The Government have announced that businesses will be able to use the EU CE marking indefinitely.
Following Brexit, the Government allowed the continuation of EU requirements relating to product marking, i.e. the CE mark. This allowed any product to be placed on the market in Great Britain which bore the CE mark until 31 December 2022.
However the deadline was delayed on three separate occasions and finally extended until 31 December 2024. Reasons for its postponement included economic pressures, COVID, and the war in Ukraine, all having an effect on the preparedness of businesses. After the deadline date, all products placed on the GB market would have to display the new UKCA mark instead and be subject to the UK Conformity Assessment.
Now is has been announced by the Department for Business and Trade that the deadline for businesses to switch to UKCA marking for products on the GB market will be delayed indefinitely. Businesses will be able to use either the UKCA mark or the CE mark when placing goods on the GB market.
The decision comes after extensive engagement with industry, although from the start business groups repeatedly warned the Government that the UKCA marking scheme was creating unnecessary burdens for industry and many lobbied for over two years to drop the plans and stick with CE marking.
Of course many businesses have already made the investment to move to UKCA marking, or are running UKCA marking alongside CE marking on their products, so they will no doubt be frustrated that the Government failed to listen to industry concerns earlier.
The chief executive of Make UK, the manufacturers’ lobby group, Stephen Phipson, welcomed the announcement, calling it "a pragmatic and common sense decision" that would "safeguard the competitiveness" of UK manufacturers and help attract investment. "It should bring more confidence about doing business in the UK and recognises the need to work with the reality of doing business."
Tina McKenzie, the policy lead at the Federation of Small Businesses, also praised the decision: "This will allow time for small firms to adjust to the UKCA marking system and focus on growing their business both at home and overseas."
The move will also be most welcome for those trading with and in Northern Ireland, as the indefinite recognition of the EU’s CE marking will mean less divergence between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where CE marking was to always remain mandatory due to Northern Ireland having to comply with EU laws for goods manufacturing.
Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake commented: "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."
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