Post-Brexit UKCA certification delayed following industry pressure
The UK government has decided to increase the deadline of the UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) safety and quality mark by another year, allowing more time for British businesses to mark their goods under the new guidelines.
The new measure, which came into effect when the UK left the EU on January 1, 2021, will have its application extended until January 1, 2023, to allow for businesses to have more time for their goods to meet the standards, following significant pressure from industry and trade groups.
The UKCA is a post-Brexit replacement to the European mark Conformité Européenne (CE) - a declaration that the goods meet all the essential requirements of EU directives, which was first revealed in early 2019. Most goods that were eligible for the CE rating will also be eligible for the UKCA.
Read more: UK Government unveils post-Brexit CE mark equivalent
A number of manufacturing groups had previously expressed concern about the capacity to test their products ahead of the new measures coming into effect.
This would particularly affect the British construction and manufacturing sectors, which had warned the government of risks to supply chains if they could no longer use goods from overseas.
The coronavirus pandemic has played a part in this change, with the government revealing the crisis has created an atmosphere where this kind of immediate change becomes difficult for many businesses.
To be awarded the certification, goods need to be assessed by British bodies, although rumours are circulating of the tests costing in excess of £50,000 (€58,500).
There is also the issue of actively testing the products, with a number of trade groups across various sectors, including automotive, expressing fears the UK does not have the infrastructure to perform such a high volume of tests.
EU goods may not also qualify for UKCA certification, which, unlike its European counterparts, is designed to test and measure viability across the supply chain.
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While EU goods often supply very few parts, anything that does slip through the net could cause further disruptions in the supply chains.
Fergus McReynolds, of the manufacturing trade group, Make UK, said this was a welcome move from the government which he suggested could be "vital for protecting supply chains".
“Companies were becoming increasingly nervous as the clock ticked down to the end of the year, caught up in the delays and bureaucracy in getting their products tested. The extra year will provide both exporters and importers with valuable breathing space to enable a new testing system to bed in place," he revealed in a statement.
However, he told the FT that a number of sectors, such as pyrotechnics or construction products do not have the capacity to constantly run the tests required for certification, and expressed concerns at supply from overseas companies being disrupted should they not be prepared for the new mark.
However, should CE marks transfer to UKCA marks, this could significantly streamline the process.
A number of trade bodies are currently working in tandem with government regulators to allow overseas suppliers to transfer their existing European certifications into UKCA marks.
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Both CE and UKCA marks are also set to be recognised in Northern Ireland, as part of the UK-EU agreement as it pertains to any post-Brexit trade.
UK goods that receive a UKCA rating intended for sale within the EU will also still require a CE certification.
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