UKCA Marking and Testing Services
As the United Kingdom’s plans to leave the EU continue to progress, the nation is implementing their own new rules and regulations surrounding devices looking to be marketed and sold within their borders.
Previously, the UK used the same marking as the rest of the European Union which is the well-known CE marking. Now that the UK is no longer part of the EU, they’ve created their own set of standards with the marking of UK Conformity Assessed, or UKCA.
What is the UKCA Mark?
Much like the CE mark previously used throughout the UK, the new UKCA marking will be printed on products that pass the new UK conformity standards. The marking verifies that the product meets the quality and safety requirements needed for market access in the UK. There is an exception, Northern Ireland will still require the CE mark for the foreseeable future. The UKCA mark is not accepted.
Many manufacturers are wondering if the UKCA and CE markings are the same. Thankfully many of the regulations being used for UKCA are the same as their CE counterpart with the exception of medical devices, construction materials and goods, rail interoperability and civil explosives used for demolition and excavating purposes.
When Does the UK Swap to the UKCA Mark?
Officially, the change began on January 1st of 2021. To give manufacturer’s time to adjust their production, and an additional delay due to the pandemic, the deadline for all products to have the UKCA mark is now January 1st of 2023.
There are certain situations where a product will require the UKCA mark prior to the deadline. If it’s one of the unique items listed above, the product is entering the United Kingdom market and it requires a third-party conformity assessment, then it will need the UKCA mark immediately. Any other products will be able to use the CE mark until January 1st 2023.
How Do I Get the UKCA Mark for My Products?
Being prepared for the upcoming deadline for UKCA markings will help your business avoid disruptions in market access throughout the United Kingdom. The steps you’ll need to take will be similar to those you took to initially certify a CE marking.
Depending on the product being brought to the UK market, there are specific standards and directives to be considered. After determining the requirements your product must meet, create a document that outlines these aspects of the product to make adjustments to regulation changes easier in the future.
Finally, you’ll need to draft a Declaration of Conformity and sign it before storing it alongside the product’s technical requirement documentation. Once these steps are completed, your business can apply the UKCA marking for that product and begin offering it in the UK market.
Compliance Testing is here to help you and your company bring products to market in any region whether you’re still in the design phase or want to expand your market access for an existing product line. Contact us today for more information on the UKCA marking!
We can answer your questions and let you know the costs associated with the process.
