Chamber welcomes retention of EU safety mark

The UK government's decision to recognise the EU's product safety symbol indefinitely will ease concerns among businesses, business leaders said today.

From the end of next year, goods such as light bulbs and toys were meant to carry a new UK-only mark to be sold in Great Britain.

However, the government has now confirmed the EU symbol - known as the CE mark - will continue to be accepted on most goods.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, who previously called for the retention of the EU symbol, say the introduction of a UK-only replacement would have proved costly for businesses.

Cameron Uppal (pictured), policy advisor at the GBCC, said: "The UK government's decision to indefinitely retain the EU's product safety mark is hugely welcomed.

"The notable costs involved in removing the usage of the CE mark, even for just the UK internal market, would have put even more pressures on the firms who are already struggling with still high inflation and increased interest rates.

"In our latest Quarterly Business Report, it was revealed that 45 per cent of businesses expect the price of goods and services to rise over the next three months, so any measures that can be used to ease cost pressures is positive news.

"The CE mark was expected to be replaced by the new UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark for goods sold in Great Britain by the end of 2024. However, the UKCA mark would not have been recognized in the EU and would only have been required for goods to be sold in Great Britain.

"This would have caused concern among businesses, particularly smaller ones, who expressed worries about the cost of adapting to the new UKCA requirements.

"The GBCC, along with the British Chambers of Commerce, has long called for the Government to use a degree of pragmatism in relation to retaining the CE mark.

"Now they must foster this spirit of collaboration to resolve further regulatory issues and smooth trade flows for local firms and their European counterparts."