UKCA gets two extra years
On November 21, 2022, as part of new ministerial commitments to supporting businesses regarding product conformity markings for most products placed on the market in England, Scotland, and Wales, two extra years were given to apply for new UKCA marking.
Businesses have until January 1st, 2025 to start using UKCA marking which will replace the European CE marking. This means that CE marking is also recognized in England, Scotland and Wales until 31 December 2024.
The UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark is a mandatory mark on certain products to indicate that they conform to Great Britain legislation, just like CE mark is in EU. The conformity assessment procedures and modules applicable are identical to those required for the CE marking. Furthermore, the same product categories that now require third-party conformity assessment for CE marked products, will in the future require third-party conformity assessment for UKCA marked products.
Conformity assessment for new product types after 31 December 2024 needs to be carried out by an UK Approved Body.
When manufacturers use existing CE marking completed before January 1, 2025 as the basis to demonstrate the compliance with EU directives, they can use the same conformity assessment activities as a basis of UKCA marking for their products. It is recommended that manufacturer includes the list of relevant UK designated standards and equivalent EU harmonized standards that apply to their product in the UK Declaration of Conformity. Also, details of the UK Approved body which carried out the conformity assessment procedures shall be mentioned in the UK Declaration of Conformity, if using UK Approved body is required.
Specific responsibilities for manufacturers
For certain product regulations, manufacturers have specific obligations and timelines like f ex for machinery, measuring instruments, construction products, products requiring ecodesign and energy labelling and medical devices (this list is indicative and not exhaustive). Manufacturers should check the relevant product specific legislation applicable to their product to understand their full responsibilities. For example the transition period will be extended by 12 months for medical devices, and this means that medical devices in the Great Britain market must be UKCA marked from 1 July 2024.
How to proceed with your product
If your product has an existing CE marking, issued by EU Notified Body:
Manufacturers with existing CE marking issued by EU Notified Body will be accepted on the UK market with a UKCA sticker on, and a separate UKCA Declaration of Conformity done. This is valid if CE marking was issued before December 31, 2024. This is only for the existing CE marked products.
If you have a new product:
UKCA requires all new products coming to market from January 1, 2025 to go through full UK Approved body assessment. Your product will have to carry UKCA marking for UK market and CE marking for EU market. This means that your product will have to go through both full UK Approved Body assessment and full EU Notified Body Assessment.
Although the transition period has been extended, it is good to ensure the UKCA compliance of products intended for the UK market in good time and ensure both the CE and the UKCA requirements at the same time. In the long run this will save both time and expenses. SGS Fimko can offer these services to most of the product manufacturers.
Please note that products intended for Northern Ireland must comply with UKNI requirements.
For more information, please contact:
SGS Finland ITA Team
Victoria Lindqvist
Team Leader
victoria.lindqvist@sgs.com
+358 40 182 7151