Category: Uncategorized

Wood Products and Technology -exhibitions in Gothenburg on 25th– 27th of August 2026

Control Union Finland  Oy and Control Union Sweden AB are as exhibitors in Wood Products and Technology -exhibitions. Welcome to meet our “wood” experts regarding CE, PEFC- and FSC-certification, but also ISO system certification. You will find us from booth A03:19.

More information about exhibitions and other exhibitors: https://en.traochteknik.se

If you want to book a meeting beforehand please contact Viggo Granlung, vgranlund@controlunion.com, eller ring (+46) 70 376 5510

New Export Opportunity: CE-Marked Strength-Graded Structural Timber Approved for the Japanese Market

Control Union Finland Oy (Finotrol) is pleased to announce that production facilities under its supervision and certification have received official approval to export CE-marked, strength-graded structural timber to Japan.
This approval is based on notification MLIT Housing Bureau Architecture Counselor No. 4442, issued by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).

What Does This Mean for Your Business?

Timber products mechanically strength-graded in accordance with EN 14081 and certified by Control Union Finland now meet the requirements of Section 6 of MLIT Notice No. 1452 (2000). This recognition enables manufacturers to access one of the world’s most demanding and high-value construction markets.

Approved Timber Specifications:

  • Wood species: Pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Spruce (Picea abies)
  • Strength classes: C18, C24, C30, C35
  • Standard compliance: EN 14081 and related reference standards

All exported products must fully comply with the strength classifications and quality control requirements defined in EN 14081. Ongoing compliance is verified through CE-marking assessment visits.

Interested in Exporting to Japan?

We’re here to support your entry into the Japanese market. For more information or to begin the certification process, please contact:

Tuija Vehmaa
tuija.vehmaa@finotrol.fi | +358 40 161 8201

Petteri Torniainen
petteri.torniainen@finotrol.fi | +358 40 589 2569

Timo Aavakallio
timo.aavakallio@finotrol.fi | +358 40 160 2265

Noah Stoltz (Sweden)
nstoltz@controlunion.com | +46 72 583 4043

About UKCA certification and related evaluation visits

On 2nd September 2024 the Minister for Building Safety and Homelessness issued a Written Ministerial Statement regarding recognition of the Conformité Européenne (CE) marking for construction products. The previously stated deadline of 30th June 2025 for CE marking recognition in Great Britain (GB) has now been revoked.

In summary this means that: 

  • CE marking will be accepted past 30th June 2025 in Great Britain.
  • UKCA marking will remain a valid and accepted regulatory mark.
  • The government has committed to system wide construction product regulatory reform.
  • The government will explore the long-term future of CE/UKCA marking as part of this regulatory reform.
  • Any subsequent changes to the recognition of CE marking would be subject to a minimum 2-year transitional period.

To this end, CU UK is voluntarily suspending, by United Kingdom Accreditation services (UKAS) issued its accreditation for the scope of Construction Products Regulations. As a result, CU UK will no longer provide inspection- and certification services for construction products to its existing or new customers and therefore does not maintain or issue UKCA Certificates of Conformity. Control Union Finland Oy (Finotrol) terminates UKCA evaluations by the end of 2024.

Any UKCA certificates already issued to customers will remain valid until the next surveillance audit is due. Customers wishing to continue their UKCA certification may contact another approved body to carry out these services. These websites will help you find a provider:

https://find-a-conformity-assessment-body.service.gov.uk/

https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/browse-by-category/?cat=449

For customers using the CE marking (UK market) for product approval, this CU UK decision has no impact on their operations. More information given by Control Union closer to next deadline (7/2027), if UKCA compulsory taking place.

– Control Union UK & Finland (Finotrol) –

UKCA marking will NOT become mandatory after 30th June 2025. There is no new mandatory date communicated, but any change is subject to a two-year transition period.

Released Sept. 2nd 2024 (2.29PM)

Dear Approved Bodies & Technical Assessment Bodies,

I am getting in touch to alert you a statement made today by the Minister for Building Safety and Homelessness regarding construction products.

This announces an extension of the recognition of CE marking for construction products in GB. This extension, and the longer-term future of CE/UKCA marking, is conditional on a commitment from the government to system wide reform of the construction products regulatory regime.

Please see the announcement here: Building Safety Update [Written statements – Written questions, answers and statements – UK Parliament]

In summary this means that:

  • CE marking will be accepted past 30th June 2025 in Great Britain.
  • The government has committed to system wide construction product regulatory reform.
  • UKCA marking will remain a valid and accepted regulatory mark.
  • The government will explore the long-term future of CE/UKCA marking as part of this regulatory reform.
  • Any subsequent changes to the recognition of CE marking would be subject to a minimum 2-year transitional period.
  • The government will engage with UK Conformity Assessment Bodies, the UK Accreditation Service, and the wider industry to strengthen the conformity assessment market.

We appreciate that the extension of CE marking is significant for CABs.  We have committed to system wide reform and the government wants to support the UK construction products CAB sector to grow and be able to step up to meet demand. As a first step, we will be convening meetings with Approved Bodies and Technical Assessment Bodies to explore ways to strengthen the conformity assessment market. You will receive more details about this in the coming week.

This announcement also includes measures in relation to sprinklers in care home and national classes.

We welcome your continued input as we take forward this work.

Kind Regards,

David

David Hughes | Construction Products Division | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Wood Products and Technology -exhibitions in Gothenburg on 3rd– 6th of September 2024

Control Union Finland  Oy and Control Union Sweden AB are as exhibitors in Wood Products and Technology -exhibitions. Welcome to meet our “wood” experts regarding CE- and UKCA-marking, PEFC- and FSC-certification, but also ISO system certification. You will find us from booth A04:50.

More information about exhibitions and other exhibitors: https://en.traochteknik.se/home/om-massan/om-tra-teknik/

If you want to book a meeting beforehand please contact Noah Stoltz, nstoltz@controlunion.com,  or call to (+46) 73 804 36 66

First UKCA certificates issued

Control Union UK has issued the first UKCA certificates in week 36. The certification work related to UKCA certificates is carried out in cooperation with Finotrol Oy, where the assessment is carried out by Finotrol’s qualified assessors and the certificate is issued by Control Union UK, registered in the UK and accredited by UKAS. The UKCA certification mark is mandatory from 1 January 2023 and replaces the CE mark for products delivered to Wales, England and Scotland.