UKCA marking deadline pushed back two years
15 November 2022
The UK government announced on November 14 that businesses will be given an additional two years to apply new product safety marking. While business can already use the UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) marking for their products, the government has said it will continue to recognise the CE marking until 31 December 2024.
The deadline for businesses to use the UKCA marking has been delayed several times, the latest of which had been set for the end of this year. However, the UK government has said the difficult economic conditions created by post-pandemic shifts in demand and supply, alongside Putin’s war in Ukraine and the associated high energy prices, means it does not want to burden business with the requirement to meet the 31 December 2022 deadline.
The government said the deadline extension to 31 December 2024 would allow businesses to be flexible when choosing which marking to apply.
Business Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The government is determined to remove barriers to businesses so they can get on with their top priorities, like providing quality customer service, enabling growth and supporting their staff.
“This move will give businesses the breathing space and flexibility they need at this crucial time and ensure that our future system for product safety marking is fit for purpose, providing the highest standard for consumers without harming businesses.”
The government also said that to support manufacturers, it was also reviewing the wider product safety framework, ensuring it minimises the burdens on business while keeping the system up to date with new innovative methods such as e-labelling. As part of this, the government said it would make it easier than ever for businesses to apply product markings.
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