Published on: 02 August 2023
Following the UK leaving the EU, it has been intended that the UK would no longer accept CE marking and all applicable products would have to be UK conformity assessed (UKCA) and subsequently UKCA marked to show that products comply with the requirements of the legislation applying in GB.
Following several time extensions (the most recent being in December 2022 for two years up to the end of December 2024), allowing the continued use of the CE mark as an equivalence to UKCA marking, the Government announced on the 1 August its intentions to introduce legislation to extend recognition of the CE marking for placing a wide range of goods on the market in Great Britain (including recreational craft, personal watercraft and associated components) indefinitely beyond the current 2024 deadline. This update applies to the 18 regulations that fall under the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and include:
- Toys
- Pyrotechnics
- Recreational craft and personal watercraft
- Simple pressure vessels
- Electromagnetic compatibility
- Non-automatic weighing instruments
- Measuring instruments
- Measuring container bottles
- Lifts
- Equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX)
- Radio equipment
- Pressure equipment
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Gas appliances
- Machinery
- Equipment for use outdoors
- Aerosols
- Low voltage electrical equipment
The extension will provide businesses with flexibility and choice to use either the UKCA or CE approach to sell products in Great Britain.
For companies placing products both on the UK and EU market place the extension will negate the need to dual mark reducing costs, and burdens on industry.
You will still need to take action to ensure you comply with importer responsibilities if you’re placing a product on the GB market from outside the UK.
The above extension only applies to products covered by the listed regulations and does not apply to other regulations owned by other government departments such as marine equipment (what was ship wheel marking).
For further information please contact the technical department via technical@britishmarine.co.uk.
Stakeholder engagement
The government is keen to hear perspectives from industry that will enable us to implement and refine policy in a way that benefits British businesses and consumers. We also continue to welcome any feedback, comments, and suggestions and any challenges that businesses are facing, so we can support them best during this period.
To continue engaging closely with industry stakeholders the Department for Business and Trade are holding a series of roundtables during August. If your business or organisation have not yet registered to participate, we still have space remaining at a number of our August roundtables.
Please register your interest in participating here.