UKCA update

The Government has announced its intention to introduce legislation to continue recognition of the CE marking and reversed epsilon marking until 31 December 2024 for most goods being placed on the market or put into service in Great Britain as part of new ministers’ commitment to reduce burdens for industry.

Government will also continue with the measures on retesting and labelling announced in June. The timescales will be amended to reflect the extension:

1. Reducing labelling costs by continuing 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 a label until 31 December 2027.
2. Reducing retesting costs for UKCA certification by allowing conformity assessment activities for CE marking undertaken by 31 December 2024 to be used by manufacturers as the basis for UKCA marking, until the expiry of the certificate or until 31 December 2027, whichever is sooner.

This package of measures is intended to provide businesses with more flexibility and reduce regulatory burdens for businesses. Government states it will use the UK’s regulatory autonomy to help businesses navigate the current global economic and supply chain challenges whilst prioritising growth. In parallel, it will also consider how it can reduce costs and burdens associated with the UK regulatory framework in the longer term, including opportunities under the Product Safety Review.

The Statutory Instrument to give effect to these changes was laid before Parliament on 14 November and Government expects it to come into force before the end of the year.

The rules remain different for medical devices, construction products, cableways, transportable pressure equipment, unmanned aircraft systems, rail products, and marine equipment. Departments responsible for these sectors are making sector specific arrangements.

Government has published a news story on GOV.UK (WMS and press notice) and updated its guidance on GOV.UK:

• Using the UKCA marking
• Placing manufactured goods on the market in GB
• UK conformity assessment and documentation
• Roles and responsibilities