The Government has bowed to pressure from businesses and postponed its post-Brexit UKCA safey mark indefinitely.
Scrapped plans for the Government’s post-Brexit UKCA product safety mark means that companies can continue to comply with established Conformité Européenne (CE) regulations and the CE badge being marked on products.
The decision is said to come as part of a wider “drive for smarter regulation”, and aims to cut costs incurred by such a transition, and help grow the economy.
A halt to regulation proceedings follows an announcement made late last year, of a delay until 2025 — the third time the process had been kept back — and subsequent discussions with business owners.
With inflation continuing to prove a major challenge for UK firms towards long-term innovation, the announcement from the Department for Business and Trade cites helping businesses focus more on optimising operations, while reducing futile fees.
British organisations have claimed that a new national system for product designation would add significant costs, with many firms still reeling from pandemic shortfalls, as well as current inflation.
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“The Government is tackling red tape, cutting burdens for business, and creating certainty for firms – we have listened to industry, and we are taking action to deliver,” said business minister Kevin Hollinrake.
“By extending CE marking use across the UK, firms can focus their time and money on creating jobs and growing the economy.”
Tina McKenzie MBE, policy chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), has welcomed the continued recognition of CE marked products, commenting: “This will allow time for small firms to adjust to the UKCA marking system and focus on growing their business both at home and overseas.”
The CE safety regulation affects a wide range of goods, from electrical goods and construction materials to gas appliances and toys.
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