UKCA MARK: STEP BY STEP GUIDE
Using the UKCA marking to place goods on the market in Great Britain.
This guide tells you how to use the new UKCA marking in Great Britain step-by-step. There is a separate guide for placing goods on the market in Northern Ireland where the UKNI marking may be used alongside the CE marking.
WHAT DO BUSINESSES NEED TO KNOW?
The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is the new product marking which demonstrates that certain goods are compliant with UK regulations and is used when these goods are placed on the market in Great Britain (GB). It covers all goods which previously required the CE marking and aerosol containers (which previously required the reverse epsilon marking). It does not apply to existing stock, such as goods which were fully manufactured, CE marked and placed on the GB market before 1 January 2023. Further guidance on using the UKCA marking is available here.
The Government will introduce legislation so that the UKCA marking can be placed on a label affixed to the product or on a document accompanying the product until 31 December 2023. There are different rules for construction products, medical devices, transportable pressure equipment, rail products and marine equipment.
WHEN DO BUSINESSES NEED TO USE THE UKCA MARKING?
For most goods, you will still be able to place CE marked goods on the market until 1 January 2023. From 1 January 2023 you will need to ensure your product is compliant with UK requirements and marked with the UKCA marking.
The UKCA marking cannot be used for goods placed on the Northern Ireland market. The UKNI mark may be used alongside the CE mark to demonstrate conformity. You can view guidance on the new UKNI mark here.
WHAT DO BUSINESSES NEED TO DO?
Step 1: Check if your product needs UKCA marking | The UKCA marking applies to all goods previously subject to the CE marking. Please refer to the relevant product legislation to check whether your product requires a UKCA marking. Products must demonstrate they meet the requirements of the legislation. This includes: Toy safety, Recreational craft/personal watercraft, Simple pressure vessels, Electromagnetic compatibility, Non-automatic weighing instruments, Measuring instruments, Lifts, ATEX, Radio equipment, Personal protective equipment, Gas appliances, Machinery, Equipment for use outdoors, Ecodesign products, Aerosols, Low voltage electrical equipment, Restriction of hazardous substances, Pressure equipment. |
Step 2: | Certain goods require third party conformity assessment by an approved testing body before they can use the UKCA mark, others can self-declare compliance. You should check whether you can self-declare or need to use a third-party conformity assessment to show the requirements are met. You then need to proceed with your conformity assessment route: |
Steps 3-4: UKCA self-declaration
Step 3: Draft technical file and ensure compliance | To self-declare for the UKCA mark, you must keep documentation which demonstrates that your product conforms with the regulatory requirements set out in UK law. This should be kept in the form of a technical file or document. The legislation will set out the conformity assessment procedure that needs to be carried out for your product. You must draw up and keep technical documentation which contains all relevant information about the means you use to ensure that your product meets the essential requirements. The type of checks and/or descriptions required vary depending on the product, you can find the specific requirements in the A-Z of product requirements on GOV.UK. For the exact technical documentation required for your goods please refer to the relevant product legislation. |
Step 4: Draw up draft UK Declaration of Conformity | As a manufacturer, it is your responsibility to draw up the UK Declaration of Conformity. The UK Declaration of Conformity must be available to enforcing authorities on request. If the product is not being imported, the manufacturer or Authorised Representative takes responsibility for holding a copy of the Declaration of Conformity. For imported products, the importer must also hold a copy of the Declaration of Conformity. The contents of the UK Declaration of Conformity vary depending on the product. Check what may be required through the relevant UK legislation with which the product complies. The contents of the UK Declaration of Conformity vary depending on the product, however, it should include: 3. Identification / description of actual product. |
Step 5: Affixing the UKCA marking and preparing to place your goods on the market | Once the conformity assessment procedure is completed, either through self-assessment (steps 2-4) or by third party conformity assessment (steps 6-9) you must affix the UKCA marking to your goods. The legislation may also specify that the UKCA marking must be applied to supporting literature. The rules for placing the UKCA marking are currently the same as for the CE marking. Check ‘How to use the UKCA marking under UKCA marking. The UKCA marking must be at least 5mm in height – unless a different minimum dimension is specified in the relevant legislation. The UKCA mark image files are linked below: Download UKCA mark image files (fill) (ZIP, 818KB) Download UKCA mark image files (outline) (ZIP, 2.03MB) As the manufacturer or where applicable the manufacturer’s authorised representative, you must place the UKCA marking on the product itself or on the packaging or accompanying documents. |
Steps 6-9: UKCA mandatory third-party conformity assessment
Step 6: Identify an appropriate conformity assessment body | If your goods require a third-party assessment before the UKCA mark can be used you should find a UK Approved Body to carry out this work for you. If you already have a certificate of conformity for the CE marking issued by an EU recognised Notified Body, you should speak with your notified body to understand how they can support you to certify your products for the UKCA marking. You will need to provide technical information to your approved body if you have previously used an EU based notified body to assess your products. This is detailed in step 7. If you do not currently use an EU body to certify your products, please move to step 8. |
Step 7: Draft technical documentation | Refer to step 3 above.
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Step 8: Draw up a draft Declaration of Conformity | Refer to step 4 above. |
Step 9: Affixing the UKCA marking and preparing to place your goods on the market | Once your goods complete their third-party conformity assessment you will receive a certificate of conformity issued by your conformity assessment body. Sign the above draft declaration of conformity to declare that you as the manufacturer or authorised representative (where applicable) accept responsibility for the compliance of the product. You must attach the UKCA marking and the identification number of the conformity assessment body to the product, this process is outlined in Step 5. |
Annex A
EU Directive | Corresponding UK legislation |
Corresponding UK legislation | Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 |
Pyrotechnic Articles – Directive 2013/29/EU | Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 |
Recreational craft and personal watercraft – Directive 2013/53/EU | Recreational Craft Regulations 2017 |
Civil Explosives – Directive 2014/28/EU | Explosives Regulations 2014 |
Simple Pressure Vessels – Directive 2014/29/EU | Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 2016 |
Electromagnetic Compatibility – Directive 2014/30/EU | Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 |
Non-automatic Weighing Instruments – Directive 2014/31/EU | Non-automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016 |
Measuring Instruments – Directive 2014/32/EU | Measuring Instruments – Directive 2014/32/EU |
Lifts – Directive 2014/33/EU | Lifts Regulations 2016 |
ATEX – Directive 2014/34/EU | Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2016 |
Radio equipment – Directive 2014/53/EU | Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 |
Pressure equipment – Directive 2014/68/EU | Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 |
Personal protective equipment – Regulation (EU) 2016/425 | Personal Protective Equipment Regulation 2016/425 and the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018 |
Gas appliances – Regulation (EU) 2016/426 | Gas Appliances Regulation 2016/426 and the Gas Appliances (Enforcement) and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2018 |
Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC | Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 |
Outdoor Noise Directive 2000/14/EC | Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations 2001 |
Directive 2008/57/EC interoperability of the rail system within the Community | Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 |
“Directive 92/42/EEC hot-water boilers AND Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC” | The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2010 |
Cableway installations – Regulation (EU) 2016/424 | Cableway Installations Regulations 2018 |
Marine Equipment – Directive 2014/90/EU | Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2016 |
Construction products – Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 | The Construction Products Regulation (EU) 2011 (EU Regulation No. 305/2011) |
Transportable pressure equipment – Directive 2010/35/EU | The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 |
Annex B
Economic Operator changes Since 1 January 2021 | Importers
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Annex C
Manufacturer | The manufacturer is anyone manufactures a product or has a product designed or manufactured and markets that product under its name or trademark. |
Importer | The importer is a person who is the first to place goods from an external market onto the market that they are established and operate in |
Distributor | The distributor is a person, other than the manufacturer, importer or the end user, who makes goods available on the market. |
Placing on the market | Placing on the market is defined as the “first making available on the market” (by |