UKCA Marking
The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is the new UK product marking that is used for certain goods being placed on the market in England, Scotland and Wales from January 2023.
At Spiers Safety Engineering, we provide third-party UKCA certification for industrial machines, as well as UKCA self-certification training courses that help you get your product UKCA marked in line with all existing compliance procedures. Our safety experts can teach you how to:
- Self-certify your machine for UKCA
- Perform a UKCA Audits
- Do a Design Risk Assessment (DRA)
- Manage design changes for industrial machines
All our UKCA courses are delivered by machine safety experts at our Spiers Training Centre in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Spiers Engineering Safety collaborated with RiskMach to develop the UKCA Software TM that is leading the UK product certification into the post-Brexit world. We use the RiskMach compliance and certification software during our training and support activities as a tool to implement a ready-made certification assessment procedure into your business.
Need additional support? We also offer a handy UKCA certification package, including our purpose-built UKCA certification software tool, UKCA training for your team and on-demand support from our self-certification experts.
Want to learn more about the new UKCA marking?
Feel free to read our guide on the UKCA marking requirements or explore our FAQ section about the UKCA mark below. The guidance on UKCA is changing rapidly so please come back for updates or sign up for our UKCA updates
Frequently Asked Questions
The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is the new UK product marking that will be used, for certain goods being placed on the UK market following the UK’s exit from the EU.
What is happening to the CE Mark?
The CE Mark is controlled by the EU under the Machinery Directive and they may not be too happy about us using that mark after Brexit. So, in the meantime, the UK has made contingency plans so that we can continue to mark our products but with something other than the CE Mark.
Goodbye CE mark. Hello UKCA mark!
What is the UKCA Mark?
The UKCA mark is a mark that can be applied to a product by the manufacturer to ensure that it meets all the essential requirements for products of that type.
Do all products require a UKCA Mark?
No. However during the transition from CE Mark to UKCA mark, there is as of yet no statutory requirements telling us which products need UKCA marking. As a guide for now your best guess is to assume that the product directives of CE marking will be transposed to UK law in full. Note, this is a good rule of thumb but it is by no means certain.
How do I get a UKCA Mark?
You must complete a conformity assessment of your product to the essential requirements to ensure that is safe. Then hold the evidence for up to 10 years in case an enforcement authority challenge its status.
Do I have to use a UKCA Conformity Assessment Body?
No. You do not have to use a registered conformity body. However, you may want help to ensure that your products are being put through an appropriate conformity assessment procedure.
What documentation do I need to keep for my products under UKCA?
The exact documentation you need to keep for a product will vary based on its type. We don’t yet have the detail from the UK Government to know for sure but it will likely result in a technical construction file being compiled. Product-specific British standards will specify certain tests, design requirements etc. These should all be evidenced in the technical construction file.
What is the UK Declaration of Conformity?
The CE mark is supported by the issuing of a declaration of conformity. Much in the same way, the UKCA is supported by its own declaration of conformity. The declaration is a legal statement by the manufacturer that the product is safe to put into service or place on the market. It will include the name and address of the manufacturer and the type and model of the product. More details will follow as the UK government releases more guidance.
When do I need to start using the UKCA Mark instead of CE marking?
The UKCA mark came into force from the beginning of 2021 and from 2023, the CE mark will no longer be accepted on the GB market. This means that, for serial manufacturing where your product has been CE marked in the past (before 1 January 2021), you have until 1 January 2023 to get it UKCA marked. This 24-month transitional period gives you the time to adapt to the new requirements for product safety certification in the UK.
There are a couple of exceptions to this rule:
- Medical devices have been given an extension and can be sold with a CE mark only until 30 June 2023
- Some products sold in the GB market have to be UKCA marked before 31 December 2022 if they require third-party conformity assessment and its existing assessment has been carried out by a UK conformity assessment body
If you don’t get the UKCA marking in time, your CE-marked product can only be sold on the EU market or the NI market (however, in Northern Ireland, it may be subject to UKNI marking requirements too).
The above information is correct as of the time of writing. However, please be aware that the official rules may change, so please check the Government’s guidelines on when to use the UKCA marking for the latest updates.