So, anyway, Brexit ...
With so little else going on in the world it is good for us in the UK to consider foolishness past, and what better than to think about Brexit on the day George Eustice, a former Conservative minister, slagged off our recently signed trade deal with Australia? George told us that the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement, signed in December 2021, “gave away far too much for far too little in return”. He laid much of the blame at the door of Liz Truss, who is laying riddled with bullets in a quiet corridor in Westminster, presumably considering a future on childrens' TV as a glove puppet.
He says that the then trade secretary asked her opposite number from Australia what he would need in order to be able to conclude an agreement by the next G7 meeting, and of course the Australian negotiator very kindly set out the Australian terms, which then shaped eventually the deal.
This brings us in the NTI newsroom onto today's topic; CE or CA? The still continuing 'CE mark' is required for many products sold within the European Union. When you see it on your toaster or Game Boy you can be reassured by the fact that the manufacturer has checked the product meets EU safety, health or environmental requirements. It is an indicator of a product's compliance with EU legislation and allows the free movement of products within the European market.
Phew.
Thing is, Great Britain is no longer in the EU. And the presumably CE-marked clocks are ticking. From 1 January 2023, CE marking was to be no longer accepted on most new products placed on the market in Great Britain. They had needed to be replaced by a much more patriotic UK CA rating. (If you are interested the letters 'CA' stand for 'Conformity Assessment'.)
This new product marking covers most products that previously required the CE mark. But here's the rub, it will not be recognised in the EU market. Products that require CE marking will still need a CE marking to be sold in the EU. Didn't put that on the side of your Brexit-bus, did you Boris?
It was announced today (Tuesday 15 November) that the UK Government has bowed to renewed pressure from industry, saying it is extending full implementation of the scheme until December 31 2024; this is the third delay in less than two years. Manufacturers want the UK to agree a long-term mutual recognition agreement on industrial standards with the EU. Yesterday the Government, its hands securely on the non-product-marked wheel, said it was extending full implementation of the scheme until the end of 2024. In the meantime we can be reassured that our Audis and glockenspiels will continue to carry the 'CE' product marking.
Representatives of such industries as building and construction are claiming that delays and lack of certainty are preventing investment and innovation, which is probably the last thing we need right now.
