Process industries’ relief as Government shelves CE replacement plans ‘indefinitely’

The Government described the move as an extension of the use of the European-wide symbol rather than saying it was formally dropping altogether its plans to introduce a rival UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark.

Wayne Rose, director and CEO of the British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) commented: “We welcome this decision by the Department of Business & Trade, as a common sense and pragmatic approach to assisting UK Industry.” 

His organisation, representing the £1.9 billion UK pump sector has played a key role in lobbying for retention of the CE mark, used across Europe and in all EU member states.

Technical director of Lancashire weighing and metering specialist Rospen Industries Grant McGeever said the news was especially welcome given, that according to the latest S&P Global/CIPS UK Manufacturing PMI report, UK manufacturers saw accelerated rates of contraction in output, new orders and employment last month.  

Commenting on LinkedIn, McGeever said: “The CE mark is here to stay, which is great news for manufacturers. The move to a compulsory UKCA mark would have increased time and costs for manufacturers at a time when the industry is already facing pressure.”

“Taking away this administrative burden will ease pressure on businesses that are already feeling the pinch. It’s great that the business community is being listened to.”

Whitehall had planned to introduce the UKCA as part of a raft of post-Brexit legislation. Originally scheduled for adoption by the end of next year for all goods sold within Great Britain, the move has been postponed several times after businesses protested it would create unnecessary time and cost burdens.

They stated that the new UK rules, merely duplicated existing EU standards and would not be recognised within European Union member states that provided much of their market. British manufactures would be forced to use both conformity protocols for products sold at home or in the EU.

In addition, overseas manufacturers selling to the UK would face the same requirement and might be deterred from exporting to the British market, they warned. 

While welcoming the change of heart, Rose pointed out that the now-aborted UKCA deadlines had already negatively impacted businesses. 

“Some of our larger members have already endured the unwelcomed expense and bureaucracy of dual safety mark adoption, simply to continue selling the same products to the same markets, so although they too will welcome this announcement, a good deal of wasted time, effort and cost has already been spent.

“For our smaller members, they will be relieved that the cliff-edge deadline of UKCA mark adoption has been removed, and that they can now redirect their efforts into product innovation and business growth.

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