The ongoing uncertainty with the future status of the acceptance of the CE marking and the status of its replacement in the UK, the UKCA mark, is causing frustration in the foodservice equipment industry, thanks to the additional costs and administrative burdens required to apply it to products.
With the extension of accepting the CE marking some manufacturers have begun ditching the UKCA mark. The FEA advises that caution should be exercised by any manufacturer taking this approach as the announcement of the extension of CE marking only applies while UK requirements match the EU’s.
The FEA also points out that the UK’s energy labelling requirements are outside the scope of this announcement and remain unchanged, meaning that the UK energy label is needed for any products falling within this regulation.
Paul Anderson, chair of the FEA, commented: “The post-Brexit regulation landscape is, perhaps unsurprisingly, taking many years to find its new form. While we can understand the frustration many businesses are feeling, it’s important to stress that they should continue to engage with the process of establishing new standards.
“One way to do this is to become an FEA member, which provides opportunities to provide feedback that we use to shape discussions with legislators, helping guide and shape regulation in both the UK and EU.”