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 Aerosol Dispensers Regulations 2009/2824 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.

The Cableway Installations Regulations 2018 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.

Construction Products Regulations 2011 as amended by the Construction Products (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and the Construction Products (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (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.

Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 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.

Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016/1101 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.

Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016/1091 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.

Equipment for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2016/1107 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.

Explosives Regulations 2014 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 “UK fertiliser” regime)).

Fertilisers legislation is owned by Defra. More fertilisers guidance is 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.

Gas Appliances (EU Regulation) 2016/426 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.

Lifts Regulations 2016/1093 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.

Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008/1597 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.

Measuring Container Bottles (European Economic Community (EEC) Requirements) Regulations 1977 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.

Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016/1153 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.

Medical Devices Regulations 2002 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 ‘Wheelmark’ for marine equipment and the UK uses ‘Red Ensign’ (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 ‘last placing on board date’

New marine equipment for UK vessels must be RE marked.

Merchant Shipping (Marine equipment) Regulations 2016 (as amended) 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.

Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations 2001/1701 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.

Non-automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016/1152 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.

Personal Protective Equipment (EU Regulation) 2016/425 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.

Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016/1105 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.

Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015/1553 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.

Radio Equipment Regulations 2017/1206 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 ‘UK specific case’ for an interoperability constituent, further assessment may be needed against the additional requirements.

The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 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.

Recreational Craft Regulations 2017/737 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.

Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 (‘The RoHS Regulations’) 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.

Simple Pressure Vessels (Safety) Regulations 2016/1092 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.

Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011/1881 is the relevant current legislation for this product sector, which is owned by DBT.

Transportable pressure equipment

The UK ‘Rho’ 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 with RID/ADR 
• conformity marked 

Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (as amended), (CDG 2009) 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 unmanned aircraft systems guidance is available.