On 1 August, the UK Government announced its intention to introduce legislation to extend the recognition of CE marking for placing most goods on the market in Great Britain. This means businesses will have the flexibility to use either the UKCA or CE marking beyond 2024 (the current deadline in force).

The UK will introduce legislation to further extend the recognition of the CE marking in Great Britain. This will continue to allow recognition of goods that meet EU requirements, using the EU conformity marking (including the CE marking) in England, Scotland and Wales. Businesses can continue to use the UKCA marking if they wish to, but it will not be mandatory for most products.

This will give businesses the flexibility to use either the CE or UKCA marking, while providing businesses longer-term certainty and a foundation for the UK to set its product regulations in the future. This will aply to the 18 regulations that fall under the Department for Business and Trade (DBT):

• 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

Other products are subject to different timeframes and rules, so you should be sure to check the relevant regulatory requirements. In the future, if it is in the interests of British businesses or consumers, it may be decided to mandate the UKCA marking in the future for certain products.

The CE marking is already recognised in Northern Ireland. Businesses there will continue to enjoy unfettered access to the GB market and the EU single market. As such, the CE marking will be an acceptable method of demonstrating compliance for a wide range of goods on the UK market.

Note that updates on the UK's Target Operating Model are expected. We will address this and the UKCA and CE markings and labelings at our webinar on 9 November 2023. Follow our communications for further information on this event.