Key points
With just under six months to go until the United Kingdom Conformity Assessed (UKCA) certification fully replaces CE for products sold into the UK, manufacturers need to make sure they meet the new requirements. NMi, the international measurement technology institute, provides insight and assistance on CE to UKCA Certificate Conversion to manufacturers seeking new or continued access to the UK market.
Since Brexit, many European businesses selling products into Great Britain face uncertainty as they negotiate new UK standards requirements.
In January 2021, the European CE mark was officially replaced with UKCA. From 1 January 2022, any company selling products into the UK will need to adopt the new changes to retain access to the British market. With this deadline now less than six months away, the advice to manufacturers is to act now to meet the new requirements.
NMi is a leading specialist in legal metrology testing, inspection and certification of measuring technology and delivers UKCA services for European equipment manufacturers in the UK. With many years of experience in providing metrological tests, they can help businesses comply, cut through the red tape, and continue to trade with the UK.
NMi took a strategic decision to commit to the UK market post-Brexit. To support customers wishing to trade in the UK, it opened a local UK office and joined several UK trade associations to better align with localised needs and UKCA requirements. NMi also modified technical and quality management systems to accommodate the new UK requirements and provide clarity in the process to customers affected by the new rules.
What do I need to do to comply?
To obtain the new UKCA mark, all products must now meet British safety, technical and performance standards. Just like the existing EU CE mark, this guarantees products meet safety, health, technical and environmental requirements. The new markings apply to a wide range of products, from supermarket scales to car brakes and industrial pressure valves.
The legislation must be met by manufacturers selling products in the UK that previously required the CE mark. For those selling into Northern Ireland, both the CE and/or a new UKNI marking can be used. UKCA markings are not permitted for products placed on the Northern Irish market.
How can I achieve a seamless transition?
The scope and type of CE and UKCA assessment is wide and dependent on product and regulatory requirements. To comply with the new product markings, manufacturers who previously sold CE marked products must now comply with the British requirements.
Some products covered under UKCA marking, as well as measuring instruments, include toys, simple pressure vessels, electromagnetic compatibility, and gas appliances. There are separate guidelines for medical equipment, railway interoperability, construction products and explosives for civil use. These products require a third-party conformity assessment carried out by a recognised inspection body.
Work with a UK approved body
Although the same standards will apply for the initial period, UKCA certifications manufacturers will need to rely on a UKCA-approved body, established in Great Britain and appointed by the UK government of which NMi currently awaits approval. To date, there have not been any material changes on required safety, technical and compliance standards. However, this may change in the future.
When a product is certified, the inspection data is stored in a file. These files are kept for 10 years, and regulators can check the product’s compliance at any point if needed.
Do I still need to meet CE Standards?
An important point to consider is the fact that the UKCA mark will not be recognised in the EU. From January 1, 2022, the CE marking will also not be recognised in the UK for new products. However, products currently requiring CE marking for sale in the EU will continue to require CE marking. Some assessment bodies, however, may be able to grant both EU and UKCA certifications, if like NMi, they are a formal presence in both Europe and the UK.
For other products, regulatory requirements are less reliant on third-party conformity assessment and covered in manufacturer Declarations of Conformity (DoC). Here, compliance with mandatory technical requirements is demonstrated within technical documentation that accompanies the DoC. This will contain information such as a brief description of the product, testing outputs and evidence of design performance.
If a company requires a mandatory third-party conformity assessment for CE marked goods, it will have to do the same for UKCA-marked goods. These assessments must be carried out by an UKAS accredited UKCA approved body, and the procedure is the same as for the CE marking. If self-declaration of conformity was allowed for the CE marking, this also applies to the UKCA marking.
To fully understand the new UKCA marking, manufacturers will need to work with specialists like NMi, to start from a position of knowledge and clarity, rather than being baffled by bureaucracy.
