Certification Introduction

UKCA is short for UK Conformity Assessed. On February 2, 2019, the British government announced that it would adopt the UKCA logo scheme in the event of a no-deal Brexit. After March 29, trade with the UK will be conducted in accordance with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The UKCA mark is the same as the CE mark. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure that the product meets the standards stipulated by the law, and after self-declaration in accordance with the prescribed procedures, make the corresponding mark on the product.
Most products currently under the control of the CE mark must be affixed with the UKCA mark if they are to be exported to the UK market (England, Wales and Scotland) in the future. The UKCA mark does not apply to products entering Northern Ireland.

Certification Background

The UK is currently in the midst of a Brexit transition period that will run until the end of 2020. On September 1, 2020, the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy officially announced on its official website that the UKCA logo will be used from January 1, 2021.

At present, most products covered by the CE mark will also fall within the scope of use of the UKCA mark. It will also work with aerosol products.

From January 1, 2021, those products that require CE marking in the EU market will need to have the UKCA marking, manufacturer's declaration of conformity and complete conformity assessment technical documentation to enter the UK market. The requirements of the UKCA declaration of conformity DoC are also equivalent to the declaration of conformity of the EU CE mark, but the corresponding British BS standards must be used on the DoC and declared in line with UK regulations.

As a transitional period, for products with the same technical requirements and marking rules as UK and EU, CE marking will still be accepted until January 1, 2022. However, if the CE marking rules of products are changed during this period, the CE marking according to the new EU rules will not be accepted by the UK market. Therefore, it is advisable to transition to using the UKCA logo as early as possible.

Scope of application

· Toy Safety
· Leisure Boats and Personal Watercraft
· Simple Pressure Vessels
· Electromagnetic Compatibility
· Non-automatic Weighing Instruments
· Measuring Instruments
· Lifts
· Explosion Proof
· Radio Equipment
· Pressure Equipment
· Personal Protection Equipment
· Gas Appliances
· Machinery
· Outdoor Noise
· Eco-design
· Gas Sols , Low Voltage Appliances
· Hazardous Substances Restriction

Products covered by the UKCA Mark, but with some special rules:
Medical Equipment
Railway Interoperability
Construction Products
Civil Explosives

The use of UKCA mark

If a mandatory third-party conformity assessment has been carried out by an EU-recognized conformity assessment body, or if a previous certificate of conformity issued by a UK body has been moved to an EU-recognized conformity assessment body, manufacturers can still use the CE mark to sell on the UK market product. If the UK Notified Body was originally used and the conformity assessment file was not transferred to the EU Notified Body before January 1, 2021, the UKCA mark must be used immediately from January 1, 2021, and the CE mark will no longer be accepted.
Products that have been produced and put on the market before December 31, 2020 can still be sold in the UK market using the existing CE mark.
The UKCA mark will not be recognized in the EU market, and products that currently require CE marking still require CE marking for sale in the EU.
Products deemed to be within the scope of mandatory regulatory control to enter the UK market will require a UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) mark after 31 December 2020 and must contact a UK accredited third party body.
Until 1 January 2023, except for products to which special rules apply, the UKCA logo and relevant importer and manufacturer information can be marked on the product itself or on the documentation accompanying the product, while January 2023 After 1 day, it can only be marked on the product body.

UK Declaration of Conformity

The UK Declaration of Conformity is a document that must be drafted for most products legally bearing the UKCA mark.

In the document, you as the manufacturer or your authorised representative (where permitted by the relevant legislation) shall:

· A declaration that the product complies with the relevant statutory requirements applicable to the particular product

· Make sure the document contains the name and address of the manufacturer (or your authorised representative), and information about the product and conformity assessment body (if relevant)

Provide the UK Declaration of Conformity to market surveillance authorities on request.

The information required for the Declaration of Conformity will be substantially the same as that currently required for the EU Declaration of Conformity. This may vary by application regulations, but should generally include:

· Your name and full business address or the name and full business address of an authorized representative

· Serial number, model or type identification of the product

· A statement stating that you are solely responsible for the compliance of the product

· Details of the approved body performing the conformity assessment procedure (if applicable)

· Relevant regulations that the product complies with

· your name and signature

· Statement release date

· Supplementary Information (if applicable)