Government Extends CE Marking For Construction Products and Commits to Reform Regulatory Regime

The Government has announced an extension of the recognition of CE marking for construction products in Great Britain. This extension, and the longer-term future of CE/UKCA marking, is conditional on a commitment from the Government to system wide reform of the construction products regulatory regime.

Rushanara Ali, Minister for Building Safety and Homelessness, declares: “I can announce 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.

“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.”

The Government has also published amendments to Approved Document B, which will require sprinklers to be installed in all new care homes. There is a six‐month transition period until the new guidance comes into effect on 2nd March 2025, with a further six months for work on current projects to continue if they have sufficiently progressed.

The updated guidance also includes the withdrawal of the ‘outdated’ National Classes fire testing standards, which means products that have only been tested against these standards will have to be re‐tested against the European standard, with a transition period of five years for fire resistance and six months for reaction to fire.