UK Gov’t extends CE marking for construction products

The UK Government have announced an extension to the recognition of CE (Conformité Européenne) marking for construction products beyond 30 June 2025.

The decision, announced by Rushanara Ali MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Building Safety and Homelessness (Labour, Bethnal Green and Stepney), is part of a broader commitment to reform the regulatory framework for construction products in Great Britain.

The UK Government has announced an extension to the recognition of CE (Conformité Européenne) marking for construction products beyond 30 June 2025. This decision, made by Rushanara Ali MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Building Safety and Homelessness (Labour, Bethnal Green and Stepney), is part of a broader commitment to reform the regulatory framework for construction products in Great Britain.

According to Ali, the extension of CE marking recognition is a response to the findings of the Independent Review of the Construction Products Testing Regime. "We have listened to the findings from the Independent Review," she said. "There is currently insufficient testing and certification capacity in the UK alone to meet the volume of conformity assessment that would be required if CE recognition were to end."

The government’s announcement also included a commitment to maintaining the UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark as a valid regulatory mark. This ensures that both CE and UKCA markings will continue to be accepted for construction products placed on the market across the UK.

Additionally, the government plans to explore the long-term future of both CE and UKCA markings as part of a wider reform of the construction products regulatory regime. Ali emphasised that this extension is "conditional on this Government committing to system-wide reform of the construction products regulatory regime."

To support these changes, the government intends to engage with UK Conformity Assessment Bodies, the UK Accreditation Service, and the wider industry to enhance the conformity assessment market. Ali acknowledged the importance of providing certainty for the industry, stating, "Any subsequent changes to the recognition of CE marking would be subject to a minimum 2-year transitional period."

The announcement also mentioned future updates on fire safety standards, including those for sprinklers in care homes and National Classes fire testing standards.

This decision is seen as a move to ensure stability in the supply chain of construction products while addressing safety and compliance concerns raised by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. "Residents and communities need to be confident that their homes will be safe and well-built now and in the future," Ali concluded, highlighting the government’s commitment to building safety and regulatory reform.