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Third delay for UK's quality mark.


 After Brexit, the government said it wanted to create a rival to the EU’s «CE» quality mark, which assures the safety of electronic, industrial and consumer goods, with an original implementation date of January 2022. However, industry groups have repeatedly criticised the UKCA mark as burdensome, expensive and impractical. Stephen Phipson, the head of Make UK, a manufacturers’ lobby group, said the latest delay raised serious questions about the point of the UKCA mark, calling for the UK to agree on a long-term mutual recognition agreement on industrial standards with the EU. The extension comes less than a month after the government announced it was delaying the implementation of the post-Brexit Medical Device Regulations for another 12 months.

Both decisions come after MPs raised concerns about the staff shortage and expertise at post-Brexit regulators. Kevin Hollinrake, a junior minister at the business department, said the UKCA changes had been agreed to provide «flexibility» for industry and to «reduce immediate burdens and costs for businesses», given the poor economic outlook and continuing global supply chain problems. Business groups said the decision reflected the reality that companies in the UK and their suppliers abroad were not ready for the UKCA mark, which would have left gaps in UK supply chains if implemented as planned. Hollinrake added there would be separate announcements for rules governing medical devices, construction products, crewless aircraft, rail products and marine equipment, which other Whitehall departments cover.

Peter Caplehorn, chief executive of the Construction Products Association, said the industry was awaiting a specific announcement on building products. «The industry is still concerned over a lack of clarity. ».

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  1. Adam M.15 November 2022 at 10:48

    Brexit was a mistake in my opinion. And I don't understand why the UK is wasting so much money in trying to create things and procedures that distance it from the EU even more? Do we really have all that money to be throwing it away on things like the quality mark? Couldn't we be using that money more wisely?

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