UK manufacturers of products used in the construction industry will, under EU proposals, have to adopt common EU standards and display the common marks on those products.

This will lead to producers of construction equipment being hit with a combined cost of £40 million with on-going costs totalling £7 million per year. An additional burden which many will not be able to afford during these troubled economic times.

As a result of the absurdity of the European Commission’s proposals, British standards may be lowered in areas that are safety-critical. This may undermine the UK’s reputation for excellence in highly technical areas.

Draft Regulation laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products COM(08) 311