The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is a new UK product marking that is 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., known as ‘new approach’ goods.

This guidance explains how to use the UKCA marking. For further information on placing these goods on the market, see the guidance on placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain.

There is separate guidance for medical devices, rail interoperability, construction products and civil explosives.

Check whether you need to use the new UKCA marking

Selling goods in Great Britain

The UKCA marking applies to most goods previously subject to the CE marking. It also applies to aerosol products that previously required the ‘reverse epsilon’ marking.

The technical requirements (‘essential requirements’) you must meet – and the conformity assessment processes and standards that can be used to demonstrate conformity – are largely the same as they were for the CE marking.

The circumstances in which you can use self-declaration of conformity for UKCA marking are the same as for CE marking. If you were able to self-declare conformity for the CE marking, you will be able to do the same for the UKCA marking.

Check the list of areas where self-declaration is permitted.

The UKCA marking came into effect on 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 need to apply the new UKCA marking to goods being sold in Great Britain immediately from 1 January 2021.

The CE marking is only 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.

Check whether you will need to use the UKCA marking by reading the guidance on placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain.

Selling goods in the EU

The UKCA marking is not recognised on the EU market. Products need a CE marking for sale in the EU. Find out how to use the CE marking.

When to use the UKCA marking

You only need to use the new UKCA marking before 1 January 2022 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

This does not apply to existing stock, for example if your good was fully manufactured, CE marked 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 before 1 January 2021. These goods will need to be placed on the market before 31 December 2021.

How to use the UKCA marking

Placing the UKCA marking

In most cases, you must apply the UKCA marking to the product itself or to the packaging. In some cases, it may be placed on the manuals or on other supporting literature. This will vary depending on the specific regulations that apply to the product.

General rules

The followingUKCA generalmarking rulesmust apply:be clearly visible and legible when you affix it to the product. If this is not possible, you must attach it to the packaging (if any) or accompanying documents.

• UKCA markings must only be placed on a product by you as the manufacturer or your authorised representative (where allowedpermitted for in the relevant legislation)

• whenlegislation).

  When attachingaffixing the UKCA marking, you take full responsibility for your product’s conformity with the requirements of the relevant legislation

• youlegislation.

  You must only use the UKCA marking to showdemonstrate product conformity with the relevant UK legislation

• youlegislation.

  You must not place any marking or sign that may misconstrue the meaning or form of the UKCA marking to third parties

• youparties.

  You must not attach other markings on the product which affect the visibility, legibility or meaning of the UKCA marking

• themarking.

  The UKCA marking cannot be placed on products unless there is a specific requirement to do so in the legislationlegislation.

  A product may have additional markings and marks, as long as they:

  • fulfil a different function from that of the UKCA marking
  • are not likely to cause confusion with the UKCA marking
  • do not reduce the legibility and visibility of the UKCA marking

  Rules for using the UKCA image

  You must make sure that:

  • if you reduce or enlarge the size of your marking, the letters forming the UKCA marking must be in proportion to the version set out below
  • the UKCA marking is at least 5mm in height for the whole logo, not individual letters – unless a different minimum dimension is specified in the relevant legislation
  • the UKCA marking is easily visible, legible (from 1 January 2023 it must be permanently attached)

  

  The UKCA marking can take different forms (for example, the colour does not have to be solid), as long as it remains visible, legible and maintains the required proportions.

  • Download UKCA mark image files (fill) (ZIP, 818KB)
  • Download UKCA mark image files (outline) (ZIP, 2.03MB)

  Technical documentation

  Record keeping

  You, or your authorised representative (where allowed for in the relevant legislation), must keep documentation to demonstrate that your product conforms with the regulatory requirements. This must be kept for up to 10 years after the product is placed on the market.

  This information can be requested at any time by market surveillance or enforcement authorities to check that your product conforms with the statutory requirements.

  The information you must keep will vary depending on the specific legislation relevant to your product. You must keep general records of:

  • how the product is designed and manufactured
  • how the product has been shown to conform to the relevant requirements
  • the addresses of the manufacturer and any storage facilities

  You should keep the information in the form of a technical file which can be supplied if requested by a market surveillance authority.

  UK Declaration of Conformity

  The UK Declaration of Conformity is a document which must be drawn up for most products lawfully bearing a UKCA marking. We recommend that manufacturers have a separate UK Declaration of Conformity to their EU Declaration of Conformity.

  In the document you as the manufacturer, or your authorised representative (where allowed for in the relevant legislation), should:

  • declare that the product is in conformity with the relevant statutory requirements applicable to the specific product
  • make sure the document has the name and address of the manufacturer (or your authorised representative) together with information about the product and the conformity assessment body (where relevant)

  The UK Declaration of Conformity should be available to market surveillance authorities on request.

  The information required on the Declaration of Conformity is largely the same as what was required on an EU Declaration of Conformity. This can vary depending on the application legislation but generally should include:

  • your name and full business address or that of your authorised representative
  • the product’s serial number, model or type identification
  • a statement, stating you take full responsibility for the product’s compliance
  • the details of the approved body which carried out the conformity assessment procedure (if applicable)
  • the relevant legislation with which the product complies
  • your name and signature
  • the date the declaration was issued
  • supplementary information (if applicable)

  You will need to list:

  • relevant UK legislation (rather than EU legislation) (ODS, 5.08KB)
  • UK designated standards rather than standards cited in the Official Journal of the European Union

  The UK standards are currently the same in substance and with the same reference as the standards used in the EU.

  Future use of markings in the UK

  From 1 January 2022, the CE marking will not be recognised in Great Britain for areas covered by this guidance and the UKCA marking. However, a product bearing the CE marking would still be valid for sale in the UK so long as it was also UKCA marked and complied with the relevant UK rules. Separate rules apply to medical devices.

  More information

  Product areas covered by the UKCA marking

  • Toy safety
  • Recreational craft and personal watercraft
  • Simple pressure vessels
  • Electromagnetic compatibility
  • Non-automatic weighing instruments
  • Measuring instruments
  • Lifts
  • ATEX
  • Radio equipment
  • Pressure equipment
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Gas appliances
  • Machinery
  • Equipment for use outdoors
  • Ecodesign
  • Aerosols
  • Low voltage electrical equipment
  • Restriction of hazardous substances

  Products covered by the UKCA marking but have some special rules:

  • medical devices
  • rail interoperability
  • construction products
  • civil explosives

  Legislative areas where self-declaration of conformity for UKCA marking is permitted

  Legislation	Scope of products which can be self-declared
  Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016	All products
  Toy (Safety) Regulations 2011	Products where all essential requirements are covered by designated standards and the manufacturer has applied these standards
  The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012	All products
  Medical Devices Regulations 2002	Some Class I devices
  Radio Equipment Regulations 2017	ProductsAll products except where all essentialdesignated requirementsstandards arefor coveredregulation by6 designated(2) standardseither anddo the manufacturernot hasexist or have not been applied theseby standardsthe manufacturer.
  The Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016	Category I pressure equipment
  Construction Products Regulations (Regulation (EU) 305/2011 as brought into UK law and amended)	Products within scope of System 4
  Recreational Craft Regulations 2017	Certain categories of recreational craft as specified in the legislation
  The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016	All products
  The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008	ProductsAny machine which is not in Schedule 2, Part 4 of the Regulations. Any machine that is in Schedule 2, Part 4 where all essentialthe requirements areof coveredall byrelevant designated standards andhave the manufacturerbeen has applied thesein full and where those standards cover the applicable essential requirements.
  The Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2016	Equipment-group II, equipment category 3
  Personal Protective Equipment Regulations (Regulation (EU) 2016/425 as brought into UK law and amended)	Category I personal protective equipment

  Transitional measures relating to the UKCA marking

  For many product types (listed above), the following transitional measures apply.

  Until 1 January 2023, for most goods (other than those subject to special rules) you have the option to affix the UKCA marking on a label affixed to the product or on an accompanying document. The economic operators (whether manufacturer, importer or distributor) should take reasonable steps to ensure the UKCA marking remains in place. Products that require the UKCA marking cannot be made available without it (other than where the CE marking is being used before 1 January 2022).

  From 1 January 2023, the UKCA marking must, in most cases, be affixed directly to the product. You should start building this into your design process ready for this date.

  Construction products, medical devices, interoperability of the rail system and transportable pressure equipment are covered by the UKCA marking, however the above transitional measures are not applicable.

  Please check the product specific pages for updates.

  Contact

  If you have any queries or require further assistance regarding the UKCA mark, please contact goodsregulation@beis.gov.uk.