UKCA Declaration of Conformity
What is the UKCA Declaration of Conformity?
The UK Declaration of Conformity is a document that must be drawn up for most products lawfully bearing a UKCA marking before they are placed on the market. It is recommended that manufacturers have their UK Declaration of Conformity and their EU Declaration of Conformity in separate documents.
When will the UKCA mark be mandatory?
The UK government announced in August 2023 that the CE mark would be recognised in the UK indefinitely for most products. Therefore, for the time being manufacturers are able to use either the CE or the UKCA mark, or both. .
What products does the UKCA mark apply to?
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toys
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pyrotechnics
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recreational craft and personal watercraft
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simple pressure vessels
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electromagnetic compatibility
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non-automatic weighing instruments
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measuring instruments
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measuring container bottles
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lifts
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equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres (UKEX)
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radio equipment
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pressure equipment
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personal protective equipment (PPE)
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gas appliances
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machinery
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equipment for use outdoors
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ecodesign
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aerosols
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low voltage electrical equipment
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The following product areas are also covered by the UKCA marking but have some special rules. They are:
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What is included in the UKCA Declaration of Conformity?
In the document the manufacturer, or the authorised representative (where allowed for in the relevant legislation), should (among other things):
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declare that the product is in conformity with the relevant regulatory requirements.
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make sure the document has the name and address of the manufacturer (or your authorised representative) together with information about the product and the conformity assessment body (where relevant).
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The information required on the UK Declaration of Conformity is largely the same as what was required on an EU Declaration of Conformity. This can vary depending on the applicable legislation but generally should include:
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The manufacturer’s name and full business address and that of your authorised representative (if applicable)
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the product’s serial number, model or type identification.
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a statement, stating you take full responsibility for the product’s compliance.
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the details of the approved body which carried out the conformity assessment procedure (if applicable).
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the relevant legislation with which the product complies.
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the name and signature of the person authorised to sign on behalf of the manufacturer or their authorised representative.
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the date the declaration was issued.
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supplementary information (if applicable).
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You also need to list:
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relevant UK legislation.
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UK designated standards.
What should be done next?
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If you are based outside the UK and you sell products to clients in the UK then you will need to identify a UK address (importer or Authorised Representative) on the product or its accompanying documentation. This is currently a requirement and should be done immediately.
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If you are relying on your client, the importer to do this then you should check with them that this is done and that they also agree to take on all of the importers obligations and are complying with the regulations. You will find more information about importers obligations on the government website: UKCA-marking-roles-and-responsibilities. Alternatively, i you do not want to rely on your importer to comply with these regulation, or prefer more flexibility to sell to other clients then you can use an authorised representative to take on these obligations. You will find more information about this on post: Reasons to work with a UK Authorised Representative
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You should begin preparing to update the markings on products that you sell to the UK to include the UKCA mark and the corresponding documentation.
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If your product requires EU Notified Body certification then you should also begin preparing to change this to a UK-CAB certification (UK-Conformity Approved Body). Your current EU Notified Body Certification will remain valid until the end of 2027.
For more information on the above, contact us using the contact information below.