Firms given extra time to apply new product safety marking

UK firms have been given an extra year to apply new post-Brexit product safety marking rules, it has been announced.

Companies had faced a 1 January 2022 deadline to switch from Europe's CE mark to the new UK conformity assessed (UKCA) standard for most products but this will be pushed back to 2023.

Firms have been able to use the new UKCA markings since 1 January which the government says will allow it to have control over goods regulations “maintaining the high product safety standards expected in the UK ”.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce said the extension comes as a relief to businesses.

Raj Kandola (pictured), head of policy at the GBCC, said: “Businesses will be breathing a sigh of relief as the Government has taken the welcome step to extend the easement process for a minimum of 12 months given the practical issues a number of firms have faced in attempting to apply the new post Brexit safety standards.

“We 've heard directly from local businesses the additional cost and administrative burdens they have faced in adapting to the new requirements so it 's vital that the Government use the next 18 months to identify any longer term issues businesses might face before CE marked goods are phased out and give businesses the support they need to be fully prepared for the start of 2023.

“For those businesses that are still unsure as to what these changes mean for their output, I would encourage you to join us for our upcoming webinar which focusses on Brexit grace periods and the adoption of UK CA markings will figure highly on the agenda. ”

William Bain, head of trade policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The British Chambers of Commerce has led business calls for an extension of at least a year on the easement for CE markings on imported industrial goods, spare parts, and components.

“Businesses will welcome this reprieve until 1 January 2023, which will protect supply chains and make a huge difference to consumers on the availability of items such as phones and laptops.

“There is currently a lack of testing capacity to enable the retesting of decades worth of CE marked items for the new UKCA specification, so this measure will be hugely important in allowing time for that capacity to be built and for retesting to take place.

“A wider problem does still exist however - complex supply chains such as those in the automotive industry still face having to duplicate markings on certain components and incurring large costs for testing as a result. This could compromise the output of these industries, limit availability of goods for consumers and create mounting cost pressures on British businesses.

“The Government needs to work now with businesses to ensure full consideration to the impacts are given before any decision to completely pull the plug on CE-marked goods, risking incurring costs to our economy that we may come to regret. ”

Click here to sign up to our upcoming webinar, 'Brexit Grace Periods: What rules are changing and when'.