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Germany delays CE marking
16:06 06 Feb 2004
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The Construction Products Association has asked the government to
investigate the result of a ballot held by the European Commission
over delaying the implementation of CE-marked masonry
products.
The CE marking was due to be implemented on 1 February but due to German opposition the EC proposed a vote among member states. The result of the vote has now delayed the implementation until December 2004.
The Association is surprised by the outcome of the vote and has protested to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. It argues that all regulators have had nine months to adjust their national regulations and that Germany must obey the rules.
"We have asked the UK government and the European Trade Association to ask the EC which countries voted which way," said John Tebbit, the Construction Products Association's industry affairs director.
"As I understand it, the proposal would need a qualified majority of 67 votes. We want to be shown the votes so we can be confident they followed the correct voting procedure. Then, although we don't like the outcome, we will have to accept it," Tebbit added.
"What we don't want is secrecy over the voting - we hope the EC will be transparent," he said.
Brick Development Assoc-iation senior structural engineer Peter Watt told CJ: "Germany's objections to CE marking of masonry products revolves around it not being able to fully implement the standards into its system. Why exactly it can't we're not really sure. What we do know is that it's not going to be good news for the industry if the standards have to be changed after already being agreed."
He continued: "The masonry manufacturers have been gearing up to implement the new standards and CE mark their products as of 1 February and now this delay is going to set everyone back.
"The co-existence period would have ended next February, but, with a delay until December 2004, it means the co-existence period is pushed back further, which results in the old and new standards running side by side for a lot longer and causing more confusion to customers."
The CE marking was due to be implemented on 1 February but due to German opposition the EC proposed a vote among member states. The result of the vote has now delayed the implementation until December 2004.
The Association is surprised by the outcome of the vote and has protested to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. It argues that all regulators have had nine months to adjust their national regulations and that Germany must obey the rules.
"We have asked the UK government and the European Trade Association to ask the EC which countries voted which way," said John Tebbit, the Construction Products Association's industry affairs director.
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"As I understand it, the proposal would need a qualified majority of 67 votes. We want to be shown the votes so we can be confident they followed the correct voting procedure. Then, although we don't like the outcome, we will have to accept it," Tebbit added.
"What we don't want is secrecy over the voting - we hope the EC will be transparent," he said.
Brick Development Assoc-iation senior structural engineer Peter Watt told CJ: "Germany's objections to CE marking of masonry products revolves around it not being able to fully implement the standards into its system. Why exactly it can't we're not really sure. What we do know is that it's not going to be good news for the industry if the standards have to be changed after already being agreed."
He continued: "The masonry manufacturers have been gearing up to implement the new standards and CE mark their products as of 1 February and now this delay is going to set everyone back.
"The co-existence period would have ended next February, but, with a delay until December 2004, it means the co-existence period is pushed back further, which results in the old and new standards running side by side for a lot longer and causing more confusion to customers."
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