New Paths to Compliance: UKCA Deadline Moved

Last year, we introduced our CE, UKCA, and UKNI product marking consulting services – complementing the CE, UKCA, and UKNI mark labels we offer – to help manufacturer’s easily transition compliance marking according to the market they’re distributing in. The UK government recently announced a new deadline for the UKCA mark following post pandemic setbacks. Learn about the new plan and how it effects your compliance initiatives.

A New UKCA Labeling Deadline Has Arrived
Previously, updated legislation required that UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) marks be affixed for goods in the UK market by December 31, 2022. However, after more consideration, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) recently extended the compliance deadline for two more years, with a new deadline of December 31, 2024.

The UK Business Secretary, Grant Snapps, announced earlier this week that this extension was done to give businesses the freedom to focus on growth and strategy to implement the new markings. The government is also hoping that businesses who manufacture goods to distribute in the UK market will use this time to create new jobs and build relationships focused on compliance. Several factors can be attributed to the delay of the initial UKCA labeling deadline, including major events like post pandemic production changes, microchip shortages, and the war in Ukraine driving up energy prices.

More Pathways to Compliance
This means that the UK government will continue to recognize the European Union’s CE marking for 2 more years until the UKCA mark becomes mandatory. That being said, they’re still encouraging businesses to get a head start, as they do recognize the newer UKCA marking as well and do not want manufacturers waiting until the last minute to reach compliance.

The government also brought to light some interesting new initiatives they’ll be working on in the near future, including e-labeling and optimized rules for electronics and lift or elevator manufacturers in the future. They also introduced more pathways to compliance, recognizing conformity assessment activities for CE marking prior to 2025 to be used as a testing basis for UKCA marking and allowing businesses to affix the UKCA marking and importer information on an accompanying document or label until December 31, 2027.

Who Does UKCA Directly Affect?
In two years’ time, any of your remaining and future products that go on Great Britain’s market can no longer use the previous CE mark from the European Union and must be replaced with the UKCA mark. This applies directly to manufacturers or handlers of the following product categories:

• Pyrotechnics
• Toys
• Recreational craft and personal watercraft
• Simple pressure vessels
• Electromagnetic compatibility
• Non-automatic weighing instruments
• Measuring instruments
• Measuring container bottles
• Lifts
• Equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres (UKEX)
• Radio equipment
• Pressure equipment
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Gas appliances
• Machinery
• Equipment for use outdoors
• Ecodesign
• Aerosols
• Low voltage electrical equipment

Each of the areas listed above have additional rules and regulations to follow as mandated by the UK government, which can be viewed in their respective industry areas. It’s important to remember that there’s no need to re-test or re-mark existing imported goods that are manufactured, CE-marked, and imported under contract to the UK before this ruling.

In regards to UKCA markings, there will be different rules for medical devices, construction products, cableways, transportable pressure equipment, unmanned aircraft systems, rail products, and marine equipment. The government departments responsible for these sectors are making sector-specific arrangements and will continue to update their websites as information becomes available.

How to Apply the UKCA Marking
According to the UK government, the UKCA marking should be applied to the product itself or the packaging, being visible and legible to handlers, with no obstructions or misleading surroundings. On a product by product basis, it can also be applied to manuals or other supporting documentation instead, but that depends on the sector it falls under.

These markings must only be placed on a product by the original manufacturer, an authorized representative (where permitted in the relevant legislation), or those who are marketing the products under their own name or trademark. The UKCA marking cannot be placed on products unless there is a specific requirement to do so in the legislation.

However, a product can have additional markings and marks, like the CE marking, as long as they:

1. Fulfil a different function from that of the UKCA marking
2. Are not likely to cause confusion with the UKCA marking
3. Do not reduce the legibility and visibility of the UKCA marking

Your Partner in Compliance
As more information becomes available surrounding the new UKCA marking deadline and industry-specific guidelines, our team at Clarion Safety remains dedicated to providing you with the most updated information and compliance standards. If you have questions or need assistance in meeting European labeling compliance initiatives, our team is standing by, offering CE, UKCA, and UKNI marking services and helping you to:

• Determine product technical requirements
• Create and maintain technical documentation
• Complete declarations of conformity
• Affix your product with proper mark labels

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