The UK government has confirmed an indefinite extension to the use of CE marking for businesses.
From the end of next year, certain products sold in Great Britain were due to have a new UK safety mark (UKCA). However, an announcement from the Department for Business and Trade has confirmed that the EU’s symbol will be recognised beyond the December 2024 deadline. Businesses will have the flexibility to choose either the new UKCA marking or CE mark as part of product safety regulations.
What is the UKCA marking?
The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessment) mark is the new UK product marking that will be required for certain products being placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). It covers most products that previously required the CE mark.
It is not recognized in the EU market. Products that require CE marking will still need a CE mark to be sold in the EU..
CE marking extended indefinitely
The government will continue to recognise CE marking on products sold in Great Britain.
Businesses were able to start using the UKCA mark from 1 January 2021. However, the deadline for using the new marking has been repeatedly delayed over the past few years.
CE marking will continue to be recognised on new and existing products beyond the 31 December 2024 deadline.
The government says this is to help ease the burdens on businesses and cut “barriers and red tape”.
When to use the UKCA mark?
You can use the UKCA mark if your product:
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is for the market in Great Britain
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is covered by legislation which requires the UKCA marking
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requires mandatory third-party conformity assessment
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has had a conformity assessment carried out by a UK conformity assessment body
You can find the full list of the product categories that can show the UKCA mark on the government website.
How to use the UKCA marking
If using it, your UKCA mark should be applied to the product or the product’s packaging. There may be some instances where it needs to be placed in supporting documents like the product manual.
Here are a few things to remember:
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the UKCA marking must be easily visible and legible
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it must be at least 5mm in height
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when applying the UKCA marking you’re taking responsibility that the product meets the requirements
