UKCA marking

UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) marking is a conformity mark that indicates conformity with the applicable requirements for products sold within Great Britain.[3]

"UKCA" redirects here. For the Chemistry-Aerosol-Climate model, see United Kingdom Chemistry and Aerosols model.
UKCA marking
The "fill" version of the UKCA marking
UK (NI) marking used to supplement CE marking for goods released on to the NI market
Standards organizationDepartment for Business and Trade
Effective regionGreat Britain (UKCA)
Northern Ireland (UKNI)
Effective since2020
PredecessorCE marking
Product categoryVarious
Mandatory since1 January 2021[1] (de jure, not enforced.[2])
Websitewww.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukca-marking
An earbud case with the UKCA conformity mark

The UKCA marking became part of UK law at the end of the Brexit transition period, on 31 December 2020, with the coming into force of The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.[1] It has been mandatory since then, although, until 31 December 2024[2] (an extended deadline, which was previously 1 January 2022 then 31 December 2022),[4] the CE mark is accepted as a valid alternative.[5][6] The scope and procedures of the UKCA scheme will initially follow those for CE marking, but after 31 December 2020 the two schemes may diverge.[4]

Initial guidance regarding UKCA marking was originally published by the Government of the United Kingdom in 2019 ahead of a potential no-deal Brexit but subsequently withdrawn.[7]

Characteristics of UKCA marking

The height of the UKCA marking must be at least 5 mm (3⁄16 in). If reduced or enlarged, its proportions have to be kept.[3] The marking should be "easily visible, legible, and [from 1 January 2023] permanently attached to the goods".

Northern Ireland

The UKCA marking only applies to products placed on the market in Great Britain. In Northern Ireland, which remains aligned to the European Single Market due to the Northern Ireland Protocol, CE marking continues to be required.[8] 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 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 a UKNI mark.[9] 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).[9][lower-alpha 1]

As part of the British Government's policy of "unfettered access" for "qualifying Northern Ireland goods"[lower-alpha 2] 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.[9]

Type of Good Accepted Mark(s)
Goods placed on the market in Northern Ireland
  • CE (if using an EU conformity assessment body)
  • CE and UKNI (if using a UK conformity assessment body)
Goods placed on the market in Great Britain
  • UKCA or CE (until 31 December 2024)[2]
  • UKCA (from 1 January 2025)
Qualifying goods from Northern Ireland placed on the market in Great Britain
  • CE, or CE and UKNI
Goods placed on the market in the European Economic Area
  • CE. The UKCA mark may appear alongside this but the UKNI mark must not appear on goods intended for the EU market[9]

See also

Notes
  1. With that exception, it remains permissible in the UK, the EU and most other jurisdictions for products to carry multiple conformance marks (such as FCC mark, CCC mark etc.).
  2. Defined in The Definition of Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.[10]

References
  1. "The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  2. UK Government. "Businesses to be given UK product marking flexibility". Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  3. "The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019: Schedule 33", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2019/696 (sch. 33), retrieved 2020-08-28
  4. UK Government. "Using the UKCA marking". Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  5. "Manufacturers urge government to clarify UK's new standards regime". Financial Times. 2020-07-20.
  6. "What Brexit holds for construction equipment manufacturers – The Future Regulatory Landscape". Construction Equipment Association. 2020-08-18. Archived from the original on 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  7. "Prepare to use the UKCA mark after Brexit". Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. Archived from the original on 2020-08-27.
  8. "Placing manufactured goods on the market in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021". Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. 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).
  9. "Using the UKNI marking". GOV.UK. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  10. "The Definition of Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods (EU Exit) Regulations 2020". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  11. "CEN and CENELEC agreement on UK membership safeguards compatibility of standards and seamless European market access". British Standards Institution. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
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