An update to this article was published on 21 August 2023.
In June 2022, the Government announced a range of changes to make it simpler for businesses to apply the new UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking. UKCA marking indicates that the relevant products meet conformity requirements under Great Britain (GB) legislation and is the UK's own conformity marking for products that are going to be placed on the market in GB.
The UKCA marking applies to those goods which previously required CE marking, and officially came into effect on 1 January 2021. Businesses were given a window to adjust to the changes and in most cases at least, will still be allowed to use the CE marking until 1 January 2023 after which UKCA marking will be mandatory.
The following new measures were announced:
- Reducing re-testing costs. Products that were conformity assessed by EU bodies before the end of 2022 will be allowed to apply the UKCA mark without the need for re-testing until the product's certificate expires.
- Removing the need to re-test existing imported stock. Certain CE marked products that are manufactured and imported into the UK by the end of 2022 can be sold without the need to meet UKCA requirements.
- Continuing to accept spare parts onto the GB market. Spare parts for products can be placed on the GB market which comply with the same requirements that were in place at the time the original product was placed on the market.
- Extending labelling measures. Legislation will be introduced so that until 31 December 2025, UKCA marking can be placed on a label affixed on the product itself, or accompanying documentation. This will apply for most goods requiring UKCA marking.
- Recognising historic testing on some construction products. Manufacturers of some construction products, whose products are tested by an EU notified body before 1 January 2023 will be able to obtain a UKCA mark without having to obtain a retest.
Certain products covered by UKCA marking have a separate set of rules that apply to them, like medical devices and marine equipment.
In August 2022, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) published new guidance on how to conform with the UKCA.