UKCA Mark and What it Means for PPE

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*New CE extension announced by The Department for Business and Trade - click here to LEARN MORE.

As the UK has now left the European Union, the ‘United Kingdom Conformity Assessed’ (UKCA) marking has been adopted from 1st January 2021 and involves the use of a new UKCA Mark on products as a way of showing conformance with applicable UK legislation.

In the following article, we cover some quick fire questions about the UKCA Mark and what it means for PPE. The UKCA Mark will be used for products being placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), covering most goods which previously required a CE marking.

There are implications for all organisations in product supply chains, so it is important that you take the correct steps to place your products on the market. 

The UK Government website provides details on all the legislative requirements for the UKCA Mark. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukca-marking

quick fire answers about UKCA

What does UKCA stand for?

  • UK Conformity Assessed.

What is UKCA?

  • It is the new UK regulatory framework and product marking required for the placing of certain products on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). Northern Ireland is still under review* 
Is the UKCA the same as the CE Mark?
  • The UKCA Mark is GB’s equivalent of the CE Mark.
How will assessment and standards differ to CE regulation?
  • The conformity assessment, processes and standards will stay largely as they are now.
When does it come into force?
  • The UKCA Mark came into force on 1st January 2021.
Will there be a transition period?
  • There will be a transition period from 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021.
How does it apply to existing stock?
  • The UKCA Mark does not apply to existing stock manufactured before 1st January 2021.
Will it replace the CE mark for selling to Europe?
  • The UKCA Mark will not be recognised on the EU market and the current CE Mark will still be required.

*UK(NI) Mark may be introduced, but in the meanwhile, CE marked products will be accepted.

Selling goods in Great Britain

The UKCA marking applies to most goods previously subject to the CE marking. 

The technical requirements (‘essential requirements’) you must meet – and the conformity assessment processes and standards that can be used to demonstrate conformity – are largely the same as they were for the CE marking.

The circumstances in which you can use self-declaration of conformity for UKCA marking are the same as for CE marking. Check the list of areas where self-declaration is permitted.

The UKCA marking came into effect on 1st January 2021 - however, to allow businesses time to adjust to the new requirements, you will still be able to use the CE marking until 1st January 2022, in most cases.

In some cases, you need to apply the new UKCA marking to goods being sold in Great Britain immediately, from 1st January 2021.

The CE marking is only valid in Great Britain for areas where GB and EU rules remain the same. If the EU changes its rules and on the basis of those new rules, you CE mark your product, you will not be able to use the CE marking to sell in Great Britain, even before 31st December 2021.

Check whether you will need to use the UKCA marking by reading the guidance on placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain.

Selling goods in the EU

The UKCA marking is not recognised on the EU market. Products need a CE marking to be sold in the EU.

When to use the UKCA marking

You only need to use the new UKCA marking before 1st January 2022, if all of the following apply. 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 been conformity assessed by a UK conformity assessment body

This does not apply to existing stock; for example, if your product was fully manufactured, CE marked and ready to place on the market before 1st January 2021. In these cases, your product can still be sold in Great Britain with a CE marking, even if covered by a certificate of conformity issued by a UK body before 1st January 2021.

declaration of conformities

The UK Declaration of Conformity should be available to market surveillance authorities on request.

The information required on the Declaration of Conformity is largely the same as what was required on an EU Declaration of Conformity. This can vary depending on the application legislation but generally should include:

  • your name and full business address or that of your authorised representative

  • the product’s serial number, model or type identification

  • a statement, stating you take full responsibility for the product’s compliance

  • the details of the approved body which carried out the conformity assessment procedure (if applicable)

  • the relevant legislation with which the product complies

  • your name and signature

  • the date the declaration was issued

  • supplementary information (if applicable)

You will need to list:

  • relevant UK legislation (rather than EU legislation)

  • UK designated standards rather than standards cited in the Official Journal of the European Union

The UK standards are currently the same in substance, and with the same reference as the standards used in the EU.

ppe designated standards

86. EN ISO 20345:2011 Personal protective equipment - Safety footwear (ISO 20345:2011)

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/942094/ds-0005-21-ppe-notice.pdf 

What are V12 doing about UKCA?

  • V12 will be applying for the UKCA Mark on all products through a UK Approved Body (such as SATRA or Intertek).

  • There will be a transition period from 1st January 2021 and 31st December 2021.

  • V12 will still be able to use the CE marking on products sold in the UK during the transitional grace period until 1st January 2022.

  • From 1st January 2022, V12 products will carry both the CE Mark for Europe and the UKCA Mark for GB.

  • V12 will have a Declaration of Conformity for both the EU and GB.

  • By 1st Jan 2023, all products placed on the market will carry a UKCA Mark, permanently fixed.

  • New products placed on the market from 1st January 2022 will have UKCA Mark approval.


Government extension of THE CE mark

In August 2023, The Department for Business and Trade announced an indefinite extension to the use of the CE marking for businesses. Initially, UKCA was set for entry in December 2024, but thanks to the extension, the CE marking will continue to be recognised on new and existing products including PPE beyond this proposed deadline.

The announcement of the continued recognition of CE marked products is part of a government drive to simplify regulations and reduce red tape, and spells good news for manufacturers, as they will be able to:

  • choose to use either the UKCA or CE approach to sell products in Great Britain
  • cut back on the time spent and costs involved in retesting and remarking products from CE to UKCA
  • adjust to the UKCA marking system and focus on their business both at home and overseas
  • avoid the pressure of hitting a deadline that many felt was unrealistic - particularly for businesses with a large amount of PPE in their range

You can read the full guidance on the government website here.

If you have any further questions, please contact us by calling 01249 651900 or emailing sales@v12footwear.com.