UKCA marking requirements: How to get certified

The UKCA marking requirements officially came into effect as of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European internal market on January 1, 2021. However, the British government established transition periods to make the switch easier for market actors. Beginning on January 1, 2023, a conformity assessment in accordance with the new UK regulations will be mandatory for most products still currently covered by the CE marking.

From that date onward, products require the UKCA marking in order to be traded in England, Scotland or Wales. The norms applicable for the CE and UKCA marking will remain identical for most products, as they must meet the same essential requirements. As such, the technical standards necessary for products to obtain UK market approval will also remain largely unchanged. However, the certification process for a product to obtain a UKCA marking will be undergoing a major change.

This process will be executed by an accredited Conformity Assessment Body (CAB). The cases in which you will be able to make use of the self-declaration of conformity for UKCA marking will remain the same as for the CE marking. If you were previously able to self-declare conformity for the CE marking, you will be able to do so for the UKCA marking.

Navigating the UKCA certification process

Companies should ensure that they have all the necessary information on hand before beginning the certification process for the UKCA marking. The certification process for the UKCA marking is comprised of the same steps as the CE certification process. First, you need to determine which rules apply to the products that you are planning to put on the market in England, Scotland, or Wales. As different regulations and norms apply to specific goods, you should first clarify which of your products fall under which regulations. Then check if an independent conformity assessment is necessary for your product and, if so, which body is responsible for this assessment. Ensure that you have compiled all English-language documents for products requiring UKCA certification, and have all non-English language documents translated.

As the first-time importer, you are responsible for ensuring that all products are subject to the appropriate processes, are labeled with the correct information and marking, and are delivered with the manufacturer’s technical documents. A copy of the declaration of conformity must be stored for 10 years. Following that period, an officially approved, UK-based notified body should be contacted for the product certification for UKCA marking. In the final step, the declaration of conformity is finalized and the UKCA marking is applied to your product.

Please see the White Paper published by FRIWO for further important information and a brief overview. FRIWO has also compiled a practical, free checklist to allow for the quick and easy navigation of the UKCA certification process.

Request UKCA White Paper!