The UK government has published a revised Procurement Policy (PPN) aimed at increasing transparency in the use of steel in public procurement and supporting the country's steel production strategy. The revised guidance applies to purchases subject to the Procurement Act of 2023 in which steel is used directly or indirectly in the supply chain. The new transparency requirements will come into force on October 1, 2026. According to the new rules, for projects worth 10 million pounds or more or for which more than 500 tons of steel are expected to be required, customer organizations must indicate in the contract details notice whether British-made steel will be used for production, can be used by the main contractor or as part of the supply chain, if this information is known on the moment of signing the contract. If British-made steel will not be used or if the origin of the steel is unknown at the time of the conclusion of the contract, the reason must be explained in the contract notice. In addition, regardless of the value of the contract or the volume of steel production, all relevant public sector buyers will need to consult the UK Steel digital catalog before making design or procurement decisions. This requirement must also be transferred in accordance with the contract to the main contractors and, if necessary, subcontractors. Government agencies will also be required to submit annual reports to the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) detailing the use of steel. These reports will include forecasts of future steel demand, as well as information on the volume, type of products, and origin of the steel used during the previous year. Actual steel usage data will only be required for projects costing 10 million pounds or more or using more than 500 tons of steel. Contractors must provide the necessary information to the relevant government agency within 10 weeks after the end of the fiscal year. The origin of the steel will be indicated on the basis of the EN10204 Type 3.1 verification certificate. The government stressed that the new rules do not affect the mandatory use of British-made steel. However, government purchasers are expected to interact with local producers before making purchasing decisions and will indicate the reasons why steel is supplied from abroad. It also notes that any exception to the national security rules will be assessed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the Procurement Law of 2023.
UK publishes revised Steel procurement policy
