Mar 5, 20232 min read

Using the UKCA marking to place goods on the market in Great Britain.

Updated: Jun 6

WHAT DO BUSINESSES NEED TO KNOW?

This guide tells you how to use the new UKCA marking in Great Britain step-by-step. There is a separate guide for placing goods on the market in Northern Ireland where the UKNI marking may be used alongside the CE marking.

What is the UKCA marking?

The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is the new product marking that must be used to demonstrate that certain goods are compliant with the new UK rules. This new product marking demonstrates that certain goods are compliant with UK regulations and is used when these goods are placed on the market in Great Britain. It covers all goods which previously required the CE marking and aerosol containers (which previously required the reverse epsilon marking). It does not apply to existing stock, such as goods that were fully manufactured, CE marked, and placed on the market before 1 January 2021

WHEN SHOULD BUSINESSES USE THE UKCA MARKING?

For most goods, you will still be able to comply with the EU requirements and use the CE marking until 1 January 2022. However, given the difficult economic conditions created by post-pandemic shifts in demand and supply, alongside Putin’s war in Ukraine and the associated high energy prices, the government does not want to burden businesses with the requirement to meet the original (31 December 2022) deadline.

The government will continue to recognise the CE marking for 2 years, therefore allowing businesses until 31 December 2024 to prepare for the UKCA marking. Businesses can also use the UKCA marking, giving them the flexibility to choose which marks to apply.

This sits alongside measures to reduce the costs of retesting products and labelling. To reduce labelling costs, the government allows businesses to affix the UKCA marking and include importer information for products from EEA countries on an accompanying document or label until 31 December 2027.

The government will also allow conformity assessment activities for CE marking undertaken by 31 December 2024 to be used by manufacturers as the basis for the UKCA marking, until 31 December 2027.

To extend the deadline, the government has today laid secondary legislation before Parliament which, subject to parliamentary approval, will implement these measures.

Businesses have been able to use the UKCA mark since 1 January 2021 to demonstrate their conformity with product standards in England, Scotland, and Wales

The UKCA marking cannot be used for goods placed on the Northern Ireland market. The UKNI mark may be used alongside the CE mark to demonstrate conformity.

WHAT DO BUSINESSES NEED TO DO?