UKCA marking

We will reduce re-testing costs for UKCA certification, by allowing conformity assessment activities for CE marking completed by the 31 December 2024 to be used by manufacturers as the basis for applying a UKCA marking. This will reduce the immediate costs faced by manufacturers and will be valid until the expiry of their certificate or for 5 years (31 December 2027), whichever is sooner. This will reduce duplication and costs for businesses and by extension, consumers.

We will make clear there is no need to re-test existing imported stock, as these products will be considered already placed on the market in Great Britain (GB). This will prevent the costly, and unnecessary re-labelling of existing stock for businesses.  i.e. completed CE-marked pressure equipment components, imported under contract into the UK by 31.12.2024, do not need to be re-tested/re-certified or UKCA marked. However, the products should still be checked to ensure they meet the requirements of EU law before they are further supplied and a record should be kept of documentation which demonstrates the product was imported into GB under contract before the 31 December 2024. 

We will make clear that spare parts that repair, replace or maintain goods already on the GB market can meet the same requirements that were in place at the time the original product or system was placed on the GB market. This will allow products and goods requiring spare parts to continue to be maintained.  i.e. Pressure Equipment manufacturers can continue from 1 January 2025 to purchase ‘CE’ marked spare parts for ‘CE’ marked equipment placed on the GB market before 11pm on 31 December 2024. However, if the product or system has been subjected to important changes, overhauling its original performance, purpose, or type, it would be considered ‘new’ and must comply with GB regulatory requirements, including being UKCA marked from 11pm on 31 December 2024.

We will continue to allow businesses to affix the UKCA marking, and to include importer information for products from EEA countries (and in some cases Switzerland), on an accompanying document or label until 31 December 2025. This will allow business to adjust their product design to accommodate marking changes at a convenient and cost-effective time. i.e. pressure equipment or assemblies do not need to have the UKCA mark physically affixed when being placed on the GB market until after 11p.m. on 31.12.2025.  Until then the UKCA marking can be in an accompanying document or label.  Similarly, importer information does not need to be affixed on pressure equipment or assemblies imported from the EEA until after 11 p.m. on 31.12.2025, and can instead be on the packaging or in an accompanying document until that date.  From 1.1.26 this information needs to be on the good unless the specific product regulation permits otherwise (e.g., due to the size or nature of the good).  

These changes do not apply to medical devices, construction products, transportable pressure equipment, cableways, unmanned aircraft systems, rail products and marine equipment. Departments responsible for these sectors are making sector specific arrangements.

Please note that UKCA as used refers to all UK product safety legislation not just the sectors that require the UKCA mark.