Selling products in GB

The UKCA marking is the product marking used for products being placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

The UKCA marking applies to most products for which the CE marking could be used. It also applies to aerosol products that previously required the reversed epsilon marking. The technical requirements (sometimes referred to as ‘essential requirements’) you must meet for the UKCA marking will depend on the product specific legislation for your product.

Conformity with these requirements can also be achieved by using designated standards (which the UK introduced to replace EU harmonised standards). By following designated standards, manufacturers can claim ‘presumption of conformity’ with the corresponding essential requirements that apply to their product.

The UKCA marking can be used now. However, to provide businesses with flexibility, the government will bring forward legislation that would continue to allow recognition of the CE marking and the reversed epsilon marking for most goods that are being placed on the market, or put into service before 11pm on 31 December 2024. You should check the sector specific set of regulations that apply to your product.

The UKCA regime has been operational since 1 January 2021 and from this date, where a product is covered by the UKCA marking, you are able to place the UKCA marking on your product.

The government intends to introduce legislation which sets out that, in most cases, if your product has been placed on the GB market with a CE mark before 11pm on 31 December 2024, it does not need to be remarked or recertified to UKCA requirements and can continue to circulate on the GB market until it reaches its end user. This also includes where the CE marked product was conformity assessed and certified under EU conformity assessment procedures before 11pm on 31 December 2024.

There are different rules for:

• medical devices
• construction products
• cableways
• transportable pressure equipment
• unmanned aircraft systems
• rail products
• marine equipment

The government intends to introduce legislation enabling the UKCA marking to be placed on a label affixed to the product or on a document accompanying the product until 11pm on 31 December 2027. This measure will apply to the following regulations:

• Aerosol Dispensers Regulations 2009
• Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016
• Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016
• Explosives Regulations 2014
• Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2016
• Lifts Regulations 2016
• Measuring Container Bottles (EEC Requirements) Regulations 1977
• Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016
• Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations 2001
• Non-automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016
• Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015
• Radio Equipment Regulations 2017
• Recreational Craft Regulations 2017
• Regulation (EU) 2016/425 and the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018
• Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 2016
• Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008
• The Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016
• The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012
• Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011

There are different rules for medical devices, construction products, cableways, transportable pressure equipment, unmanned aircraft systems, rail products and marine equipment.