Product regulations and current approaches to product marking for the GB market
Published 3 February 2025
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
At-a-glance: current approaches to product marking
Product type | Marking required to place product on GB market | Department owning legislation |
---|---|---|
Aerosol dispensers | UKCA or reversed epsilon | DBT |
Batteries | None in GB, CE in NI | Defra |
Cableway installations | UKCA or CE | DfT |
Construction products | UKCA or CE | MHCLG |
Ecodesign for energy-related products | UKCA or CE | DESNZ |
Electrical equipment | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Electromagnetic compatibility | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Explosives | UKCA or CE | HSE |
Fertilisers | None in GB | Defra |
Gas appliances | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Lifts | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Machinery | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Measuring container bottles | UKCA or reversed epsilon | DBT |
Measuring instruments | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Medical devices | UKCA or CE | MHRA |
Merchant shipping (marine equipment) | Red ensign (RE) | DfT |
Noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Non-automatic weighing instruments | UKCA or CE | DBT |
PPE (personal protective equipment) | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Pressure equipment | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Pyrotechnics | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Radio equipment | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Railways | No marking for interoperability constituents. Placing on the market based on a UK or EU declaration of conformity. | DfT |
Recreational craft | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment | UKCA or CE | Defra |
Simple pressure vessels | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Toys | UKCA or CE | DBT |
Transportable pressure equipment | Rho | DfT |
Unmanned aircraft systems | None in GB | DfT |
Aerosol dispensers
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the reversed epsilon marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use the UKCA or reversed epsilon marking.
The is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Batteries
Conformity assessment is not a requirement for batteries in Great Britain (GB), only in Northern Ireland (NI) where EU Regulation 2023/1542 applies directly. The EU have introduced CE marking requirements for batteries regulation, the UK is considering its approach.
Batteries legislation is owned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). More batteries guidance is available.
Cableway installations
The 2019 Regulations provide for continuing recognition of EU harmonised standards. The Regulations allow for the continued use of CE marking for components and systems for cableways to be placed on the GB market.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by the Department for Transport (DfT).
Construction products
CE marking will continue to be recognised beyond June 2025 alongside proposals for system wide reform.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local 바카라 사이트 (MHCLG).
Ecodesign for energy-related products
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Provided the product complies with GB ecodesign requirements, businesses have the flexibility to choose to use the UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
Electrical equipment
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Electromagnetic compatibility
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Explosives
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Fertilisers
There are 2 routes to the legal marketing and sale of fertilisers in GB. Fertilisers may be marketed under domestic regulations (The Fertilisers Regulations 1991 or assimilated Regulation (EC) No. 2003/2003 (the 바카라 사이트UK fertiliser바카라 사이트 regime)).
Fertilisers legislation is owned by Defra. More fertilisers guidance바카라 사이트is available.
Gas appliances
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Lifts
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Machinery
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Measuring container bottles
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the reversed epsilon marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or reversed epsilon marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Measuring instruments
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Medical devices
Manufacturers can access the GB market through UKCA certification, or through the recognition of CE certification in GB until July 2028 or 2030, depending on the EU legislation complied with.
The UK government and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are currently pursuing proposals for system-wide reform of devices regulation under UKCA. In the meantime, the current Medical Devices Regulations 2002 continue to apply.
There are different arrangements for the regulation of devices in Northern Ireland.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Merchant shipping (marine equipment)
The EU use the 바카라 사이트Wheelmark바카라 사이트 for marine equipment and the UK uses 바카라 사이트Red Ensign바카라 사이트 (RE) marking.
Since 1 January 2023, UK vessels may no longer use marine equipment with the Wheelmark unless the products were both:
- manufactured before 31 December 2022
- installed on board prior to the 바카라 사이트last placing on board date바카라 사이트
New marine equipment for UK vessels must be RE marked.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by the Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Non-automatic weighing instruments
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
PPE (personal protective equipment)
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Pressure equipment
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Pyrotechnics
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Radio equipment
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Railways
Rail interoperability constituents with an EC Declaration of Conformity to EU Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs) can continue to be placed on the GB market without further assessment where requirements in the EU TSI and GB National Technical Specification Notice (NTSN) requirements are equivalent. Where an NTSN specifies a 바카라 사이트UK specific case바카라 사이트 for an interoperability constituent, further assessment may be needed against the additional requirements.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by the Department for Transport (DfT).
Recreational craft
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by Defra.
Simple pressure vessels
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Toys
Legislation came into force on 1 October 2024 to continue recognition of the CE marking. Businesses have the flexibility to choose to use UKCA or CE marking.
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.
Transportable pressure equipment
ճ바카라 사이트UK바카라 사이트바카라 사이트Rho바카라 사이트 marking is used on transportable pressure equipment (TPE) in GB.
It is a legal requirement that transportable pressure equipment being placed on the GB market is:
- conformity assessed in accordance with바카라 사이트RID/ADR
- conformity marked
is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DfT.
Unmanned aircraft systems
Currently there is no requirement to conformity assess unmanned aircraft systems. From 1 January 2026, the UK plans to introduce a UKCA marking for unmanned aircraft systems class marking.
Unmanned aircraft systems legislation is owned by DfT. More is available.