On August 1st 2023, the industry was surprised with an anouncement from the United Kingdom once again. According to it, the UK government intends to accept CE marking indefinitely.
“By extending CE-marking use across the UK, firms can focus their time and money on creating jobs and growing the economy”, Business Secretary Kevin Hollinrake told the Guardian newspaper.
Actually, with effect from January 1st 2025, UKCA labeling (stands for: UK Conformity Assessed) was to become mandatory for products to be placed on the market in the United Kingdom as the only conformity marking. Now there has been this about-face and CE marking is to continue to be accepted.
The UKCA mark is still valid and can continue to be affixed to products, but this indefinite extension makes its use an optional addition that brings no particular benefits. Compliance with – and affixing of – the CE mark alone allows goods to be sold in the UK beyond 2024 in the same way as in the EU. However, this does not change the fact that there must be a UK-based contact for market surveillance authorities (either the manufacturer or its authorized representative, or the importer).
It should be noted that this indefinite extension currently applies only to the eighteen regulations administered by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) (see link below). Noticeably missing from the listing is "Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS)". This would consequently mean that for electronic and electrical products the UKCA labeling would be required by RoHS as of 01.01.2025 after all – if it should not be a mistake.
It is expected (given the changes resulting from previous simplifications) that it may be applied to other regulations in the coming months. However, this announcement has yet to be put on a legal footing.
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