The UK government has announced a range of changes to its guidance regarding product conformity markings. Find out how this could affect your business.
On Monday June 20, 2022, The UK government announced a range of changes to its guidance regarding product conformity markings for most products placed on the market in England, Scotland and Wales.
In addition, on August 10, 2022, additional guidance was published to assist with understanding the responsibilities for manufacturers, importers, distributers, end users and Representatives.
UKCA marking: roles and responsibilities – GOV.UK
The UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark is a mandatory mark that must be displayed on certain products, for example gloves, footwear, toys and furniture, to indicate that they conform to Great Britain legislation. Businesses have until January 1, 2023 to start using the UKCA mark, which replaces the CE and reverse epsilon marks now that the UK has left the European Union.
This mark allows the UK to have control over its goods regulations and maintain its high product standards.
The New Measures
In a change to the implementation of UKCA marking, the government has announced the intention to help reduce re-testing costs.
The UK government intends to introduce legislation which will allow completed conformity assessment activities carried out under EU requirements to be used by manufacturers and declare existing product types as UKCA compliant. This conformity assessment includes testing, certification and contractual arrangements relating to the quality control or auditing of existing certificates undertaken by non-UK conformity assessment bodies (CABs) for CE certification before January 1, 2023. Products must still bear the UKCA mark and will need to undergo conformity assessment with a UK Approved Body at the expiry of the certificate or after five years (December 31, 2027), whichever is sooner.
This will allow manufacturers to apply the UKCA mark without the need for any UK-recognized CAB involvement and to continue to place their goods on the market on the basis of their existing CE type examination being completed before December 31, 2022, for the lifetime of the certificate issued, or until December 31, 2027, whichever is sooner.
Where manufacturers are using existing CE certification completed before January 1, 2023 as the basis to demonstrate compliance with UKCA for their products, we recommend that they include in the UK Declaration of Conformity the list of relevant UK designated standards and equivalent EU harmonized standards that apply to their product, as well as details of the EU CAB (or CAB recognized under an EU Mutual Recognition Agreement) which carried out the conformity assessment procedures.
If conformity assessment procedures have not been completed and a supporting CE certificate has not been issued before January 1,2023, these products shall be considered ‘new’ and will not qualify for these newly introduced measures. This also includes where goods are subject to important changes, overhauling their original performance, purpose, or type, requiring new certification. Any goods requiring conformity assessment after January 1, 2023 must comply with Great Britain’s regulatory requirements, including that for conformity assessment by a UK approved body. This measure applies across all module types and there are also additional changes to importation, components and labeling.
Manufacturer’s Current Projects Under UKCA Assessment
Please contact your current certifying body if you wish to discuss existing projects for UKCA.
Where a request to no longer continue with UKCA projects is placed but the review has been conducted by SGS experts. SGS will invoice for work completed up to that point and if near completion and certification granted provide the option to receive the type certificate if you choose.
If manufacturers wish to continue with UKCA Marking conformity assessment and receive certification then projects will continue to be reviewed, no need to contact SGS.
SGS is committed to providing information about development in regulations for consumer products as complimentary services. Through a global network of laboratories, SGS provides a wide range of services including physical/mechanical testing, analytical testing and consultancy work for technical and non-technical parameters applicable to a comprehensive range of consumer products. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Contact us for more information or visit website.
For enquiries, please contact:
Kelvin Shepherd
Product Certification
(C&P) PPE Product Certification Manager
t: +44 (0) 7970193003
