Mutual Recognition Agreement between the EU and UK on harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products
Glass for Europe’s statement
Mutual Recognition Agreement between the EU and UK on harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products
Glass for Europe has always been and remains a strong advocate of a fully effective and efficient single market for construction products and building glass and glazing products.
As a member of the European Union, the United Kingdom has been applying the provisions of the Construction Products Regulation[1] in the recent years. As such, the European harmonised technical standards have been the only regulatory reference in the UK, which has allowed seamless trade in building glass and glazing products with other members of the European Union.
In the context of the on-going negotiations between the European Union and the United-Kingdom on a possible BREXIT agreement, Glass for Europe would like to stress how essential it is for the proper trade of building glass and glazing products that European harmonised technical standards remain the only regulatory reference in the UK. It is also crucially important to Europe’s flat glass sector that the third-party assessment systems, i.e. notified bodies, remain aligned, including notification procedures. Only once these two conditions fulfilled, can a mutual recognition agreement be agreed to prevent barriers to trade.
Glass for Europe adheres to Construction Products Europe’s position on the matter[2] and urges both negotiating parties to find balanced solutions in their ongoing negotiations to guarantee the seamless trade of construction products between the United-Kingdom and the European Union, while not compromising the integrity of the EU’s single market.
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[1] Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing Council Directive 89/106/EEC. Text with EEA relevance
[2] https://www.construction-products.eu/application/files/6015/9307/9664/2020.06.25_Brexit.pdf
