In keeping with SAEMA’s commitment to advancing safety through raising the standards in best practice, we keep in touch with all the latest developments – chiefly safety, worker welfare and the environment. We are pleased to share the following story from the Goods Regulation department of the UK government.
On 1 August 2023 we announced that the Department of Business and Trade intend to introduce legislation to extend recognition of the CE marking for placing a wide range of goods on the market in Great Britain.
The continued recognition of UKCA and CE for some product sectors forms part of the wider Smarter Regulation programme of regulatory reform announcements, that began in May with publication of Smarter Regulation to Grow the Economy. Smarter regulation is about improving regulation across the board ensuring it is as clear as possible and only used where necessary and proportionate.
We intend to introduce legislation to further extend recognition of the CE marking for Great Britain. This will continue to allow recognition of goods that meet EU requirements, using the EU conformity marking (including the CE marking) in England, Scotland and Wales.
This will provide flexibility for businesses to use either the CE or UKCA marking. This approach will also provide longer-term certainty for businesses and a foundation for the UK to set our product regulations in the future.
This CE recognition approach will apply to regulations that fall under the Department for Business and Trade. These are:
- toys
- pyrotechnics
- recreational craft and personal watercraft
- electromagnetic compatibility
- non-automatic weighing instruments
- measuring instruments
- measuring container bottles
- lifts
- equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres (UKEX)
- radio equipment
- pressure equipment
- simple pressure vessels
- personal protective equipment (PPE)
- gas appliances
- machinery
- equipment for use outdoors
- aerosols
- low voltage electrical equipment
There are different rules for medical devices, construction products, cableways, transportable pressure equipment, unmanned aircraft systems, rail products, marine equipment and ecodesign. The relevant departments covering these regulations have communicated or will communicate plans in due course.
The CE marking is already recognised in Northern Ireland. Businesses there will continue to enjoy unfettered access to the GB market and the EU single market. As such, the CE marking will be an acceptable method of demonstrating compliance for a wide range of goods on the UK market.
Stakeholder engagement
We are keen to hear perspectives from industry that will enable us to implement and refine policy in a way that benefits British businesses and consumers. We also continue to welcome any feedback, comments, and suggestions any challenges that businesses are facing, so we can support them best during this period.
To continue engaging closely with industry stakeholders the Department for Business and Trade are holding a series of roundtables during August. If your business or organisation have not yet registered to participate, we still have space remaining at a number of our August roundtables. Please register your interest in participating here.
- To accommodate demand, we have expanded availability in London (on 7th and 14th August) and in Manchester (on 22nd August).
- We recognise that not all stakeholders may be able to participate on these dates or at these locations and we are looking to arrange further opportunities for industry input.
- We will also be arranging a dedicated event for the conformity assessment sector, and will share details in the coming weeks.
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