The UKCA mark

UKCA stands for ‘United Kingdom Conformity Assessed’ and indicates that products sold on the UK market conform to the relevant safety standards. It is the UK replacement of the European CE mark, although post Brexit the two standards are expected to slowly diverge.

For our products, the legal basis for UKCA is The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, amending the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016: Great Britain which contained the CE marking requirements from the EU Low Voltage Directive (LVD). Read our in more detail article on The CE Marking

Where is the UKCA mark required?

UKCA plugs? UKCA power cables? In our market of UK plugs and cables, UKCA applies to all electrical equipment designed for use between 50V and 1000V (‘low voltage’), and specifically includes domestic and workplace use. However, like CE, it does not apply to plugs, sockets, and adaptors, nor to fuses designed to be used inside them. UKCA does apply to connectors, although the definition of the term may be open to interpretation. It is not normally marked on mains power cable to avoid confusion with true approvals.

Requirements

The manufacturer or its authorised representative is obliged to ensure the product meets the broad safety objectives of UKCA, document the process, and raise a formal written declaration of conformity. The supporting paperwork must be kept for 10 years. The UKCA mark can then be added. The physical mark is square and has a set font.

The minimum size is 5mm x 5mm, and it must be scaled proportionately if enlarged, remaining square. It should be ‘visibly, legibly, and indelibly’ marked. The colour does not have to be solid, as long as it is still clearly visible.

The product, packaging, or accompanying documents must identify both the manufacturer and the product, using e.g. part number, batch number, logo, trademark, name, address. Instructions must be in the English language and easy to understand; this may need translating and proof-reading.

From 2024 added flexibility has been allowed, including the ability to use non-permanent stickers and digital labelling. If CE is already held, there is now a fast-track option to make the process easier.

Northern Ireland

As with most Brexit matters, the status of the UKCA in Northern Ireland is less clear, as NI has remained inside the EU single market.

Goods placed on the Northern Irish market use the CE mark and possibly an additional UKNI mark. Technically, therefore, UKCA applies to just the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales, but excluding Northern Ireland) and not the whole United Kingdom.

The UKNI or UK(NI) mark is equivalent to the CE mark, but is registered with a UK body instead of an EU one. Its design, size, font etc, is identical to the UKCA mark, but with the last two letters differing.

Currently we do not use the UKNI mark, only UKCA and CE, as together they are sufficient.

The Republic of Ireland is an EU member, so uses the CE mark; UKCA or UKNI are not accepted.

CE and UKCA in the Crown Dependencies

The UKCA mark is not required in the Isle of Man (IoM) or the Channel Islands (the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey) as they are not part of the United Kingdom. Neither are they within the EU, so the CE mark is not required either.