Most manufactured goods will need to use the UKCA marking when they are placed on the market in Great Britain on or after 1 January 2023 and there are specific changes for Northern Ireland.
In Northern Ireland, EU conformity markings continue to be used to show that goods meet EU rules. For most manufactured goods, this is the CE marking, but there are some other markings for specific products (such as the wheel marking or Pi mark). When using a UK body to carry out mandatory third-party conformity assessment, then you also need to apply a UKNI marking (sometimes referred to as the UK(NI) mark or the UK(NI) indication).
What is the UKCA marking?
The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is the new UK product marking covering most goods currently subject to the EU’s CE marking. Most manufactured goods will need to use the UKCA marking when placed on the market in Great Britain on or after 1 January 2023.
You can place the UKCA and CE marking on the same product if it is destined for both markets so long as the product meets the relevant regulatory requirements for both markets.
Businesses involved in the manufacture, importing and distributing of these goods should take action now to ensure they are compliant with any new rules by the 1 January 2023.
Rules for Northern Ireland (CE or CE+UKNI marking)
There are different rules for placing goods on the market in Northern Ireland which are detailed in the links and webinars below. The UKCA marking cannot be used to place goods on the market in NI.
In Northern Ireland, EU conformity markings continue to be used to show that goods meet EU rules. For most manufactured goods, this is the CE marking, but there are some other markings for specific products (such as the wheel marking or Pi mark). If you are using a UK body to carry out mandatory third-party conformity assessment, then you also need to apply a UKNI marking (sometimes referred to as the UK(NI) mark or the UK(NI) indication).
There are special provisions in place to ensure Northern Irish businesses continue to have unfettered access when placing goods from Northern Ireland on the market in Great Britain.
There is a free public webinar on placing goods on the market in Northern Ireland on the 27 January and 24 February 2022 run by the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Webinar programme on the New UK Regulatory Regime: open for registration
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is running a series of Webinars on the new UK regulatory regime for goods for businesses.
Further guidance is available for businesses
- Guidance on using the UKCA marking
- Guidance on using the UKNI marking
- Guidance on placing goods on the market in Great Britain
- Guidance on placing goods on the market in Northern Ireland
- A-Z of industry guidance to understand requirements for product types.