Following Brexit, to place certain types of products on the market in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), it is necessary to apply the UKCA marking (UK Conformity Assessed).
The UKCA mark
Following Britain’s exit from the EU, the CE marking will no longer be recognised and goods will only be placed on the UK market if bearing the UKCA mark.
The UKCA mark is the new UK product conformity assessment mark, used for goods placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland).
To which products it applies
The UKCA marking applies to most goods that previously required CE marking. The requirements for UKCA marking are similar to those for CE marking and define the technical characteristics of the product, the conformity assessment procedures and the applicable standards. Product areas requiring UKCA marking include:
- Toy safety
- Recreational craft and personal watercraft
- Simple pressure vessels
- Electromagnetic compatibility
- Non-automatic weighing instruments
- Measuring instruments
- Lifts
- ATEX
- Radio equipment
- Pressure equipment
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Gas appliances
- Machinery
- Equipment for use outdoors
- Ecodesign
- Aerosols
- Low voltage electrical equipment
- Restriction of hazardous substances
For the following products for which UKCA marking is required, some special rules apply:
- medical devices
- rail interoperability
- construction products
- civil explosives.
Timelines
The UKCA marking came into force on 1 January 2021. However, a transition period is planned until 31 December 2022 to allow companies to comply with the new UKCA marking requirements.
Companies will be able to continue to use the CE marking to place products on the UK market until 31 December 2022.
From 1 January 2023, only goods bearing the UKCA mark will be accepted.
ECM Services
Ente Certificazione Macchine has developed a range of services for companies wishing to export their products to the UK and therefore need to comply with UKCA marking requirements.
Third party UKCA Compliance Verification
Ente Certificazione Macchine carries out third party UKCA compliance verification, in order to assess that the requirements of the UK regulations are met. This activity includes:
- verification of the technical documentation that the company must prepare in accordance with the UKCA marking,
- laboratory testing based on the applicable standards.
At the end of the activity, in case of a positive outcome, ECM issues a Third Party Certificate attesting the full compliance of the product/machinery with the requirements.
Authorised Representative Service
Since the UK now has the status of a “third country” with respect to the European Union, EU-based manufacturers or importers wishing to sell products on the UK market need to have an Authorised Representative based in the UK.
Ente Certificazione Macchine UK Ltd is able to fulfil the role of Authorised Representative for European companies who want to place their products on the UK market.
For a more in-depth look at the UKCA mark, see the official UK government guide at this link