The information on this page was current at the time it was published. Regulations, trends, statistics, and other information are constantly changing. While we strive to update our Knowledge Base, we strongly suggest you use these pages as a general guide and be sure to verify any regulations, statistics, guidelines, or other information that are important to your efforts.

Brexit Update:
Since the UK officially left the European Union on January 31, 2020, the relationship between the two has evolved and continues to be shaped by the ongoing implementation of the withdrawal agreement.

Key Dates:

• January 31, 2020: UK officially left the EU and entered a transition period that ended on December 31, 2020.

• December 31, 2020: The transition period ended, and the UK fully exited the EU single market and customs union.

• January 1, 2021: The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into effect, outlining the post-Brexit relationship between the two entities.

• 2023/2024 Current: The UK and EU are still navigating the ongoing implementation and potential revisions of their post-Brexit relationship.

It's crucial for businesses operating in either the UK or the EU to stay informed about the latest developments and adjust their operations accordingly.

CE Marking - Licensing In The UK

CE marking remains crucial for placing your product within the UK and the EU. However, the UK's exit from the EU has introduced adjustments to the process.Determining if your product requires CE marking can depend on various factors, including its type, intended use, and potential risks.The UK government website offers a helpful interactive tool to guide you through the process.While CE marking currently remains accepted in Great Britain, the UK has intriduced the UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) marking to replace the CE marking in the UK.

The UK government intends to introduce legislation to extend recognition of goods that meet EU requirements including the CE marking, indefinitely, beyond 31 December 2024 for many products. This will mean that certain goods that meet EU requirements can be placed on the GB market. These updates apply to the 18 regulations that fall under the UK's Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

These are:

• toys

• pyrotechnics

• recreational craft and personal watercraft

• simple pressure vessels

• electromagnetic compatibility

• non-automatic weighing instruments

• measuring instruments

• measuring container bottles

• lifts

• equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres (UKEX)

• radio equipment

• pressure equipment

• personal protective equipment (PPE)

• gas appliances

• machinery

• equipment for use outdoors

• aerosol dispensers

• low voltage electrical equipment

Governing bodies and regulations

While the UK was previously part of the EU, it departed in 2020, impacting some import regulations.. The UK remains a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).The rules governing customs procedures applying to the importing of goods to the United Kingdom from places outside the UK and EU can be found in the following regulations (or amended regulations), as listed on the UK government Trade Tariff guidance site:

• UCC Council Regulation (EU) No. 952/2013 (Articles 12 to 14)

• Commission Regulations 2015/2446 and 2015/2447

• Statutory Instrument 1991

• No. 2724 (The Customs Controls on Importation of Goods Regulations 1991) as amended by Statutory Instrument 1992

• No. 3095 (The Customs and Excise (Single Market etc) Regulations 1992) prescribe forms, procedures and the penalties for breaches of the rules

Further information can be found about Imports and exports general enquiries  and  HM Revenue and Customs services: services and information on the UK government's website.
 

What is CE marking? 

CE stands for Conformité Européenne (European Conformity) and according to Wikipedia and the EU, CE marking is a physical goods manufacturer’s declaration that a product meets the requirements of the applicable European Commission (EC) directives. Basically, CE marking allows goods to move within the European market. CE marking shows that manufacturers have confirmed that their products meet EU safety, health and/or environment requirements, that they have complied with EU legislation and that their product is able to freely trade within the single market.

By placing CE marking on a product, a manufacturer is declaring their products conform to the legal requirements required for CE marking.
CE marking is required on many products traded within the single market for the EEA. If you are interested in engaging in trade within the EEA, you will need to conform to this regulation if your product requires it.

Products that need CE marking

The CE marking is required for many products. It shows that the manufacturer has checked that these products meet EU safety, health or environmental requirements . It is an indicator of a product’s compliance with EU legislation and allows the free movement of products within the European market. CE marking applies to products, ranging from electrical equipment to toys and from civil explosives to medical devices. We  recommend visiting the  CE marking Guidance  and Placing manufactured products on the market in Great Britain Guidance to learn more about rules apply to your business and products.

What is the UKCA?

The UKCA marking is the new conformity marking for products placed on the market in England, Scotland, and Wales. It became operational in January 2021, replacing the CE marking for most products. UKCA marking applies to most products where CE marking can be used. It replaces the EU harmonised standards and following designated standards, there is a statutory ‘presumption of conformity’ that the product meets the essential requirements that apply to that product covered by the standard.
 

UKCA marking can be used to supply products to Great Britain in the following areas:

• toys

• pyrotechnics

• recreational craft and personal watercraft

• simple pressure vessels

• electromagnetic compatibility

• non-automatic weighing instruments

• measuring instruments

• measuring container bottles

• lifts

• equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres (UKEX)

• radio equipment

• pressure equipment

• personal protective equipment (PPE)

• gas appliances

• machinery

• equipment for use outdoors

• aerosol dispensers

• low voltage electrical equipment

There are more specific rules for:

• medical devices

• rail products

• construction products

• civil explosives

• marine equipment

• cableways

• ecodesign

• transportable pressure equipment

• hazardous substances (RoHS).

For many companies with products that are not a safety risk, that are able to provide good technical documentation, and are compliant with the appropriate UK directives, CE marking can be implemented quickly and cost effectively, often without requiring assistance from notified bodies or experienced agents. For companies that require and/or desire assistance, there are vetted agents within the Globig Marketplace in the CE marking, and labeling sections and on the Government Placing manufactured products on the market in Great Britain site that can assist you with this process.

CE Marking

CE marking Guidance

HM Revenue and Customs services: services and information 

Using the UKCA marking Guidance