The UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) hosted a webinar on February 1 to elaborate on recent changes to the UK's post-Brexit approach to product marking, such as:
- The extension of indefinite CE marking recognition to 21 product regulations in total will allow manufacturers to apply the UKCA or CE marking to market their range of products in the UK market.
- If a third party assessment is required, products assessed by a UK approved body may use the UKCA marking, while products assessed by an EU notified body may use the CE marking.
- As far as Northern Ireland is concerned, CE marking is still used for self-assessed products and for products assessed by an EU notified body. In contrast, the CE + UKNI marking can be used if a mandatory third party conformity assessment is required, and the assessment is carried out by a UK notified body.
- During the webinar, DBT representatives confirmed the government's intention to introduce ad hoc legislation this spring to provide legal certainty.
- The creation of an “accelerated UKCA” procedure aimed at providing greater flexibility to comply with UKCA requirements. It is due to be introduced with the same legislation in the spring, so manufacturers will be able to use this system on a voluntary basis. Through this fast-track mechanism, manufacturers will be able to demonstrate that products comply with recognized UK or EU essential requirements and conformity assessment procedures.
- The Government also intends to legislate new measures to provide permanent flexibility in labeling.
