Conformity Assessment or Marking

You need to use a conformity mark if you’re placing certain goods on the UK market. Before 1 January 2021 you can do this using the CE mark or other appropriate mark (such as the wheel marking or Pi mark).

From 1 January 2021, the UKCA mark will be the conformity assessment marking for Great Britain for most goods currently subject to CE marking.

The CE marking will be accepted in the UK until 1 January 2022 for certain products. You must be ready to use the UKCA marking from 1 January 2022 at the latest, although you should look to use the UKCA marking as soon as possible.

Using the UKCA marking

You will need to use the new UKCA marking immediately after 1 January 2021 if all of the following apply.

Your product:

• is covered by legislation which requires the UKCA marking
• requires mandatory third-party conformity assessment
• conformity assessment has been carried out by a UK conformity assessment body and you haven’t transferred your conformity assessment files from your UK body to an EU recognised body before 1 January 2021

This does not apply to existing stock, for example if your good was fully manufactured and ready to place on the market before 1 January 2021.

Using the CE marking

CE marking for the GB market

You will be able to use the CE marking until 31 December 2021 if any of the following apply:

• you currently apply the CE marking to your good on the basis of self-declaration
• any mandatory third-party conformity assessment was carried out by an EU-recognised notified body (including a body in a country with which the EU has a relevant mutual recognition agreement)
• the certificate of conformity previously held by a UK approved body has been transferred to an EU-recognised notified body

You can only place CE marked goods that meet EU requirements in Great Britain while UK and EU requirements are the same. This will be the case on 1 January 2021 and there are no UK plans to diverge at this time. Nonetheless you are encouraged to be ready as soon as possible, and by 1 January 2022 at the latest. If the EU changes their rules and you CE mark your goods based on new EU rules which are different from the requirements in the UK, you will no longer be able to use the CE marking in the UK. This will be the case even if the change happens before 1 January 2022.

More info here

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UK Conformity Assessed

The UKCA marking is a new UK product marking that will be used for goods being placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). It covers most goods which previously required the CE marking.

The UKCA marking alone cannot be used for goods placed on the Northern Ireland market, which require the CE marking or UK(NI) marking. See the guidance on placing goods on the Northern Ireland market.

Check whether you will need to use the new UKCA marking

Selling goods in Great Britain

The UKCA marking will apply to most goods currently subject to the CE marking. It will also apply to aerosol products.

From 1 January 2021 the technical requirements (‘essential requirements’) you must meet – and the conformity assessment processes and standards that can be used to demonstrate conformity – will be largely the same as they are now.

The UKCA marking can be used from 1 January 2021. However, to allow businesses time to adjust to the new requirements, you will still be able to use the CE marking until 1 January 2022 in most cases.

In some cases you will need to apply the new UKCA marking to goods being sold in Great Britain immediately from 1 January 2021. You are encouraged to be ready to use the UKCA marking as soon as possible before this date.

The CE marking will only be valid in Great Britain for areas where GB and EU rules remain the same. If the EU changes its rules and you CE mark your product on the basis of those new rules you will not be able to use the CE marking to sell in Great Britain even before 31 December 2021.

Selling goods in the EU

The UKCA marking will not be recognised on the EU market. Products currently requiring a CE marking will still need a CE marking for sale in the EU from 1 January 2021. Find out how to use the CE marking.

When to use the UKCA marking

You will need to use the new UKCA marking immediately after 1 January 2021 if all of the following apply. Your product:

• is for the market in Great Britain
• is covered by legislation which requires the UKCA marking
• requires mandatory third-party conformity assessment
• conformity assessment has been carried out by a UK conformity assessment body and you haven’t transferred your conformity assessment files from your UK body to an EU recognised body before 1 January 2021
• This does not apply to existing stock, for example if your good was fully manufactured and ready to place on the market before 1 January 2021. In these cases your good can still be sold in Great Britain with a CE marking even if covered by a certificate of conformity issued by a UK body.

More info here