UK has extended the acceptance of certain products meeting EU requirements and markings (including PPE) on the market in Great Britain for a further 2 years, until 31 December 2024. This will provide businesses with flexibility and choice on how to comply with product regulations.
The main purposes are to:
- Extend acceptance of certain products meeting EU requirements and markings on the market in Great Britain for a further 2 years, until 31 December 2024. This intends to provide businesses with flexibility and choice on how to comply with product regulations.
- Provide that where manufacturers, or other relevant persons, have acted under EU conformity assessment procedures by 31 December 2024, that action will be treated as having been taken under the UK conformity assessment procedures until the expiry of the certificate, or until 31 December 2027, whichever is sooner. This is intended to reduce immediate costs associated with third-party retesting and recertification and make the transition to UKCA compliance easier for businesses.
- Extend existing labelling provisions for UKCA marking, importer information and responsible persons’ information until 31 December 2027. This is intended to reduce costs and burdens associated with fulfilling labelling requirements.
We strongly recommend not delaying the application for a UKCA certificate until 31 December 2024 but starting the certification process in time. This will give both parties the necessary time to complete the certification correctly. After this date, CE marking will no longer be accepted and there will be no further delay.
There are different rules for medical devices, construction products, cableways, transportable pressure equipment, unmanned aircraft systems, rail products, cosmetics and marine equipment . There are also different rules for Northern Ireland.
Marine equipment
We would like to clarify that this extension does not apply to marine equipment, and that the situation remains that from 1 January 2023 marine equipment will need to be UK approved and carry the ‘Red Ensign’ mark of conformity to go on board UK ships. The easements we announced in June continue to apply. These are;
- EU approved marine equipment that has been manufactured before 1 January 2023 can continue to be placed on board United Kingdom ships as if it was a United Kingdom approved piece of marine equipment, subject to the timeframes around placing on board outlined in MSN 1874 as amended. If such equipment is manufactured after 1 January 2023, then it must be UK approved.
- Equipment that is defined as a ‘spare’ part can continue to be placed on board a United Kingdom ship, including after 1 January 2023. A ‘spare’ is defined as ‘spares are replacements of Wheelmarked or Red Ensign marked products which ensure continued functionality (I.e., via maintenance or repair) of a wider product or system on board a United Kingdom ship.