Complete guide to the UKCA marking

Last Updated: January 20, 2026

The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is an essential aspect of product compliance for businesses selling goods in Great Britain. Introduced after Brexit, the UKCA marking serves as a declaration that a product meets the necessary health, safety, and environmental protection standards required in the UK. It is crucial for manufacturers, importers, and distributors to understand its requirements to ensure they are meeting all obligations. Read here what the UKCA marking is, which products require it, how to apply it, and the roles and responsibilities involved.

What is the UKCA marking?

The UKCA marking is a symbol that confirms a product meets the necessary British standards and legislation. The UKCA marking is the UK’s equivalent of the CE marking, which is used throughout the European Union. It indicates that a product conforms to UK regulations. While the UKCA marking is required for most products placed on the market in Great Britain, the CE marking is still accepted in the UK for certain product product categories (see below).

Table of contents

When do you need the UKCA marking?

The UKCA marking is required for the following categories of goods placed on the market in Great Britain:

  • Toys
  • Pyrotechnics
  • Recreational craft and personal watercraft
  • Simple pressure vessels
  • Electromagnetic compatibility
  • Non-automatic weighing instruments
  • Measuring instruments
  • Measuring container bottles
  • Low voltage electrical equipment
  • Lifts
  • Equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres (UKEX)
  • Radio equipment
  • Pressure equipment
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Gas appliances
  • Machinery
  • Equipment for use outdoors
  • Aerosol dispensers
ceukcamarkings

If you are unsure about your specific product, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can get back to you with an explanation for your specific needs!

If your product falls into one of these categories, you must ensure it meets the relevant British regulations.
The UK government has also laid legislation to continue recognition of current EU requirements (CE marking). With the goal to provide flexibility to businesses as well as clarity with the transition after Brexit, the legislation will apply indefinitely for a range of product regulations. This means businesses will have the flexibility to use either the UKCA or CE marking to sell products in Great Britain (GB).

  • Equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres Regulations 2016/1107
  • Electromagnetic compatibility Regulations 2016/1091
  • Lifts Regulations 2016/1093
  • Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016/1105
  • Electromagnetic compatibility
  • Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015/1553
  • Recreational Craft Regulations 2017/737
  • Radio Equipment Regulations 2017/1206
  • Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 2016/1092
  • Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011/1881
  • Aerosol Dispensers Regulations 2009/2824
  • Gas Appliances Regulation (EU) 2016/426
  • Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008/1597
  • Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations 2001/1701
  • Personal Protective Equipment Regulation (EU) 2016/425
  • Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016/1153
  • Non-automatic weighing instruments Regulations 2016/1152
  • Measuring Container Bottles (EEC Requirements) Regulations 1977/932
  • The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010/2617
  • The Explosives Regulations 2014/1638
  • The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012/3032 (‘The RoHS Regulations’)

Manufacturers

  • Ensure products comply with the relevant UK regulations and are safe for their intended use. Certain tasks, like overall product design and ensuring series production conformity, cannot be delegated to any representative.
  • Responsible for compiling and maintaining the technical documentation that proves conformity.
  • Affix the UKCA marking visibly and legibly to products or packaging (or both).
  • Create a Declaration of Conformity referencing UK law rather than EU directives.

Importers

  • Verify that the products meet UK standards and bear the proper marking.
  • Include your name, registered trade name or trademark, and a contact address on the product or its packaging. This information must be visible, legible, and easily accessible.
  • Store or have access to the product’s technical documentation for compliance checks by enforcement authorities.

Distributors

  • Verify that products carry the correct markings and have the required documentation before making them available on the GB market.
  • If you rebrand or modify a product significantly, you may then be considered the manufacturer and thus responsible for compliance.

Authorised representatives

A non-GB manufacturer can appoint an authorised representative (AR) to manage compliance documentation and serve as a regulatory contact. However, having an AR does not eliminate the need for an importer if the product is shipped directly into Great Britain.

A manufacturer may ask an appointed authorised representative to carry out tasks such as affixing the UKCA marking, drawing up and signing a UK Declaration of Conformity, holding the necessary technical documentation, and cooperating with market surveillance authorities. However, the AR’s responsibilities are limited: they are not accountable for the product’s overall safety or compliance.

Key requirements for using the UKCA marking

To comply with UKCA marking regulations, businesses need to ensure the following:

  • Size and proportion: The UKCA marking should be at least 5mm high and maintain the correct proportions.

  • Visibility: It must be affixed visibly, legibly, and indelibly to the product itself or, if that’s not possible, on the packaging or accompanying documentation.

  • Declaration of conformity: As with CE marking, you need to draft a Declaration of Conformity (sometimes called a UK Declaration of Conformity) detailing the standards you’ve met.

  • Accredited bodies: If your product requires third-party testing, ensure you use a UK-approved conformity assessment body rather than an EU-notified body (unless allowed under specific transitional arrangements).
ukca and ce logo example on product close-up

Ongoing responsibilities and record-keeping

After affixing the UKCA marking, your duties don’t end there. If any product modifications, regulatory changes, or updates to standards occur, you’ll need to reassess conformity. Under most regulations, it’s advisable to keep your technical documentation up to date and accessible for at least ten years after placing a product on the market. Note that certain product categories may require record-keeping for longer periods.

Step-by-step process

  • 1
    Identifying the applicable regulations: Manufacturers must first determine which UK regulations their product needs to comply with.

  • 2
    Conducting conformity assessment: This might involve self-certification or third-party assessment by a UK-approved body, depending on the type of product.

  • 3
    Creating technical documentation: This documentation must demonstrate that the product complies with the applicable standards and regulations. It should be kept on file for inspection if required by authorities.

  • 4
    Issuing a Declaration of Conformity: This declaration must state that the product meets all relevant UK regulations.

  • 5
    Affixing the UKCA mark: Finally, the UKCA mark must be applied to the product, packaging, or accompanying documentation, as per the requirements.

Conclusion

Businesses must stay informed about the requirements of UKCA marking, as failing to comply could result in products being removed from the market.
Importers, manufacturers, and distributors must understand their responsibilities, identify the regulations that apply to their products, and ensure that all necessary documentation and markings are in place. With the right knowledge and preparation, businesses can smoothly navigate the UK’s product conformity requirements and continue to trade with confidence in the UK market.

Questions? Ready to begin the process? Learn more about our comprehensive compliance support services and how we can help your products achieve compliance with ease – contact us now:

Ferry Vermeulen CO-Founder 24hour-AR

Author Ferry Vermeulen is the Co-Founder of 24hour-AR, a company dedicated to providing authorised representative services as well as CE marking services. With a background in industrial design engineering, Ferry specialises in facilitating swift compliance with EU regulations, enabling manufacturers to enter markets seamlessly.

Q&A section

Any unanswered questions? Let us know below and we will get back to you:

Leave A Comment