Construction Products Regulation amendments GB in context

[edit] Construction Products Regulation amendments GB

On 10th November 2025 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) laid The Construction Products (Amendment) Regulations 2025 before parliament . These regulations make minor technical amendments and result from changes in EU regulation (which is referenced a number of times) and is required in order to continue permission agreements for CE marked products under the new regulations to be sold in Great Britan. Hence the relatively short period until it comes into force on 8 January, 2026 to align with the EU changes at the same time.

The revised EU regulation is the Construction Products Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 which was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 18 December 2024 and entered into force on 7 January 2025, with full implementation on 8 January 2026 (replacing Regulation (EU) No 305/2011). The new regulation introduces a number of key changes with significant new requirements placed upon manufacturers, many of which will be mandatory for any products being sold in the European market under the CE mark, including products from the UK. The recent UK legislation changes are relatively minor as they focus on the recognition of newly qualifying EU products for sale in the UK, rather than vice versa.

It is important to understand that whilst the EU regulations aim for enhanced CE marking, covering a broad range of measures, the marking itself remains a statement of conformity as opposed to an assessed certification. The new Declaration of Performance and Conformity (DoPC), replaces the previous Declaration of Performance (DoP) covering the wider range of parameters.

However both of these are self-issued legal documents or statements that are provided by manufacturers, not third party assessments. Whilst the former focussed on performance or technical characteristics of a product, the latter and newer version also requires confirmation of conformity to environmental and climate standards.

The UKCA marking is an assessment mark, that is to say it is third party assessed, rather than a self declaration such as the CE mark. The UKCA range of information and issues of conformity required by the UKCA are less broad than those required under the new enhanced CE mark, but will have been assessed by a third party to meet UK health, safety, and environmental standards,

The revised EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR) (2024/3110) includes changes such as the introduction of the mandatory Digital Product Passport (DPP) containing technical and environmental data, enhanced CE marking that now includes environmental impact data, with a greater focus on circular economy principles like promoting recycled materials.

The DPP will become a digital record of a product containing key data about lifecycle, such as:

This information will be stored electronically and become accessible via a unique identifier such as a QR code, barcode RFID tags, or similar technology.

Whilst it will vary from product to product and indicator to indicator the intention is that the EU product digital passport will be third-party assessed as a way to enhance, for example trust in environmental claims through verification by accredited bodies. While specific verification requirements will vary by product category, third parties will play a crucial role in ensuring the authenticity and reliability of the data contained in the passport.

Towards he end of 2026 it is expected that the new European Product Act will become EU law, and will consolidate and strengthen rules for products on the EU market. It is likely to refer to regulations such as the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which was where the origins of the DPP started a swell as the Product Liability Directive.

The UKCA mark was introduced after Brexit to replace the EU's CE mark for products sold in Great Britain, it mark remains a recognised regulatory mark and provides an alternative to the European ‘CE’ mark in Great Britain. The UKCA mark is however not accepted within Europe and as such products need to be assessed under the new EU regulations from 2026 to enter the European market. A UKCA marks shows a product has been assessed and passed against UK health, safety, and environmental standards, which is compiled in a technical file provided alongside the product.

The Grenfell Tower fire and the following inquiry exposed weaknesses in construction product regulations, in particular the British Board of Agrément (BBA) where misleading information may not have accurately reflect a products' performance, but also weaknesses in other product certifications and the system as a whole. As the UK government has been looking towards broader reform of construction product regime as well as many other aspects of certification, competence and assessment. UK acceptance of of CE marking for construction products has been extended past its original deadline by the government while also committing to system-wide overhaul of product assessment with UKCA marking as a potential valid option. See also Competency codes, standards and frameworks for construction product manufacturers

On 26 February 2025 the UK government published the Construction Products Reform Green Paper and Consultation, which closed May 2025. The outlined the current situation, the reforms taken, the remaining challenges, and the proposed changes to improve safety, promote economic growth, and support the construction of high-quality homes. Along with many specific details it proposed aligning UK regulations with EU standards to reduce trade friction and ensure a competitive marketplace. The government have yet to formally respond to the consultation.

On 18 December 2018, the government laid a statutory instrument to ensure a functioning CPR regime when the UK left the European Union. This statutory instrument delivered the policy approach set out in a technical notice published on 13 September 2018. The development of the UKCA as an alternative to the CE marking was as a direct result of brexit.

The government made legislation in March 2019 which came into effect on 1 January 2021 to make arrangements for the regulation of construction products after EU Exit. The legislation which made amendments to the regime for construction products post the transition period are:

On 2 September 2024 the Minister for Building Safety and Homelessness issued a written ministerial statement regarding recognition of the CE marking for construction products. That the CE mark would continue to be available when placing construction products on the market in Great Britain and that the UK mark (UKCA) can also be used.