UKCA - the new CE in Great Britain

The UKCA mark (UKCA = UK Conformity Assessed) is the new UK product marking required for certain products placed on the market in the UK (England, Wales and Scotland). It affects most products that previously required CE marking.

The recognition of the CE marking in Great Britain would have expired at the end of 2024. As of 08/01/2023, CE marking recognition has been extended indefinitely for 18 regulations under the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). This includes the regulations, for machinery, pressure equipment, equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX), etc. see GOV.UK.

There are different regulations for medical devices, construction products, cableways, transportable pressure equipment, unmanned aerial systems, rail vehicles, marine equipment and ecodesign. There is a good general guide for these.
Of course, UKCA labeling can be applied voluntarily.

Below we have prepared the most important information for you:

Guidelines

The table below provides an overview of the UK legislation that transposes EU directives:

source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/placing-manufactured-goods-on-the-market-in-great-britain

The above UK Regulations have been amended by the Product Safety and Metrology (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 to apply solely to the UK.

Validity of harmonized standards

Great Britain adopts the principle of presumption of conformity and, like the EU, publishes corresponding lists of harmonised standards. These harmonised standards, as we know them, are called "designated standards" in Great Britain. All harmonised standards (as of 31.12.2020) that confer a presumption of conformity with EU law have been published as "designated standards". These can be used for the presumption of conformity with the UK Regulations. Of course, the list of designated standards will be extended in the future. The designated standards for machinery can be found here.

Responsible person/authorised representative
The UK does not recognize an EU-based responsible person or authorized representative. The manufacturer's authorized representative or the responsible person for a product placed on the UK market must therefore be based in the UK.

Notified bodies
The same requirements and procedures for conformity assessment apply as for CE marking. If a notified body is required for CE marking, a "UK Approved Body" is also required for UKCA. A list of "UK Market Conformity Assessment Bodies" for the UK can be found here.

ATTENTION: For products placed on the market in Northern Ireland, CE marking will continue to apply in the "self-declaration" assessment procedure by the manufacturer and, if applicable, with the involvement of an EU Notified Body.

In the future, deviations between EU and UK regulations are possible. The UK as well as the EU can introduce new directives/regulations or change the existing ones.

You want to know more? Then visit our UKCA training >> here! We also offer these individually tailored to your needs online or on site!

This information is taken from publications of the British government for whose correctness and implementation we cannot assume any liability.  (Status: 18.08.2023)

ATTENTION: For products placed on the market in Northern Ireland, CE marking continues to apply in the "self-declaration" assessment procedure by the manufacturer and, if necessary, with the involvement of an EU Notified Body.

In the future, deviations between EU and UK regulations are possible. The UK as well as the EU can introduce new directives/regulations or change the existing ones.

You want to know more? Then visit our UKCA training >> here! We also offer these individually tailored to your needs online or on site!

We will be happy to provide you with further advice on the subject of placing products on the market in Great Britain!