UKCA replaces CE labeling for Great Britain – What it means for you

The new UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) labeling is mandated for goods entering the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). It mainly affects products that previously required CE labeling. However, the change also applies to aerosols that until now were labeled with the so-called reversed epsilon.

The new UKCA labeling system has been in effect since 1 January 2021. Nevertheless, the CE label will still be accepted for most products during the transition period until 1 January 2022. The one-year grace period applies to all products that already carry CE labeling. One condition is that relevant GB and EC regulations governing this labeling are not changed.

Starting 1 January 2022, only UKCA labeling will be accepted in Great Britain. Nothing will change for product labeling on the European market, as UKCA labeling does not apply to the EU and Northern Ireland. In the long term, it is expected that British labeling regulations will deviate from EC standards, at least in parts. This blog article explains what the new UKCA label means for your marking.

The following products and goods must be labeled in compliance with UKCA labeling:

• Toys.
• Recreational craft and personal watercraft items.
• Simple pressure vessels.
• Electromagnetic devices.
• Non-automatic weighing instruments.
• Measuring instruments.
• Lifts.
• ATEX devices.
• Radio equipment.
• Pressure equipment.
• Personal protective equipment.
• Gas appliances.
• Machinery.
• Equipment for use outdoors.
• Ecodesign equipment.
• Aerosols.
• Low voltage electrical equipment.
• Hazardous substances.

UKCA marking also applies to the following products, but is governed by special rules:

• Medical devices.
• Rail interoperability equipment.
• Construction products.
• Civil explosives.

The technical aspects of the UKCA procedure for assessing conformity do not differ from the previous CE methods. If until now you had been permitted to use self-declaration for CE labeling, you can do the same with UKCA marking.

The one-year transition period until 1 January 2022 applies to you if your products meet one of the following criteria:

• Your products currently carry a CE label on the basis of self-declaration.
• Any mandatory conformity assessment conducted by a third party was done by an EU-accredited institution.
• The certificate of conformity was transferred from a UK-accredited institution to an EU-accredited institution before 1 January 2021.

The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that imported products comply with relevant British regulations. The manufacturer must also make sure that the documentation including the conformity declaration is drawn up. These regulations do not apply to already manufactured products bearing the CE label.

If you want to protect your access to the British market, you must get familiar with the new product-marking regulations early on and adjust your marking before 1 January 2022.

The Northern Ireland Protocol determines that Northern Ireland will remain part of the European market for manufactured goods. This means that products placed in the market in Northern Ireland need a CE label or UKNI marking.

n most cases, UKCA labeling must be placed directly on the product or its packaging. Depending on specific product requirements, marking can also be required in manuals or other technical product instructions.

As a general rule, only the manufacturer or an authorised representative can apply the UKCA marking.

Starting on 1 January 2023, the marking must in most cases be affixed directly to the product. Possible options would be direct printing with inkjet printers. Weber Marking Systems has the perfect solution for you with a range of models for each material and printing volume.