BPMA urges government to act on CE mark issue
25 Jun 2018
British Pump Manufacturers Association head Steve Schofield has welcomed the recent top level meeting between government and industry leaders over the future of CE marking, post-Brexit.
The BPMA director and CEO, who was among those attending the event, remarked: “I am pleased that through BEIS, the Government is at last seeking advice and input from industry. Events like this seek to do just that, and so I welcome the initiative.”
Industry concern has been mounting over what if anything will replace the present European system of safety certification that demonstrates conformity with standards within the European Economic Area.
More than 200 bodies responsible in the UK for certifying products to carry the marking have been warned their work may no longer be officially sanctioned if no agreement is reached between Brussels and Westminster by 29 March next year.
The BPMA, which represents substantial numbers of firms within the pumps industry, was among 16 key bodies that attended a meeting with civil servants from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, hosted by the Labour MP for Bermondsey, Neil Coyle.
However, Schofield warned that, despite a useful discussion, no alternative existed to the CE mark and the problem would worsen if no agreement was reached regarding the country’s involvement in the European Customs Union.
He cautioned: “There are some crucially important issues affecting the UK’s manufacturing sector that need to be fully understood, and then borne in mind, when negotiating the final stages of Brexit; CE Marking is one such issue.”
Lloyd’s Register, which provides compliance tests for manufacturers, recently disclosed that it would seek to recruit Dutch staff in order to include European experts to safeguard against any potential negative consequences of Brexit.
