Industry Leadership

Brexit

Latest Developments

With the end of the transition period approaching at 11.00pm on the 31st December 2020, the latest advice and guidance for CPA members will be supplied below. Further detailed information will be sent directly to the CPA Technical Committee. For further information contact Duncan King. 

Construction sector: end of transition period guidance

The UK government has issued information for the construction sector on preparing for the end of the transition period. Find out more.

Guidance on the Movement of Goods and Materials into and Between GB and NI

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published guidance on the movement of goods and materials into and between GB and NI in respect of the expiration of the transition period with the European Union at the end of the year. The guidance offers an overview of the new customs regime, specific information concerning the trade of goods and materials between Great Britain and Northern Ireland as well as between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The guide also includes an introduction to the new UK Global Tariff, touches on the interplay between movement of goods and materials and standards and alignment (which will be covered in a separate CLC publication), information on preparedness of the border as well information on shortage materials and other useful resources. The guidance has been issued by the Movement of Goods and Materials Workstream, co-chaired by CPA Chief Executive, Peter Caplehorn.  Find out more.

Brexit: CLC Publishes Movement Of People Guide

The Movement of People Workstream of the Construction Leadership Council Brexit Working Group has this week published guidance for companies on how to manage the movement of people and workers into the UK from 1 January 2021. New Year’s Eve Marks the end of the transition period, following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. Find out more.

How to import and export goods between GB and the EU from 1 January 2021

The UK governments has issued information for traders on importing and exporting goods between Great Britain and the EU after 1 January 2021. This latest version has been updated to remove references to Intrastat declarations for exports. You do not have to submit Intrastat declarations for goods exported from Great Britain to the EU. Find out more.

CPA Product Availability Survey Analysis 

Since the 2016 Referendum, the Construction Products Association has supported its members, the wider industry and government to prepare for leaving the European Union. This analysis offers a snapshot of CPA members’ readiness, particularly as it pertains to possible shortages of products, raw materials/components and parts for factories and equipment caused by Brexit. Find out more. 

Check, Change, Go – Prepare your business for the end of the transition period

The UK has left the EU and is leaving the EU single market and customs union. The end of the transition period means businesses should take action now to prepare for guaranteed changes and new rules from January 2021. To support business preparations the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is hosting free live and recorded webinars to help you check the new rules and understand the actions to take. Registrations are now open for a number of sessions, including the construction session on 28 October at 11am. See the full schedule and sign up to for live sessions here. Following the initial broadcast the webinars will be available on demand. Register for the construction session here.

CPR Guidance

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government recently published CPR-specific guidance on gov.uk to raise awareness of the actions businesses need to take in preparation for the end of the transition period. The guidance can also be read online on GOV.UK.

This guidance replaces previous no deal guidance and provides practical information for placing construction products on the GB market from 1 January 2021. The key points to note are as follows:

  • Businesses are encouraged to be ready for full implementation of the new UK regime as soon as possible after 1 January 2021 - this includes testing, marking and labelling
  • CE marking will still be recognised on the UK market, but businesses must prepare for the acceptance of CE marked goods on the GB market to end on 1 January 2022
  • Updated FAQs reflect the GB market, the end of the transition period and ending recognition of CE marking

Guidance for goods placed on the NI market and provisions for goods placed on the GB market from NI will follow.

Conformity Assessment Bodies Guidance

The UK government have published guidance on Conformity assessment bodies: Change of status from 1st January 2021.

Placing goods on the EU market from 1st January 2021

The UK Government issued guidance on the placing of manufactured goods on the EU market from 1st January 2021.

Placing goods on the GB market from 1st January 2021

The UK Government issued guidance on the placing of manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain from 1st January 2021.

UKCA Mark

The UK government have now published guidance on Using the UKCA mark from 1st January 2021.

UK REACH

The UK government have now published guidance on How to comply with REACH chemical regulations from 1st January 2021.

DEFRA and HSE have now published their detailed guidance on chemicals regulations, including UK REACH and CLP. Find out more.

Trade with the UK from 1st January 2021 as a business based in the EU

The government has published information on Trade with the UK as a business based in the EU from the 1st January 2021. 

Sign up for the Trader Support Service

If you move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland the government’s Trader Support Service will guide you through any changes due to the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol. It can help if you: are moving the goods yourself; act on behalf of someone; send parcels between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or bring parcels into Northern Ireland from outside the UK. Sign up now using the Trader Support Service website.

Technical Note: Statutory Instruments Covering Northern Ireland

Below are the links to the latest information covering Northern Ireland. While these Statutory Instruments are not specific to construction products they cover a host of other product areas. The CPA’s technical team has studied this information and believes that the new UK(NI) mark will be physically displayed as the initials UK sitting over the initials NI 0; no set of brackets is involved.

The “NI Protocol Statutory Instruments for both consumer & industrial goods” - Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 SI were laid 13th October.

The “Affirmative Policy SI” - Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (UK(NI) Indication) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 SI has been sifted; click here for the final draft version of the SI laid 13th October.

If you have questions, in the first instance please contact opss.enquiries@beis.gov.uk; otherwise, contact duncan.King@constructionproducts.org.uk.  

UK Transition: The Customs (Transitional Arrangements) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

The government announced on 12 June 2020 that border controls for EU goods imported into GB will be introduced at the end of the transition period in stages to give businesses affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) more time to prepare. This Tax Information and Impact Note is about the measures to allow traders importing goods from the EU to make a declaration in their commercial records. Find out more.