The Construction Products Association (CPA) has expressed concern that the Department for Business and Trade (DBT)’s indefinite extension to CE marking for UK businesses does not include construction products, leaving firms in the sector less than two years to UKCA mark their products.
The Business Secretary “acted urgently to prevent a cliff-edge moment in December 2024 when UKCA was set for entry,” said DBT. “This will ensure businesses no longer face uncertainty over the regulations and can cut back on unnecessary costs.”
However, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities said in December that construction products would have an extension until 30 June 2025 until which time they can continue using CE marks.
Architect and CPA chief executive Peter Caplehorn commented that the situation for construction products “remains the same,” which showed 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.”
He added: “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.”
Caplehorn concluded: “We hope that today’s announcement reflects a new appreciation by policy makers of the cost and burden caused by the CA Mark scheme. We will appreciate further discussions with the government to ensure the UK construction products sector sees similar clarity very soon.”
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.”
This comes as part of a wider package of “smarter regulations designed to ease business burdens and help grow the economy by cutting barriers and red tape,” said the Department of Business.
