We are a little concerned here in the BMA’s Keele offices that the message about mandatory CE marking might not be getting through. So, at the risk of repeating myself, here it is again.
From 1 July 2013, it will be a legal requirement for all bathroom products sold in the UK, and covered by harmonised European Standards (hEN), to have a CE mark.
When the new Construction Products Regulation (CPR) comes into force manufacturers and importers will need to ensure their products, if covered by the harmonised European Standards, are tested and must be CE marked to avoid their products being labelled as non-compliant.
Without demonstrating compliance with the CPR, and therefore without the CE mark, it would be extremely difficult for bathroom products to be marketed in the UK and throughout Europe.
There are harmonised European Standards for many sanitary appliances and members of the BMA have been receiving expert advice about the new regulations for some time as part of their membership benefits. The association gets advanced information about changes in regulations through its networking with European standards organisations and trade bodies.
So that’s it. That is the message! We are just seven months away from the new regulations and that is not long if you haven’t yet started on the road to CE marking.
Yvonne Orgill, CEO, Bathroom Manufacturers Association