Brexit is finally upon us, and so, the UK is no longer part of the European Union (EU). This transition signals a great deal of change for businesses in the UK. One of the most important changes to be aware of is the replacement of the compliance certification required for the majority of products put on the market in Great Britain, known as the CE mark, with the new UKCA mark.
This adjustment has significant implications for the weld industry as compliance is mandatory by law.
On this page we, at Code A Weld, offer a range of UKCA marking guidance, answering many of the questions you may have as regards UKCA marking requirements, UKCA mark guidelines, and the relevance of the CE mark going forward.
The CE mark is an administrative marking that confirms that a product has met the EU mandated environmental, health and safety standards required for distribution and trade within the EEA (European Economic Area). The CE mark can also be found on products manufactured and sold outside the EEA as a declaration of conformity with EEA standards.
Up until December 31st, 2020, any product or material intended for distribution in the UK required only a CE mark. However, as Great Britain is no longer an EU member, and therefore no longer part of the EEA, the CE mark will not be sufficient for products intended for trade in the UK.
The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessment) mark is the answer to the widely asked question, ‘what will replace CE marking?’
From January 1st, 2021, the UKCA mark will be required for any new applicable products being sold in the UK. It is specifically a declaration of conformity with UK mandated legal requirements and is entirely separate from the CE mark and any legal parameters set out by the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA).
It is also essential that all UK conformity assessments are carried out by a UK approved body. Should you require assistance with this, get in touch with us via our contact page. Code A Weld works together with customers to achieve the accreditation required to UKCA mark their steel.
In short, yes. The UK’s exit from the EU does not render the CE mark obsolete, as the certification will still be required for products being placed on the EU market.
It is also worth noting that if any existing products you may have on the market do not require immediate UKCA marking for UK trade, the CE marking will still be recognised in the UK until January 2022. However, any new products brought to the UK market after January 1st, 2021, will require the new UKCA accreditation.
The UKNI mark is the equivalent of the UKCA mark for products intended for release in Northern Ireland. All deadlines and dates related to the UKNI mark are the same.
Products areas requiring a UKCA mark or CE mark (should you wish to trade in the EEA) include, but are not limited to, the following:
UKCA mark guidelines also state that some product areas must meet additional requirements in order to gain a full declaration of conformity:
Although not directly relevant to the welding industry, it is also worth noting those products that do not require either CE marking or UKCA marking:
There are a few measures that you need to comply with as regards transitioning from CE to UKCA markings. These measures apply to the majority of the product areas listed above:
It is required that any product requiring a CE or UKCA marking has the CE or UKCA logo clearly visible on its exterior. Failing this, you may find the mark on either the item’s packaging or as part of any accompanying literature.
If a customer is unsure of a product’s conformity with UKCA or CE, then they are within their rights to request proof in the form of a certificate or declaration of conformity.
From January 1st, 2021, any applicable product (see ‘Which Products Require A CE Mark or UKCA Mark?’ for reference) will need to meet UKCA marking requirements, and therefore display the UKCA logo, if the following also applies:
You will require a UKCA mark if your product…
It is worth reiterating that the UKCA marking is only required for products brought to the market in Great Britain after January 1st, 2021. If your product was certified under the CE marking and ready for UK distribution before this official Brexit date, then UKCA marking is not necessary.
The rules around displaying the UKCA logo as conformation of compliance varies from product to product, and so it is worth researching the specifics as regards your item(s). However, these are the general rules on UKCA marking placement:
The UKCA mark dimension are not fixed. However, there are parameters you may comply with as regards scale and visibility. These simple parameters are as follows:
As stated at the outset, the change of laws and legislation because of Brexit means a lot of change. As the UK works to replace structures and measures put in place by the EU and the EEA over the coming years, the way that we certify and assess products is likely to be a working progress. This being the case, we understand that certifying your products in the correct way is likely to be confusing at times.
We are here to help. Code A Weld is here to offer everything from a little advice to working with customers to ensure their full range is fully UK market-compliant. We have a wealth of in-depth experience in the welding industry and are happy to offer as much UKCA guidance as you need to get your products to the market in Great Britain with full compliance. We also boast considerable experience in helping customers to comply with BS EN 1090-1, the EU and UK assessment pertinent to construction product regulation, a process which is also going through considerable alteration.
If you require UKCA marking assistance or have any other questions relating to product compliance, the do not hesitate to get in touch with us via our contact form at the bottom of the page.
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