| Legal basis (GB) | Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 as it applies in GB law (assimilated law), amended by the Construction Products (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, 2020 and 2022 and the Construction Products (Amendment) Regulations 2025. Enforcement provisions are in the Construction Products Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/1387) |
| Responsible department | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) acts as the national regulator for construction products (market surveillance and enforcement) |
| In force | The post-EU Exit regime took effect on 1 January 2021 |
| Current position | CE marking continues to be recognised in Great Britain, with no end date set. A 2026 White Paper proposes keeping UKCA alongside CE recognition. Any change will have at least a 2-year transition |
| Northern Ireland | EU rules apply. CE marking, or CE plus UK(NI) |
| Related pages | Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011, EN 50575, BS EN 13501-6 |
What it covers
The EU Construction Products Regulation, Regulation (EU) No 305/2011, sets the rules for placing construction products on the market. It was kept in UK law (now termed assimilated law) at the end of the EU Exit transition period and amended so that it works on its own in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). The amended regime took effect on 1 January 2021.
The Construction Products Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/1387) are the UK regulations that make the 2011 Regulation operable in the UK. They set out offences, enforcement and market surveillance powers, suspension and prohibition notices, and a due diligence defence.
Power, control and communication cables for permanent installation in buildings are construction products. Where they are subject to reaction to fire requirements, they are covered by EN 50575.
Markings in Great Britain
| Marking | Position in GB |
|---|---|
| UKCA | The UK marking under the GB regime. Where third-party testing or certification is needed, it must be done by a UK approved body |
| CE | Continues to be recognised for construction products placed on the GB market. No end date has been set |
| CE or CE + UK(NI) | Accepted in GB for qualifying Northern Ireland goods |
How the CE position changed
| Date | Government position |
|---|---|
| 24 August 2021 | CE recognition end date set to 1 January 2023 |
| 9 December 2022 | CE recognition extended by 2.5 years, to 30 June 2025 |
| 2 September 2024 | Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS62): recognition of CE marking for construction products extended. No end date was announced. The extension and the longer-term future of CE/UKCA marking are conditional on system-wide reform of the construction products regime. Any later change to CE recognition will have a minimum 2-year transition period |
| 26 February to 21 May 2025 | Construction products reform Green Paper consultation |
| 8 January 2026 | Construction Products (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/1172) in force. CE-marked products complying with the new EU Construction Products Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 can also be placed on the GB market |
| 25 February to 20 May 2026 | Construction Products Reform White Paper consultation. It proposes keeping the UKCA marking alongside continued recognition of the CE mark |
UK approved bodies and designated standards
- From 1 January 2021, former UK notified bodies became UK approved bodies. They are listed on the UKMCAB database and have a 4-digit number. Only bodies on that database can provide testing and certification for UKCA.
- UKAS remains the UK national accreditation body for approved bodies.
- On EU Exit, all existing harmonised European standards became UK designated standards. The government publishes and maintains the list for England, Scotland and Wales.
- Products not fully covered by a designated standard may be covered by a technical assessment document.
The consolidated list of designated standards (version 2, 26 September 2025) includes EN 50575:2014 + A1:2016, Power, control and communication cables. Cables for general applications in construction works subject to reaction to fire requirements.
Declaration of Performance and labelling
The GB version of the regulation keeps the Declaration of Performance (DoP) articles: Article 4 (declaration of performance), Article 5 (derogations), Article 6 (content) and Article 7 (supply). Articles 8 and 9 cover use and affixing of the UK marking.
Where both the UKCA and CE marks are applied, the DoP must meet the requirements of both the GB and EU regimes.
Government guidance lists the information that accompanies the UKCA marking, including:
- The last two digits of the year in which the marking was first affixed
- The manufacturer’s name and address
- The unique identification code of the product type
- The reference number of the declaration of performance
- The declared performance level or class
- The reference to the designated standard (technical specification) applied
- The intended use
- The approved body number, where applicable
For a cable, the declared class is the reaction to fire class set out in BS EN 13501-6, with the assessment and verification system given in EN 50575.
Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland follows the relevant EU rules for placing manufactured goods on the market.
- Construction products must meet EU harmonised standards and carry the CE marking, alone or with UK(NI).
- UK(NI) is needed only where mandatory third-party assessment is done by a UK approved body. It is not permitted on its own.
- Goods with the UKCA mark alone are not accepted on the Northern Ireland market.
- Products meeting Northern Ireland rules can also be supplied to the GB market.
What it means in practice
- Cables for fixed installation in GB buildings may carry UKCA or CE marking. Both must be backed by a valid DoP.
- For Northern Ireland, check for CE marking. A UKCA-only cable cannot be placed on that market.
- Check that the DoP references EN 50575 and declares a reaction to fire class.
- Where a third-party body is involved, check its number. A UKCA DoP should name a UK approved body listed on UKMCAB.
- The CE position depends on future reform. Government has committed to at least 2 years’ notice of any change.
Related reading: What is LSZH cable and when do you need it?.