AFITI Informs | CPE issues statement on potential EU–UK Mutual Recognition Agreement on conformity assessment

The association Construction Products Europe (CPE) has released an official statement highlighting the need to establish a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) between the European Union and the United Kingdom for conformity assessment of products, including construction products.

Such an agreement would help avoid the duplication of testing and certification procedures, optimising technical resources for manufacturers and conformity assessment bodies in both markets, and enhancing operational efficiency following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Technical content of the statement

The statement outlines the following elements:

• Establishment of a reciprocal recognition mechanism between EU Notified Bodies and UKAS-accredited bodies in the United Kingdom.
• Application of international standards such as ISO/IEC 17011, ISO/IEC 17025, and ISO/IEC 17065 as the technical basis to ensure equivalence in assessment procedures.
• Possibility of mutual acceptance of certificates, test reports, and assessment outcomes, without the need to duplicate processes for both markets.
• Emphasis on the efficient use of existing technical infrastructure, aiming to optimise capacities and reduce unnecessary technical and economic burdens.

This publication is released in the context of the upcoming EU–UK Summit, scheduled for 19 May 2025, which is expected to address sectoral regulatory cooperation. Furthermore, the proposal is aligned with the framework of the new Construction Products Regulation (EU) 2024/3110, set to apply from 8 January 2026.

Access to the document

CPE’s full statement is available in PDF format via its official website:

🔗 Download publication – “Public statement calling for an EU–UK Mutual Recognition Agreement on Conformity Assessment” (April 2025)

This statement is jointly endorsed by several European and UK-based industrial organisations.