When/How to use the UKCA marking

The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is a new UK product marking that is used for goods being placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). It covers most goods which previously required the CE marking.The UKCA marking alone cannot be used for goods placed on the Northern Ireland market, which require the CE marking or UKNI marking. See the guidance on placing goods on the Northern Ireland market.This guidance explains how to use the UKCA marking. For further information on placing these goods on the market, see the guidance on placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain.Check whether you need to use the new UKCAmarkingSelling goods in Great BritainThe UKCA marking applies to most goods previously subject to the CE marking. It also applies to aerosol products that previously required the ‘reverse epsilon’ marking.The technical requirements (‘essential requirements’) you must meet – and the conformity assessment processes and standards that can be used to demonstrate conformity – are largely the same as they were for the CE marking.The circumstances in which you can use self-declaration of conformity for UKCA marking are the same as for CE marking. Check the list of areas where self-declaration is permitted.The UKCA marking came into effect on 1 January 2021. However, to allow businesses time to adjust to the new requirements, you will still be able to use the CE marking until 1 January 2022 in most cases.In some cases, you need to apply the new UKCA marking to goods being sold in Great Britain immediately from 1 January 2021.The CE marking is only valid in Great Britain for areas where GB and EU rules remain the same. If the EU changes its rules and you CE mark your product on the basis of those new rules you will not be able to use the CE marking to sell in Great Britain, even before 31 December 2021.Check whether you will need to use the UKCA marking by reading the guidance on placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain.There is separate guidance for medical devices, rail interoperability, construction products and civil explosives.Selling goods in the EUThe UKCA marking is not recognised on the EU market. Products need a CE marking for sale in the EU. Find out how to use the CE marking.When to use the UKCA markingYou only need to use the new UKCA marking before 1 January 2022 if all of the following apply. Your product:is for the market in Great Britainis covered by legislation which requires the UKCA markingrequires mandatory third-party conformity assessmentconformity assessment has been carried out by a UK conformity assessment bodyThis does not apply to existing stock, for example if your good was fully manufactured, CE marked and ready to place on the market before 1 January 2021. In these cases, your good can still be sold in Great Britain with a CE marking even if covered by a certificate of conformity issued by a UK body before 1 January 2021.How to use the UKCA markingPlacing the UKCA markingIn most cases, you must apply the UKCA marking to the product itself or to the packaging. In some cases, it may be placed on the manuals or on other supporting literature. This will vary depending on the specific regulations that apply to the product.The following general rules apply:UKCA markings must only be placed on a product by you as the manufacturer or your authorised representative (where allowed for in the relevant legislation)when attaching the UKCA marking, you take full responsibility for your product’s conformity with the requirements of the relevant legislationyou must only use the UKCA marking to show product conformity with the relevant UK legislationyou must not place any marking or sign that may misconstrue the meaning or form of the UKCA marking to third partiesyou must not attach other markings on the product which affect the visibility, legibility or meaning of the UKCA markingthe UKCA marking cannot be placed on products unless there is a specific requirement to do so in the legislationRules for using the UKCA imageYou must make sure that:if you reduce or enlarge the size of your marking, the letters forming the UKCA marking must be in proportion to the version set out belowthe UKCA marking is at least 5mm in height – unless a different minimum dimension is specified in the relevant legislationthe UKCA marking is easily visible, legible (from 1 January 2023 it must be permanently attached)

Record keepingYou, or your authorised representative (where allowed for in the relevant legislation), must keep documentation to demonstrate that your product conforms with the regulatory requirements. This must be kept for up to 10 years after the product is placed on the market.This information can be requested at any time by market surveillance or enforcement authorities to check that your product conforms with the statutory requirements.The information you must keep will vary depending on the specific legislation relevant to your product. You must keep general records of:how the product is designed and manufacturedhow the product has been shown to conform to the relevant requirementsthe addresses of the manufacturer and any storage facilitiesYou should keep the information in the form of a technical file which can be supplied if requested by a market surveillance authority.UK Declaration of ConformityThe UK Declaration of Conformity is a document which must be drawn up for most products lawfully bearing a UKCA marking.In the document you as the manufacturer, or your authorised representative (where allowed for in the relevant legislation), should:declare that the product is in conformity with the relevant statutory requirements applicable to the specific productmake sure the document has the name and address of the manufacturer (or your authorised representative) together with information about the product and the conformity assessment body (where relevant)The UK Declaration of Conformity should be available to market surveillance authorities on request.The information required on the Declaration of Conformity is largely the same as what was required on an EU Declaration of Conformity. This can vary depending on the application legislation but generally should include:your name and full business address or that of your authorised representativethe product’s serial number, model or type identificationa statement, stating you take full responsibility for the product’s compliancethe details of the approved body which carried out the conformity assessment procedure (if applicable)the relevant legislation with which the product compliesyour name and signaturethe date the declaration was issuedsupplementary information (if applicable)You will need to list:relevant UK legislation (rather than EU legislation)UK designated standards rather than standards cited in the Official Journal of the European UnionThe UK standards are currently the same in substance and with the same reference as the standards used in the EU.Future use of markings in the UKFrom 1 January 2022, the CE marking will not be recognised in Great Britain for areas covered by this guidance and the UKCA marking. However, a product bearing the CE marking would still be valid for sale in the UK so long as it was also UKCA marked and complied with the relevant UK rules. Separate rules apply to medical devices.More informationProduct areas covered by the UKCA markingToy safetyRecreational craft and personal watercraftSimple pressure vesselsElectromagnetic compatibilityNon-automatic weighing instrumentsMeasuring instrumentsLiftsATEXRadio equipmentPressure equipmentPersonal protective equipmentGas appliancesMachineryEquipment for use outdoorsEcodesignAerosolsLow voltage electrical equipmentRestriction of hazardous substancesProducts covered by the UKCA marking but have some special rules:medical devicesrail interoperabilityconstruction productscivil explosivesLegislative areas where self-declaration of conformity for UKCA marking is permittedLegislationScope of products which can be self-declaredElectromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016All productsToy (Safety) Regulations 2011Products where all essential requirements are covered by designated standards and the manufacturer has applied these standardsThe Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012All productsMedical Devices Regulations 2002 Some Class I devicesRadio Equipment Regulations 2017Products where all essential requirements are covered by designated standards and the manufacturer has applied these standardsThe Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016Category I pressure equipmentConstruction Products Regulations (Regulation (EU) 305/2011 as brought into UK law and amended)Products within scope of System 4Recreational Craft Regulations 2017Certain categories of recreational craft as specified in the legislationThe Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016All productsThe Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008Products where all essential requirements are covered by designated standards and the manufacturer has applied these standardsThe Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2016Equipment-group II, equipment category 3Personal Protective Equipment Regulations (Regulation (EU) 2016/425 as brought into UK law and amended)Category I personal protective equipmentTransitional measures relating to the UKCA markingFor many product types (listed above), the following transitional measures apply.Until 1 January 2023, for most goods (other than those subject to special rules) you have the option to affix the UKCA marking on a label affixed to the product or on an accompanying document. The economic operators (whether manufacturer, importer or distributor) should take reasonable steps to ensure the UKCA marking remains in place. Products that require the UKCAmarking cannot be made available without it (other than where the CE marking is being used before 1 January 2022).From 1 January 2023, the UKCA marking must, in most cases, be affixed directly to the product. You should start building this into your design process ready for this date.Construction products, medical devices, interoperability of the rail system and transportable pressure equipment are covered by the UKCA marking, however the above transitional measures are not applicable.