My understanding is that anything with an ICAO compliance CofA from most countries can be issued with a UK Permit if it meets the microlight definition, or UK CofA if it doesn't. JAR-VLA is an ICAO declared standard for CofA issue.
On the other hand, I have also heard that the CAA, PFA and BMAA have been reported somewhat unimpressed by "lip-service" treatment in Germany and other countries to local certification, where ICAO compliant certification wasn't needed.
And isn't the extra weight on the German microlight definition only to allow for a ballistic parachute?
P