any recommendations from the forthcoming Grenfell Inquiry report to inform proposals for reform.
“Therefore, I am making this extension, and the longer-term future of CE/UKCA marking, conditional on this Government committing to system wide reform of the construction products regulatory regime.
“The Government recognises the role of UK Conformity Assessment Bodies in ensuring compliance of goods on the market. As part of the reforms the Government will work with UK Conformity Assessment Bodies, the UK Accreditation Service, and the wider industry to strengthen the conformity assessment market.
“Lastly, I recognise the need for industry to have sufficient certainty to support supply chains. I can confirm that any subsequent changes to the recognition of CE marking would be subject to a minimum 2-year transitional period.”
