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UKCA marking

What manufacturers should know about UKCA marking

The UK has left the EU on December 31st, 2020. For manufacturers placing products from 1 January, 2021, on the UK market there are some changes on the Conformity Assessment routes to follow. The UK Government has shared new guidance for placing goods on the market in Great Britain. Here’s what manufacturers should know about the new UKCA marking. UKCA stands for UK Conformity Assessed.

  • The UKCA marking is a mandatory UK product mark. The UKCA mark will replace the CE mark for products traded in Great Britain.
  • UK market includes England, Wales, and also Scotland.
  • The UKCA mark alone can not be used for goods placed on the Northern Ireland Market, which requires the CE Mark.
  • Most CE marked products can continue to be traded in Great Britain until January 1st, 2022.
  • You are encouraged to be ready to use the UKCA marking as soon as possible for this date.
  • UKCA marking will not be recognized on the EU market.

When should you use the UKCA marking?

The marking needs to be immediately used when your product:

  • is covered by the legislation which requires the UKCA marking.
  • third-party conformity assessment is required.

Whether you will need to use the UKCA marking, please refer to the following guidance on placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain.

Can I apply both the UKCA and CE mark to my product?

Products may bear both the UKCA and the CE mark as long as they are compliant with both UK and EU regulations. Currently, the requirements for new approach goods are the same in the UK and the EU. Please bear in mind, however, that if EU regulatory changes occur which are not adopted by the UKCA framework, you will no longer be able to use the CE marking in the UK. 

Authorized representative in the UK

The authorized representatives based in the EU is no longer recognized. Designating a UK based representative is required.

UKCA Marking Rules

  • The letters forming the UKCA mark must stay in proportion when reducing or enlarging them;
  • The UKCA Marking must is at least be 5mm high unless a different minimum dimension is specified;
  • The UKCA mark must be easily visible and legible. (From January 1st. 2023 it must be permanently attached)

Notes

For the UK, here is how the new situation will look like from 1 January 2021:

  • Harmonised European Standards => UK Designated Standards
  • CE Marking in the GB Market => UKCA Marking
  • CE Marking in the NI Market => CE or CE & UKNI Marking
  • Notified Body (NB) => UK Approved Body
  • NANDO Database => UKMCAB (UK Market Approved Body Database)
  • The BSI will issue and maintain the UK versions of European Standards and initially will be aligned. Over time, there is likely to be some divergence.
  • For UKCA Marking, the UKCA Mark product will continue to whatever the current UK designated standard is. So if the EU version of the standard changes and the UK version doesn’t, then the UKCA Marking stays the same.
  • Any UK Approval Body can re-assess Northern Ireland products for the Northern Ireland market.
  • If you’ve already placed your goods on the market, in an EU country, or in the UK before 1st January 2021, you do not need to do anything if you use an EU Notified Body. For products already placed on the market, CE marking will continue to be recognised in the UK market for one year. For new products or newly-marked products, covered by a UK Designated Standard,  new marking will be required.

Please contact us for more information, we are happy to assist you.

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