The Government has announced plans to introduce measures to further support businesses transitioning to UKCA marking.

BEIS (the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) reports that they are aware that businesses face challenges in adapting to the new UK goods regulatory regime, stating: “(We) want to be pragmatic and support businesses.

“We are therefore introducing further measures to support businesses as they adapt to the UKCA regime:

• We will reduce re-testing costs for UKCA certification, by allowing conformity assessment activities for CE marking completed by the 31 December 2022 to be used by manufacturers as the basis for applying a UKCA marking. This will reduce the immediate costs faced by manufacturers and will be valid until the expiry of their certificate or for 5 years (31 December 2027), whichever is sooner. This will reduce duplication and costs for businesses and by extension, consumers. 

• We will make clear there is no need to re-test existing imported stock, as these products will be considered already placed on the market In Great Britain (GB). This will prevent the costly, and unnecessary re-labelling of existing stock for businesses. 
• We will make clear that spare parts that repair, replace or maintain goods already on the GB market can meet the same requirements that were in place at the time the original product or system was placed on the GB market. This will allow products and goods requiring spare parts to continue to be maintained. 
• We will continue to allow businesses to affix the UKCA marking, and to include importer information for products from EEA countries (and in some cases Switzerland), on an accompanying document or label until 31 December 2025. This will allow business to adjust their product design to accommodate marking changes at a convenient and cost-effective time.

The changes apply to items including electrical and electronics, gas appliances, machinery, outdoor equipment, pressure equipment and recreational craft.

These changes do not apply to items including construction products, transportable pressure equipment, cableways, and marine equipment. Departments responsible for these sectors are making sector specific arrangements.

“We are fully committed to supporting industry transition to the UKCA regime, and these measures have been designed to reduce compliance burdens and prevent costs that could be passed on to consumers. We will continue to actively engage with businesses and conformity assessment bodies to provide information on these measures and answer any questions to ensure businesses are ready to start using UKCA marking before 31 December 2022. We have published guidance and will shortly bring forward legislation where required to enable these changes”.

BEIS will be hosting a webinar specifically for businesses regarding these measures on Wednesday 29 June 2022.  There will betwo sessions on the day: 11.00 am (register here) and 3.00pm (register here)”.