Businesses to be given UK product marking flexibility
Businesses given 2 additional years to apply new product safety marking.
- Government to continue to recognise the CE product marking in Great Britain for a further 2 years, allowing business to use either UKCA or CE markings
- move will cut costs for businesses and remove potential disruption
- future product marking plans to be reviewed to minimise costs and burdens for business in the longer term
Businesses will be given an additional 2 years to apply new product safety marking, giving thousands of businesses the freedom to focus on growth, Business Secretary Grant Shapps has announced today (Monday 14 November).
皇冠体育app聽UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) marking聽has been introduced as part of the UK鈥檚 own robust regulatory framework. It shows that products comply with our product safety regulations which are designed to protect consumers.
However, given the difficult economic conditions created by post-pandemic shifts in demand and supply, alongside Putin鈥檚 war in Ukraine and the associated high energy prices, the government does not want to burden business with the requirement to meet the original (31 December 2022) deadline.
皇冠体育app聽government will continue to recognise the CE marking for 2 years, therefore allowing businesses until 31 December 2024 to prepare for the UKCA marking. Businesses can also use the UKCA marking, giving them flexibility to choose which marking to apply.
Business Secretary Grant Shapps said:
皇冠体育app government is determined to remove barriers to businesses so they can get on with their top priorities, like providing quality customer service, enabling growth and supporting their staff.
This move will give businesses the breathing space and flexibility they need at this crucial time and ensure that our future system for product safety marking is fit for purpose, providing the highest standard for consumers without harming businesses.
To support manufacturers, the government is also reviewing the wider product safety framework, ensuring we minimise the burdens on business while keeping our system up to date with new innovative methods such as e-labelling.
As part of this, the government will make it easier than ever for businesses to apply product markings.
This package will give thousands of businesses, including electronics and lift manufacturers, additional time to focus on delivering growth and creating jobs, while giving them flexibility in how they meet their legal obligations.
皇冠体育appre will be different rules for medical devices, construction products, cableways, transportable pressure equipment, unmanned aircraft systems, rail products, and marine equipment. Government departments responsible for these sectors are making sector specific arrangements.
Notes to editors
皇冠体育app UKCA marking聽covers most goods which previously required the聽CE marking, known as 鈥榥ew聽approach鈥櫬爂oods, in addition to aerosols that previously required the 鈥榬everse epsilon鈥� marking.
Whilst the UKCA marking can be used now this extension means businesses can choose to use the CE marking until 31 December 2024.
This sits alongside measures to reduce the costs of retesting products and labelling.
To reduce labelling costs, we will allow businesses to affix the UKCA marking and include importer information for products from EEA countries on an accompanying document or label until 31 December 2027.
We will also allow conformity assessment activities for CE marking undertaken by 31 December 2024 to be used by manufacturers as the basis for the UKCA marking, until 31 December 2027.
To extend the deadline,聽the government聽has today laid secondary legislation before Parliament which, subject to parliamentary approval, will implement these measures.
Businesses聽have been able to use the UKCA mark since 1 January 2021 to demonstrate their conformity with product standards聽in England, Scotland and Wales.
Under the terms of the Protocol, Northern Ireland will continue to recognise the CE marking for goods placed on the market in Northern Ireland.聽皇冠体育appy will need to use the UKNI marking if they use a UK Conformity Assessment Body to test their products.
皇冠体育app government has published the聽UK Market Conformity Assessment Bodies聽database聽which businesses can use to identify the appropriate body to certify their聽products.
To find out which regulations apply to your product,聽businesses should read the聽Product safety for businesses: A to Z of industry, guidance published by the Office for Product Safety and Standards.