This news follows the announcement in December 2020 that because of Brexit, goods being placed on the market in Great Britain would require a UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark from January 1, 2021. This includes most goods requiring CE marking, which could continue to be used during a transition period ending on January 1, 2022.
On August 24, 2021, the UK Government announced that “to allow businesses time to adjust, CE marked goods in scope of this guidance that meet EU requirements (where these match UK requirements) can continue to be placed on the GB market until January 1, 2023, where EU and UK requirements remain the same. This includes goods which have been assessed by an EU recognized notified body.”
According to testing, inspection, verification, and certification company SGS, stakeholders should be aware that the CE Mark will only continue to be accepted, until December 31, 2022, if the rules it is based upon have not diverged from GB rules.
UKCA marking is only required before January 1, 2023, if the following criteria apply:
- Product is for a GB market;
- Product is covered by legislation that requires UKCA marking;
- Product requires mandatory third-party conformity assessment;
- Conformity assessment has been conducted by a UK conformity assessment body.
This does not apply to existing stock. Goods fully manufactured, CE marked and ready to be placed onto the market before January 1, 2021, can still be sold in GB with a CE mark. They must be placed onto the market before December 31, 2022.