From October this year suppliers of natural stone slabs, setts and kerbs are going to have to have their products CE marked if they are to sell them to local authorities. Many other specifiers might also choose to buy only CE marked goods.

Other stone products will follow as the European standards are approved and adopted.

The basis of CE marking is the EN test methods that will shortly supersede existing British Standards.

There is some confusion about whether or not CE marking will be compulsory. Britain has taken the view that it is not, but Stone Federation Great Britain says it was advised last year that the European Commission will shortly challenge the UK Government on this issue and that the UK will be forced to change its Building Regulations so that CE marking is compulsory.

Whatever the outcome of that might be, Stone Federation believes that as harmonised European Standards are introduced, CE marking will effectively become mandatory as the only proven method of compliance with the Building Regulations.

In an information sheet on the subject, Stone Federation says: "Where no harmonised standards exist, products will be eligible to carry CE marking by the granting of a European Technical Approval (ETA). An ETA could be described as a pan-European AgrÈment Certificate but limited to the consideration of essential requirements."

The Federation points out ETAs for the stone industry relate to anchors and resin bonded bolts and could have serious implications for the availability and selection of some traditionally used products.

Stone Federation says it is given to understand that the NBS has advised architects and specification writers to use harmonised standards, CE and ETA marked products in order to limit their liability and reduce the risk of using inappropriate or untested products.