In todays news...

[Mussels]

To me, the idea that unpicking our relationship with the EU would be quick and painless was probably the most ridiculous claim of all the ridiculous claims that were made during the lead up to and immediate aftermath of the referendum.

Imagine going through a divorce with a partner of 40 years. Then multiply it by 68 million and you have some idea of the complexity involved. This latest spat about CE markings is just part and parcel of that complexity.

The only reason this part hasn't been quick has because of HM Government kowtowing to industry, constantly moving the goal posts with poorly thought out ideas and absolutely terrible communications, never mind the rest of industry that's been prepared for years and years and were ready to go, or those even further ahead and were already implementing the changes.

Just like being in the EU then.

[mangocrazy]

The only reason this part hasn't been quick has because of HM Government kowtowing to industry, constantly moving the goal posts with poorly thought out ideas and absolutely terrible communications, never mind the rest of industry that's been prepared for years and years and were ready to go, or those even further ahead and were already implementing the changes.

Really? Everything I've read has indicated that business overwhelmingly wanted to keep the CE mark and has been lobbying hard against the prospect of firms that sell into the much larger EU market having to carry out two separate sets of safety tests, with two separate regulatory bodies.

A survey by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in 2021 found that just 8% of businesses were in favour of scrapping the CE mark by the start of this year, as was then the plan. One firm told the BCC this week it had spent a six-figure sum preparing to comply with the UKCA – but was still relieved it could now revert to the CE system.

So the 'Government kowtowing to industry' is one way of looking at it. The other is that sanity has thankfully prevailed.

[MrLongbeard]

Really? Everything I've read has indicated that business overwhelmingly wanted to keep the CE mark and has been lobbying hard against the prospect of firms that sell into the much larger EU market having to carry out two separate sets of safety tests, with two separate regulatory bodies.

A survey by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in 2021 found that just 8% of businesses were in favour of scrapping the CE mark by the start of this year, as was then the plan. One firm told the BCC this week it had spent a six-figure sum preparing to comply with the UKCA – but was still relieved it could now revert to the CE system.

So the 'Government kowtowing to industry' is one way of looking at it. The other is that sanity has thankfully prevailed.

Yes, really, it's what I've mostly been spending the last 4 years of my working life doing.

I'm not saying everything that is / was / will be CE marked is a walk in the park to change over to the UKCA mark, but a lot would have been / was.
Sure there would have been some extra expense in some fields, but labs were mitigating those costs by running work in parallel in the UK & EU, and again that's only where 3rd party type examinations were required.
And the previous extension before this one also addressed a large chunk of this by allowing manufacturers to use previously issued EU type examinations until their expiration date, or 2027 which ever came first.

<Tin foil hat on> Give it a year or two and we'll be asking for mutual recognition and this will be denied by the EU, rightly so they don't want 3rd countries dicking about with their stuff, a couple of years later will be interesting times if nothing changes, UK industry will have to comply with EU law to sell in the UK without having any representation or influence over the decision making processes.

[Mr. Dazzle]

UK industry will have to comply with EU law to sell in the UK without having any representation or influence over the decision making processes.

[mangocrazy]

Yes, really, it's what I've mostly been spending the last 4 years of my working life doing.

In which case you have my genuine sympathy

I'm not saying everything that is / was / will be CE marked is a walk in the park to change over to the UKCA mark, but a lot would have been / was.

But wouldn't that have still caused major headaches for businesses wanting to sell into the EU? Two sets of rules, two sets of testing etc.

<Tin foil hat on> Give it a year or two and we'll be asking for mutual recognition and this will be denied by the EU, rightly so they don't want 3rd countries dicking about with their stuff, a couple of years later will be interesting times if nothing changes, UK industry will have to comply with EU law to sell in the UK without having any representation or influence over the decision making processes.

Er yes - so the worst of all worlds. But it was predictable, and predicted...

[Horse]

I'm not saying everything that is / was / will be CE marked is a walk in the park to change over to the UKCA mark, but a lot would have been / was.

But wouldn't that have still caused major headaches for businesses wanting to sell into the EU? Two sets of rules, two sets of testing etc.

Practically, if the test house had 'both hats' and could run tests in parallel, then it might not have been difficult. But still extra faff, paperwork and cost.

. But it was predictable, and predicted...

Or we could have taken the 'best practice' approach it seems that some international suppliers use, and lie? That might have kept costs down. Otherwise ...

[MrLongbeard]

Yes, really, it's what I've mostly been spending the last 4 years of my working life doing.

In which case you have my genuine sympathy

I'm not saying everything that is / was / will be CE marked is a walk in the park to change over to the UKCA mark, but a lot would have been / was.

But wouldn't that have still caused major headaches for businesses wanting to sell into the EU? Two sets of rules, two sets of testing etc.

<Tin foil hat on> Give it a year or two and we'll be asking for mutual recognition and this will be denied by the EU, rightly so they don't want 3rd countries dicking about with their stuff, a couple of years later will be interesting times if nothing changes, UK industry will have to comply with EU law to sell in the UK without having any representation or influence over the decision making processes.

Er yes - so the worst of all worlds. But it was predictable, and predicted...

1, Hey ho, I get paid the same either way, and fortunately this shouldn't have an impact on me personally.
2, Not really, we're still a long way off for when requirements are expected to diverge, but even then it's a separate market, you have to comply with every set of requirements, US, AUS, Africa, Middle East, Russia, Japan, China etc etc, for small guys I can see it being a bit of a pain, but for the regular / big manufacturers that sell globally not so much.
3, But could have been so much more

[Ant]

All white kitchen triggers the box tickers....

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/0 ... ECRR5fhNwc

[DefTrap]

All white kitchen triggers the box tickers....

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/0 ... ECRR5fhNwc

It's a social media spat - it's only News because the Torygraph have decided it is, and then gone out to people with an industry presence and asked them for a soundbite answer to the question that is essentially "how do you feel about that bloke's obvious sexism, racism and noninclusivism?".
Personally I would tell them to eff off.

[Ant]

No it's news because it's news, it's not only the Telegraph who reported on it.

[Hot_Air]

Give it a year or two and we'll be asking for mutual recognition and this will be denied by the EU, rightly so they don't want 3rd countries dicking about with their stuff, a couple of years later will be interesting times if nothing changes, UK industry will have to comply with EU law to sell in the UK without having any representation or influence over the decision making processes.

Indeed. We’re well on the way to this situation in some industry sectors.

[Mussels]

All white kitchen triggers the box tickers....

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/0 ... ECRR5fhNwc

Some of them might be trans men, would that make it ok or would trans women be better?

[Ant]

All white kitchen triggers the box tickers....

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/0 ... ECRR5fhNwc

Some of them might be trans men, would that make it ok or would trans women be better?

I dunno, is it even not ok? I can't see the issue with men in the kitchen. I think they're better in the kitchen than women are.

Really it's a mixed message from a rights group to suggest they want to go back to the days of thinking it's the place of a woman, in the kitchen....

[DefTrap]

Is there some sort of "Tranny News Hysteria" publication that some of you are subscribing to?
Or is it just the Express and Telegraph that are Sherlock-Holmesing the life out of nothing bitching on social media?

[Tricky]

Is there some sort of "Tranny News Hysteria" publication that some of you are subscribing to?
Or is it just the Express and Telegraph that are Sherlock-Holmesing the life out of nothing bitching on social media?

Nah, that all-white kitchen story was fairly widely reported- this is where i saw it.
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-styl ... 86054.html

Also heard them discussing it on R4, it did suprise me though that no one asked what the make up of the kitchen might be in your average curry house or Chinese restaurant...
Seemed like pretty pathetic social media-driven non-news to me, there are many far more important things going on in the world to report and/or get in a froth about IMO
Anyway, I see that Straker did a bit of a U-turn on his initial posts, as he is of course a businessman as well as a social media user - he didn't think that first one through , but if nothing else, I guess this story has taught him how to (not) use social media

[Ant]

Is there some sort of "Tranny News Hysteria" publication that some of you are subscribing to?
Or is it just the Express and Telegraph that are Sherlock-Holmesing the life out of nothing bitching on social media?

Speaking of "Tranny News Hysteria", have you heard the bother that Costa Coffee are in?

People just never learn from other companies who end up broke.

[DefTrap]

Speaking of "Tranny News Hysteria", have you heard the bother that Costa Coffee are in?

People just never learn from other companies who end up broke.

Nope.

[Mussels]

I'm not sure what the whole Tampax thing at the moment is about, is this part of it?

BBC News - The female aviator helping women get their wings

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-66201917

[mangocrazy]

Bloke who outsources production of his burgers to 1700 different kitchens in the US is astonished that the quality of them is inconsistent, with some being classed as 'disgusting', 'revolting' and 'inedible'...

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ ... le-burgers

I'm reminded of the classic Viv Stanshall line - 'this is inedible muck and there's not enough of it'...

[Horse]

Is there some sort of "Tranny News Hysteria" publication that some of you are subscribing to?
Or is it just the Express and Telegraph that are Sherlock-Holmesing the life out of nothing bitching on social media?

have you heard the bother that Costa Coffee are in?

No, tell us.