| UKCA marking | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Standards organization | Department for Business and Trade |
| Effective region | Great Britain |
| Effective since | 31 December 2020 |
| Predecessor | CE marking |
| Product category | Various |
| Website | gov |
TheUKCA marking (anabbreviation ofUK Conformity Assessed) is aconformity mark that indicates conformity with the applicable requirements for products sold withinGreat Britain.[1] The government intended that it should replace theCE marking for products sold in Great Britain. Both markings continue to be accepted in the UK market.[2]
The UKCA marking became part of UK law at the end of theBrexit transition period, on 31 December 2020, with the coming into force of The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019[3][4][5] which was intended to replace the CE marking.
The UKCA marking also intended to replace the reversed epsilon[a] marking used onaerosol sprays and measuring container bottles.[6][7]
The Government planned for UKCA compliance to be a mandatory requirement since then, but theCE mark was accepted as an alternative, initially for the transition period until 1 January 2022.[8] This deadline for including the UKCA mark was extended to 1 January 2023, then to 31 December 2024, and then on 1 August 2023 the government effectively withdrew the requirement for UKCA, and stated that the CE mark remains acceptable for most goods as a valid sign of conformance.[6][9][10]
The scope and procedures of the UKCA scheme initially follow those forCE marking. The Government said that after 31 December 2020 the two schemes may diverge.[6]Initial guidance regarding UKCA marking was originally published by theGovernment of the United Kingdom in 2019 ahead of a potentialno-deal Brexit but was subsequently withdrawn.[11]
The height of the UKCA marking must be at least 5mm; it may be larger so long as the proportions are kept.[1] The marking should be "easily visible, legible, and permanently attached to the goods".
The government also intends to bring additional flexibility regarding the placement of the UKCA marking. This may allow the marking to be placed in an accompanying document or sticky label instead, despite the permanent extension of the CE marking in the UK.[12]
Additionally, theFast-Track UKCA Process will be put into place where businesses may put the UKCA marking under the UK regulations or the CE marking under the EU directives. It is not intended to be a mandatory process.[12]
The UKCA marking only applies to products placed on the market in Great Britain. InNorthern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom that remains aligned to theEuropean Single Market due to theNorthern Ireland Protocol, CE marking continues to be required.[13] UK-resident bodies are no longer qualified to carry out CE mark conformity assessments for goods intended for the EU, but under the Northern Ireland Protocol they may do so for Northern Ireland. Where a UK body has carried out the assessment for goods intended for Northern Ireland, the product should display both the CE mark and aUKNI mark (sometimes also calledUK(NI)).[14] However, goods intended for export to the EU must be assessed by an EU-resident body and carry a CE mark (and must not carry the UKNI mark).[14][b]
As part of the British Government's policy of "unfettered access" for "qualifying Northern Ireland goods"[c] to be sold in Great Britain without restriction, goods may be sold in Great Britain using the relevant Northern Ireland markings and without any additional approvals that would be required for the UKCA marking.[14]
| Market | Accepted marking(s) |
|---|---|
| Goods placed on the market inGreat Britain |
|
| Goods placed on the market inNorthern Ireland |
|
| Qualifying goods from Northern Ireland placed on the market in Great Britain |
|
| Goods placed on the market in theEuropean Economic Area |
|
In Northern Ireland, EU conformity markings will continue to be used to show that goods meet EU rules after 1 January 2021. For most manufactured goods, this is the CE marking, but there are some other markings for specific products (such as the wheel marking or Pi mark).