Trading Standards is investigating concerns over the CE marking on part of a Chinese plywood shipment imported to Swansea.

RKL Plywood, which imported the plywood, brought the matter to the attention of Trading Standards and BM TRADA.

Geraint Hawkes, chief executive of FG Hawkes (Western) Ltd, which trades as RKL Plywood, told the Western Mail that the company was completely innocent of any wrongdoing, having simply placed an order for plywood.

He has urged TRADA to take up the issue of marking with supplier mills in China as a matter of urgency.

He said the import represented a very small fraction of the approximately 300,000m³ of plywood RKL imported annually.

BM TRADA, which recently launched a Q-Mark scheme covering CE marking on Chinese plywood to help resolve issues over marking, told TTJ that packs of plywood had been marked with the number of a certificate issued by BM TRADA to a Chinese plywood mill.

“BM TRADA is involved at the request of the importer as the packs of plywood have been marked with the number of a certificate issued by BM TRADA to a plywood mill in China,” said a spokesperson.

He added that one of the major concerns is that the packs are marked with a “CE 2+” logo. However, he explained, “CE2+” is actually a level of attestation for structural plywood and is not a mark that should be physically applied to the material.

Trading Standards in Swansea confirmed that an investigation was under way into a consignment of Chinese plywood because documentation did not show that it complied with standards required under the Construction Products Regulations 1991. It said the plywood affected could not therefore be incorporated into buildings, but could be sold for non-construction purposes.

Trading Standards is advising the timber trade and construction industry to be vigilant in checking the plywood they buy is fit-for-purpose.

“As a general rule, when anybody is buying a product they should confirm that it is capable of being incorporated into a building and that is confirmed on the product by way of a CE mark,” said Swansea Trading Standards manager David Picken.

“Alternatively, it should be accompanied by invoices or other similar certificates that demonstrate it is compliant.”