With the United Kingdom becoming independent from the European Union, new regulations have been implemented to replace former European ones. One of these regulations is the CE markings which have been replaced with the United Kingdom Conformity Assessed mark (UKCA).
An application must first be completed for the UKCA marking to be approved and allowed onto your organziations products. Within this, a declaration of conformity must be completed, separate from its European counterpart.
This article aims to explain the UKCA marking and help clarify the UKCA declaration of conformity.
What is the UKCA Mark?
The UK conformity assessed (UKCA) marking is an image that is printed on all products (known as new approach goods) within all territories of the United Kingdom (apart from Northern Ireland. This marking is a requirement for all products brought into the country as it is a benchmark of quality that is mandatory for the country.
When using the UKCA marking for products, it is essential to understand that:
- UKCA markings must be placed on the product by the manufacturer or an authorized representative
- Placing the UKCA marking makes you responsible for the product’s conformity with the requirements of the relevant legislation.
- Only use UKCA marking to show conformity with relevant UK legislation
UKCA markings must also be carried out by registered third-party quality assurance organizations like HQTS to adhere to the regulations.
When did UKCA Mark become mandatory?
The UKCA marking came into effect for all goods entering the United Kingdom from January 1st 2021. However, to allow businesses time to adjust their supply chain practices, the use of the CE marking is still permitted until January 1st 2023
What is the UK Declaration of Conformity?
The UK declaration of conformity is a legal document that must be completed by all Manufacturers (or agents acting on their behalf) with products legally showing the UKCA marking on their products.
The document’s goal is to:
- Declare that the product conforms with the statutory requirements applicable to the specific product which is being imported.
- Ensures the document has the name and address of the manufacturer (or your authorised representative) and information about the product and the conformity assessment body.
This document must also be readily available to the UK market surveillance authorities on request if they feel the need to conduct an investigation.
The information which is required in this document is much the same as the previous CE document and includes:
- The name and business address of your organization or your authorised representative.
- The serial number, model and type identification of the products.
- A signed statement which confirms your full responsibility for the compliance of the products.
- The details of the third-party approved body that carried out the testing and conformity assessment procedure.
- Any relevant legislation which aligns with the product type in question.
- The date on which the declaration was issued
- Name and signature.
As a best practice, ensuring copies of technical drawings are secured for a grace period of 10 years allows food safety in case of inspection by legal bodies.
What are the differences with the CE Declaration of Conformity?
The UKCA and CE marking are very much alike. This includes technical requirements and a declaration of conformity. However, there are very slight differences, for example:
- For the UKCA marking, it is only required that a declaration must be made in regards to conformity to any relevant statutory requirements. However, within the CE marking, you must state that the product conforms with the specific directive 2011/65/EU of the European parliament and the council of June 8th 2011, on the restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (ROHS).
Apart from this specific wording within the signed declaration of conformity, the UKCA and CE declaration of conformity is essentially the same.
UKCA Declaration of Conformity word sample
To better understand what a UKCA Declaration of conformity looks like, click here to view the Authorised Rep Compliance’s (ARC) example document, which can be used as a template for your organization.
About HQTS
HQTS has over 25 years of experience in industry-leading quality control for various industries, including Product testing. We provide rigorous testing and ensure organizations run safely and efficiently and are up-to-date with the latest regulations. To learn more about this, contact us today.
