Staying ahead of the curve: what the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 means for CHIC’s supply chain
By Liam Gratty, Director of Strategic Services, CHIC
Building safety is at the forefront of the housing sector. With a much needed, ongoing overhaul to regulation, it is a priority for CHIC to embed the principles and behaviours the sector is striving to achieve within its service delivery.
We know that regulation goes beyond the construction, maintenance and management of our members property portfolios with resident safety at the heart of the reform agenda.
In recent months you might have heard about the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025. It is a big change to the UK’s product safety and compliance rules and it will affect anyone who designs, makes, imports or supplies goods.
At CHIC we take compliance seriously because our members rely on us to provide safe, legal and future proof procurement. That means we need to understand new laws like this and help our supply chain get ready for what is coming next.
Here is what you need to know and what we will be keeping an eye on together.
What is the Act
The Act came into force in July 2025 and gives the UK Government new powers to bring in or update product safety, environmental and measurement rules much more quickly. It covers:
• Safety risks, making sure products do not harm people or property• Efficiency and environmental performance, so products use less energy, last longer and can be repaired more easily• Measurement accuracy, especially for equipment that weighs, measures or calibrates It is not just about tightening the rules. It is about making them more agile so the Government can react swiftly or match international standards when it makes sense to do so.
Construction Products Reform
The Act is the enabling legislation that will be the catalyst for the reform of the construction products regime (as detailed in the construction products reform green paper 2025). Whilst CHIC recognises that this is evolving government policy, the principles or elements within the proposals will be adopted during the lifetime of CHIC procurement activity. It is noted that Lord Lytton proposed an amendment to the Bill requiring the Secretary of State to make provision for the safety of construction products within 12 months of passing the Act.
The proposals for the regulatory reform of construction products gives focus upon enhanced product information and transparency. These reforms will support CHIC’s Members to deliver and maintain safe homes for their residents.
Regulatory Context
The Grenfell Tower Tragedy exposed significant failures in the construction products regulatory system, revealing institutional failures.
The Government is clear that critical gaps persist in the construction products regulatory framework and is proposing a series of reforms aimed at enhancing safety, ensuring accountability, and fostering innovation and growth and therefore confidence across the construction sector. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is the UK regulator for construction products and the lead on the delivery of construction products regulation. The purpose of regulation is to ensure the claimed performance requirements of construction products are met, to enable safer, better buildings across the UK. The establishment of the National Regulator for Construction Products (NRCP) in 2021 marked a pivotal step towards enhancing market surveillance and enforcement. The NRCP operates under the OPSS and is tasked with coordinating responses to safety concerns and taking enforcement action under existing construction product regulations. The Building Safety Act 2022 aimed to increase accountability among manufacturers and those using their products, ensuring those responsible for non-compliance faced appropriate repercussions. The Government has stated that a critical gap lies in the availability and accessibility of product information. CHIC’s Stakeholders, including contractors and members, face challenges when looking to access clear and comprehensive information about the safety performance of construction products from our supply chain. Why it matters to CHIC’s suppliers
The Services, materials and components procured via CHIC will service a considerable proportion of the social housing & asset management repairs, maintenance and development activities and it is therefore essential that all stakeholders are invested and accountable in the responsible sourcing and provision of goods, backed by robust and transparent product performance data. With this Act in place: • Rules could change with very little warning• Trade literature, product information and testing certification could become more detailed and specific.• Environmental data may be needed alongside safety certificates. If you are a CHIC supplier your compliance processes may be under greater scrutiny. As a sector this should be welcomed in order to protect and inform all stakeholders, in the interest of resident safety. What we need from you now Keep your testing and certificates up to dateMake sure your safety tests, CE or UKCA marks and reports are current and easy to access. We might ask for them with less notice than before.Have your environmental data readyBe ready to share information on recyclability, energy use and efficiency ratings, especially if you work in construction materials, building systems or tech products.Know your own suppliersIf you buy components, check that your suppliers are compliant. If they are not, it creates risks for all of us.Talk to us early if you see an issue comingIf you think a new rule might affect your products, tell us. We can work together on solutions before it becomes a problem.
What we will be watching Our Strategic Services and Procurement teams will: • Keep track of government updates and let you know in good time• Update our framework and DPS requirements to match any new rules• Work with you to find alternative products or routes to compliance if needed• Offer advice and training to help you meet new standards Working togetherThis Act is here to make products safer, better quality and kinder to the environment. That fits with CHIC’s mission to deliver value, safety and social benefit through procurement.If we work together, we can make sure our supply chain is not only compliant but ahead of the game and ready for the opportunities that higher standards will bring If you have questions about how the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 affects your products or our frameworks, please contact your CHIC liaison. CHIC Commitment to Product safetyIn the interests of members, their residents and the wider building maintenance and construction sector, CHIC welcomes the Governments regulations.CHIC recognises that the industry presents significant challenges in maintaining transparency and accountability across the supply chain. As well as setting out the proposed reforms, The Construction Products Reform Green Paper 2025 references The Code for Construction Products Information (CCPI) as an example initiative supporting Manufacturers, Merchants and Distributors to comply with anticipated new regulatory requirements. Schemes such as CCPI are set to raise standards in construction product information and marketing and drive positive culture change. The Government recommends the industry should significantly increase its uptake of such schemes and this may be an opportunity for our supply chain to obtain independent 3rd party support in undertaking their due diligence and navigating the expectations of the legislation.
Liam Gratty | lgratty@chicltd.co.uk
