New safety labelling requirements have come into place for businesses selling certain products in Great Britain.
As of 1 January, a new UKCA mark replaced the CE mark for new products sold in England, Scotland, and Wales.
But what exactly is the UKCA mark for? Read on to make sure you’re aware of the latest government legislation and what this means for your business.
What is the UKCA marking?
The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) product marking is the new way some products must be certified for sale in Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland).
It shows that the products meet required safety, health, and environmental standards and they’ve been checked by the manufacturer.
This new legislation came in following the UK’s departure from the EU. Under the new rules, any product that previously carried the CE marking will now have to show the UKCA marking.
When is the deadline for using the UKCA marking?
Businesses could start using the UKCA mark from 1 January 2021, but the government announced this month that you have more time to prepare. Following an initial one-year grace period, the deadline for using the mark has been extended for another year.
The new deadline for displaying the UKCA mark on new and existing products is 1 January 2023.
What products need to use the UKCA mark?
You only need to use the UKCA mark if your product:
- is for the market in Great Britain
- is covered by legislation which requires the UKCA marking
- requires mandatory third-party conformity assessment
- has had a conformity assessment carried out by a UK conformity assessment body
If you have an online shop or sell a range of products online, you may need to use the UKCA marking.
For example, the legislation applies to the safety of toys, energy related products like lighting and power adaptors, and personal protective equipment like hats and gloves.
You can find the full list of the product categories required by law to show the UKCA mark on the government website.
How to use the UKCA marking
Your UKCA mark should be applied to the product or the product’s packaging. There may be some instances where it needs to be placed in supporting documents like the product manual.
Here are a few things to remember:
- the UKCA marking must be easily visible and legible
- it must be at least 5mm in height
- when applying the UKCA marking you’re taking responsibility that the product meets the requirements
You can download the UKCA marking here.
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For more information, read the government’s guidance on selling products in Great Britain.
You can also check out a schedule of webinars for manufacturers to help you understand more about what you need to do.
Have you got any unanswered questions about the UKCA marking? Let us know in the comments.
Photograph 1: fizkes/stock.adobe.com
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