Government indefinitely extends CE marking deadline for solid fuel appliances

Government recently published details regarding amendments to building safety policy on 2 September 2024, announcing an indefinite extension to the previous UKCA/CE transition deadline. The extension is under consultation – a new deadline has not yet been communicated. Read our article to see the initial plan prior to this extension.

Rushanara Ali, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government, communicated in a statement that the CE mark will remain an available methodology for conformity assessment of construction products. This means that solid fuel component manufacturers (such as appliance manufacturers and those that manufacture consumables) will be able to continue using the CE mark when placing their products on the market across the UK. 

This decision has come about following findings that the UK has insufficient testing and certification capacity. Current capacity is not enough for the June 2025 transitional deadline to be achieved, so government has chosen to continue allowing the CE mark to be used on construction products placed on the market across the UK. 

Construction products is a wide-reaching category that encompasses wood-burning stoves, multifuel stoves, and many other components related to their installation. Due to this, the announcement is not only important to our industry, but also to the wider construction industry. 

What you should know 

• CE marking will be accepted past 30 June 2025 across the UK for construction products. 

• UKCA marking remains a valid and accepted conformity mark. 

• This regulatory reform will explore the long-term future of CE and UKCA, with the intention of strengthening the conformity assessment market. 

• Any subsequent changes to the recognition of CE marking will be subject to a minimum transitional period of two years – allowing manufacturers the time necessary to meet any future proposals 

Further information 

The statement encompasses all construction products, including solid fuel appliances. Before this announcement, guidance stipulated that CE marking recognition was due to end 30 June 2025, but this deadline has now been extended – no details of the length of this extension have currently been shared. 

The announcement follows findings that the UK has insufficient capacity for testing and certification – the Independent Review of the Construction Products Testing Regime determined that the volume of products that would require conformity assessments following the end of CE recognition would be far too great for the UK alone to handle. Ali’s statement expresses that there is an understanding within government that prematurely ending CE recognition without strong domestic reform could create trade barriers and cause adverse effects to the supply of products that currently meet recognised standards. 

Government have announced intentions to engage with UK Conformity Assessment Bodies, the UK Accreditation Service, and the wider industry to strengthen the UK’s conformity assessment market, understanding the important role these bodies play in ensuring compliance of goods on the market. HETAS will continue to input into these consultations to ensure future conformity assessment regimes are robust and representative of the wider solid fuel heating industry. 

The extension and long-term commitments regarding the future of CE and UKCA marking are conditional on government committing to system-wide reform of the construction products regulatory regime. 

Any future changes which will require you to act will be subject to a minimum transitional period of two years – we will continue to support you and provide you with relevant information as any further changes occur.