The government has launched a far-reaching consultation on the future of construction product regulation, setting out what it describes as a “decisive step” towards rebuilding trust in the safety of the construction materials used in building projects across the UK.
Published on 25 February by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Construction Products Reform White Paper outlines a programme of system-wide reform aimed at closing long-standing gaps in the regime that governs how construction products are placed on the market. The industry is being encouraged to respond to the consultation, which runs for 12 weeks until 20 May 2026.
WHY REFORM IS NEEDED
One of the most significant concerns is the limited reach of current regulation. Only some construction products on the UK market are covered by designated standards or technical assessments, leaving a substantial number outside mandatory oversight.
The white paper also highlights that product markings have frequently been misunderstood as endorsements of safety rather than confirmations that a product meets a specific declared performance. Meanwhile, fragmented oversight, inconsistent enforcement and weak transparency around test data have eroded confidence across the supply chain, the consultation says.
The government believes a coherent framework is required that places safety, accountability and public confidence at the heart of how construction products are developed, tested, marketed and used.
BRINGING ALL PRODUCTS INTO SCOPE
At the centre of the reform package is a proposal to bring all construction products within regulatory scope. Products already covered by designated standards would continue to comply with mandatory requirements. Decisions on new or revised standards would be taken case by case.
Alongside this, the government is proposing a new risk-based General Safety Requirement that would apply to all other construction products not currently covered. Manufacturers would be required to assess foreseeable safety risks linked to the intended and reasonably foreseeable use of their products, and to take steps to eliminate or control those risks before placing them on the market.
Importers and distributors, including merchants, would have defined responsibilities to support compliance and stop unsafe products from circulating. Instead of relying on whether a product happens to fall within a designated standard, safety obligations would apply as a baseline across the entire sector.
TESTING AND ENFORCEMENT
The white paper is also proposing reforms to the testing and certification landscape, including a new licensing regime for UK Conformity Assessment Bodies, with clearer duties to act in the public interest and more robust oversight. Concerns raised in previous reviews about conflicts of interest, inconsistent methodologies and limited transparency in test data are being addressed through proposals for greater scrutiny and accountability.
Enforcement powers would be strengthened. Regulators would have expanded investigation and intervention tools, backed by criminal sanctions including unlimited fines and potential imprisonment for serious breaches. Civil monetary penalties are also proposed as an alternative route to address non-compliance more swiftly. Visible and proportionate enforcement is seen as central to resetting behaviour and restoring a level playing field for responsible operators.
Another major theme is product information. The government intends that all construction products should be accompanied by clear, accessible and accurate safety information. Marketing claims must be evidence-based and transparent, with regulators able to compel disclosure of relevant test data where necessary.
Digitalisation is presented as a key enabler. The white paper signals an ambition for digital product records and identifiers to become standard practice, improving traceability from manufacture through to installation. In an industry where complex systems are assembled from multiple components, better data flow is seen as vital to supporting informed specification and reducing the risk of inappropriate substitution.
Environmental performance is also woven into the reform agenda. Future standards are expected to take account of sustainability and carbon reduction objectives, aligning safety reform with wider net zero commitments and the transition towards a more circular construction economy.
The reforms are linked to wider plans for a single construction regulator, which would ultimately take responsibility for construction product regulation within a more integrated oversight framework. The goal is to reduce fragmentation, clarify accountability and support a culture where competence and responsibility are embedded across the product lifecycle.
In parallel with strengthening regulation, the government frames the reforms as a platform for growth. A clear, predictable and proportionate regime is intended to give developers confidence in the products they select, support investment in skills and innovation, and underpin the delivery of safe homes and infrastructure at scale.
The consultation is open to individuals, businesses, representative bodies and public authorities, with MHCLG encouraging responses via its online survey platform before 20 May 2026.