TDUK calls for clarity on UKCA/CE marking

Timber Development UK (TDUK) is calling for the next government to remove the continuing uncertainty around CE marking and the UKCA mark on construction products.

At the point that the UK exited the EU back in January 2020, the UK government was very firmly of the intent that recognition of CE marking on construction products would cease in the shortest time possible and that the UK would develop its own world-leading marking system called UK Conformity Assured UKCA.

Four years later, the UK’s recognition of CE marking for many products outside of construction materials has been extended indefinitely.

The stated position on construction products from UK Government remains: “Our intention is to end recognition of the CE mark in GB on 30 June 2025. Current rules, which allow for continued recognition of the CE mark, will remain in place until legislation is laid to end recognition of the CE mark”.

To date, there has been no consultation or draft legislation published to support this stated intention to end recognition of CE marking in a year’s time.

In TDUK’s latest Trade Note, we look in depth at the latest developments regarding CE and UKCA marking ahead of the 2025 deadline, and consider what we should be asking our potential MPs ahead of next month’s General Election.TDUK is calling on the government to remove the uncertainty for UK business and announce CE marking on construction products will be recognised indefinitely in the UK in line with the recent announcement on all other CE marked products.

This simple route recognises that CE marking is fundamentally about market access and will support the existing UK/EU trade agreement. It will also free the resources of Government and industry to concentrate on the development of a UK construction product safety system that supports UK construction, rather than simply overseeing products being placed on the market.