April 12th 2022
The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) Standard System was introduced following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, in January 2020. UKCA standards are assessed and certified by a UK-recognised Notified Body and apply to PPE products which are to be placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland).
The UKCA marking was introduced on 1 January 2021, and all applicable PPE products must be certified to Regulation (EU) 2016/425 (as incorporated into UK law) by 31 December 2022. To allow businesses time to adjust to the new requirements, the CE marking (only) can still be used until 31 December 2022
The period up to 31 December 2023 will be regarded as a grace period that will allow manufacturers time to update their product markings (where applicable) to bear an indelible ‘UKCA’ marking. During the grace period, the products should be marked if possible. Where it has not yet been made possible to mark the product directly, the UKCA marking can be placed on a label affixed to the product, on a document accompanying the product (UIM), or on the packaging.
From 01 January 2024, all UKCA Certified ISC products must be indelibly marked with the UKCA logo, together with the reference number of the issuing Notified Body ‘UKCA 0120’.
As we continue to update the certification of all applicable products in our range and phase-in the new UKCA markings, you will initially notice the addition of the UKCA markings to our product packaging/labelling. In due course, the packaging label markings will be replaced, as we phase-in the product markings.
Both the CE and UKCA mark can be placed on a product so long as neither impedes the visibility of the other and requirements of both the GB and EU legislation are met.
Products that were manufactured and ready to place on the market before 1 January 2021, can still be sold in Great Britain with a CE marking only, regardless of whether it is covered by a certificate of conformity issued by a UK body. These products can be placed on the GB market up until 31 December 2022.
Summary of Key Dates
Certification Deadline: 31 December 2022. All applicable products (PPE products) must be certified to Regulation (EU) 2016/425 (as incorporated into UK law) - UKCA.
Grace Period for Product Markings:
31 December 2022: Up to, and including this date, products may be placed on the UK market, bearing only CE marking.
31 December 2023: Up to, and including this date, the UKCA markings may be placed on a label affixed to the product, on a document accompanying the product (UIM), or on the packaging, in lieu of product markings.
From 01 January 2024: all UKCA Certified products must be indelibly marked with UKCA markings, ‘UKCA 0120’ (marking the packaging will no longer be sufficient). Only if this is not possible, the manufacturer must attach it to the packaging (if any) or accompanying documents.
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