UKCA Marking Transition Period Extension

UKCA Marking Transition Period Extension

As expected the transition period for the end of recognition of the CE mark in Great Britain has been extended until 1^st January 2023.

The MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) on Tuesday 24^th August has updated its Guidance providing practical information for placing construction products on the GB market.

“Businesses must prepare for the end of recognition of the CE mark in GB and affix the UK marking using a UK-recognised ‘approved body’. Our intention is to end recognition of the CE mark by 1 January 2023. Current rules will remain in place until legislation is laid to end recognition of the CE mark.

Businesses should comply with the new UK regime, as soon as possible. This includes use of the UK mark in GB. To allow businesses time to adjust, some CE marked goods, that meet EU requirements, may continue to be placed on the GB market.

However, we intend for this arrangement to end on 1 January 2023, and businesses should ensure they are prepared for the new system before it comes into effect after we have laid legislation.”

David Borland, GGF Senior Technical Officer commented:

“The GGF is relieved that there has been an extension to the transition period to 1^st January 2023 from CE marking to UKCA marking now confirmed by Government.

However, the issues that the Federation has been discussing with MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) still remain and we would hope that the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) we have pushing for since late 2019, will find its way into the trading relationship with the EU27 before this legislation expires at the end of next year.

The EU has refused to recognise test evidence for AVCP3s (Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance 3) since 1^st January 2021 if supplied by a UK testing body. This will still mean additional testing costs for UK businesses notwithstanding the possible backlog of products to be tested. So whilst relieved for the extension, we remain cautious about the future of testing and certification for UK products.”

Full details on the latest Government guidance can be read here.