The UK Government has announced a two-year delay to the introduction of mandatory UKCA marking.  This is a welcome development for businesses placing products on the GB market or putting products into service in GB.

The transition period for the post-Brexit move from CE to UKCA product safety marking had been expected to end on 31 December 2022.  In light of the significant challenges this posed to businesses and their supply chains, BEIS have announced businesses will have extra time to adjust to the new requirements. Draft legislation (The Product Safety and Metrology (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2022) was laid before Parliament on 14 November 2022 and is expected to come into force by the end of the year.

The main change that will be brought in by the Regulations is a two-year extension to the period during which the CE mark can continue to be used for products placed on the GB market or put into service in GB (until 31 December 2024).  Further transitional support includes the ability, for a period, for UKCA marking to be added to products using a label or on accompanying documentation and for conformity assessment activities undertaken by EU conformity assessment bodies before 31 December 2024 to continue to be used as a basis for UKCA marking.

These measures are intended to cut the costs and disruptions faced by businesses in their efforts to comply with the original deadline of 31 December 2022.

As the announcement comes from BEIS, it applies only to the UKCA regimes within BEIS’ remit. This does not include the regimes for medical devices, construction products, cableways, transportable pressure equipment, unmanned aircraft systems, rail products, and marine equipment.  Similar announcements may be coming shortly from the relevant Government departments for those regimes – watch this space.

If you would like support with navigating the implications of these changes for your business, please get in touch with Michael Barlow or Sarah Sackville Hamilton.