UKCA

The UKCA mark stands for UK Conformity Assessed and is a conformity mark used on goods placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) after Brexit. It indicates that a product meets the applicable UK regulatory requirements for health, safety, and environmental protection. The mark is issued after a conformity assessment performed by a UK-approved body or through other UK conformity assessment routes, and it is intended to provide assurance to UK authorities and buyers that the product complies with relevant UK standards.

Scope and use

UKCA applies to many of the same product categories that previously required CE marking, including consumer and industrial goods, electrical equipment, construction products, and more. Manufacturers, importers, and distributors are responsible for ensuring that the product undergoes the appropriate conformity assessment, compiles the technical documentation, prepares a UK Declaration of Conformity, and affixes the UKCA mark to the product, its packaging, or accompanying documentation where required. The UKCA mark is not a global standard; it is specific to the UK regulatory framework and differs from the CE mark used in the European Union.

Geographic scope and transitional arrangements

In Great Britain, the UKCA mark is used for market access following Brexit, with guidance and enforcement managed by UK authorities. In Northern Ireland, EU rules continue to apply for market access to the NI market, and CE marking remains the recognised route there; the use of UKCA there is subject to additional rules and, where applicable, the UKNI marking may be involved for certain conformity assessment routes conducted by UK bodies. The UK government provides guidance on when and how to apply UKCA, including responsibilities for economic operators and post-market surveillance.

Regulatory context

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and the Department for Business and Trade oversee policy, guidance, and enforcement related to UKCA. Compliance is essential to place products on the GB market and to avoid regulatory penalties or market withdrawal.