TRADA is warning the UK timber industry that under the forthcoming Construction Products Regulation (CPR), CE marking will become mandatory and that the whole supply chain will share responsibility for CPR compliance.
The CPR will replace the Construction Products Directive (CPD) in the European Economic Area (EEA) in 2013 and will have a profound effect on the UK, Ireland and Sweden where CE marking will become mandatory, rather than voluntary for many construction products.
“We are facing the most significant change for a decade in the way in which construction products are manufactured and sold in the EU,” said TRADA membership and marketing manager Rupert Scott.
“The CPD made a flawed assumption that manufacturers sell their products to the end user,” he added. “In reality manufacturers outside the EU may well put their products into a supply chain, not knowing where they will end up, or indeed the end use they may be put to.”
Under the new regulation there will be “greater legal responsibility for compliance with agents and importers,” said Mr Scott. “This shows much more of a ‘chain of custody’ approach.”
Importers won’t be able to sell non-compliant products on and will have to assure themselves that the manufacturers they buy from have done everything necessary to comply with the CPR. Distributors will have a similar duty of care obligation to importers.
TRADA has produced a Construction Briefing for members – “The European Construction Products Regulation. An overview and comparison with the Construction Products Directive” – which will be given free to delegates at the TRADA in the Regions event in London on June 16 and in Bristol on July 13. Attendance for non-members is £50+VAT, while members can claim up to three free places.
For details and to book click here
