- New legislation to introduce digital labeling for British businesses to reduce bureaucracy and save millions in unnecessary regulatory costs.
- CE marking recognition continued for products such as toys and machinery, easing burdens for businesses
- Digital labeling reforms are made possible by Brexit and ensure UK regulatory requirements are fit for the modern world.
Businesses will benefit from reduced costs and burdens as import labels are digitized for the first time.
Digital labeling will allow companies to post important regulatory or manufacturing information online instead of having to physically print it on their products, saving time and money that can be used to expand and grow their business.
This measure has been made possible by the exit from the EU and provides greater flexibility than EU regulatory requirements, while better reflecting the modern, digital world of international business and trade.
This follows consultation on the Product Safety Review and extensive industry engagement โ โโlooking at ways to reduce costs whilst benefiting consumers and ensuring our regulatory system is agile and a step towards digital labeling has been something the industry has constantly asked for.
Business and Trade Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:
โI know firsthand the difficulties businesses face with regulations and bureaucracy, and what we are announcing today will not only ease the burdens and costs on businesses, but will also allow them to dedicate their time to growing their businesses and creating jobs.
โWe have worked closely with multiple sectors to create policies that work for them and this is another step in the right direction to support British businesses.โ
The CE or UKCA mark is used on products to demonstrate that the manufacturer complies with legal requirements. Last summer, DBT announced the intention to indefinitely recognize current EU requirements, including CE marking, for the 18 product regulations under the department's mandate.
Following industry feedback, we are introducing legislation to continue CE marking recognition indefinitely for a number of additional regulations that will benefit products such as vacuum cleaners and televisions. The full list of covered regulations is below. The UK Government is taking a tailored approach to product regulation to ensure the interests of businesses, consumers and the UK economy are taken into account.
This forms part of a wider range of measures as part of our smarter regulation programme, ensuring our laws and regulatory regime are better suited to the interests of businesses, consumers and the UK economy.
This announcement does not apply to regulations for medical devices, construction products, marine equipment, railway products, cable cars, transportable pressure equipment and unmanned aircraft systems, led by relevant government departments.
The open-ended recognition of current EU requirements, including CE marking, for these 21 regulations means that businesses have the flexibility to use UKCA or CE marking (or reverse epsilon marking where applicable) to sell products in Great Britain.
Mike Hawes, CEO of SMMT:
โRecognizing CE marking indefinitely is very welcome and a common sense decision that will benefit the motorist and the competitiveness of the UK car industry. It means thousands of aftermarket and supply chain businesses can continue to source vital automotive parts without unnecessary additional costs or complexity, keeping costs low for consumers and ensuring vehicles are manufactured and maintained to the highest possible standards. โ.
A GAMBICA spokesperson said:
โUK suppliers of instrumentation, control, automation and laboratory equipment, within GAMBICA members, appreciate the government's commitment and practical measures to facilitate the movement of goods across the UK border to ensure the long-term supply of critical components of a complex global supply. chain."
Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK, Stephen Phipson, said:
โThe addition of three further regulated sectors that will benefit from indefinite recognition of current EU requirements, including the use of CE marking, is a welcome move that will be greatly appreciated and supported by manufacturers developing and selling products in these areas.
โThe further introduction of a 'fast track' process for products that are covered by multiple regulations, new permanent arrangements for labeling flexibility and an option for digital labelling, will work together to help safeguard manufacturers' competitiveness and help to the United Kingdom as a country. destination for investment. Make UK has called for the indefinite extension of CE mark recognition for all products manufactured in the UK to be a permanent change, and this should cover all sectors of goods and products produced through a manufacturing process.โ
TechUK director of markets Matthew Evans said:
โWe strongly support the governmentโs decision to allow voluntary use of e-labelling, in line with our key recommendations during the review of the UK product compliance framework. This represents a modern and progressive approach by DBT and will undoubtedly reduce compliance costs, encourage innovation and reduce environmental impact. โIt will also align the UK with important trading partners such as the United States, China, Japan and South Korea, improving our trading relationships.โ
A new 'Fast-Track UKCA' process will also be introduced, allowing manufacturers to use the UKCA mark to demonstrate compliance with the UKCA or EU-recognized compliance processes. Where products are covered by multiple regulations, a combination of both UKCA and EC conformity assessment procedures can be used.
This is designed to provide long-term certainty and flexibility for businesses should the UK require the UKCA for certain regulations in the future.
Notes to editors:
Regulations within the scope of this announcement.
The Department of Business and Trade (DBT) regulations within the scope of this announcement are:
ยท Equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres Regulation 2016/1107
ยท Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulation 2016/1091
ยท Elevator Regulations 2016/1093
ยท Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulation 2016/1101
ยท Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulation 2016/1105
ยท Regulation of Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) 2015/1553
ยท Recreational Vessel Regulations 2017/737
ยท Radioelectric Equipment Regulation 2017/1206
ยท Regulation (Safety) for simple pressure vessels 2016/1092
ยท Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011/1881
ยท Aerosol Dispensers Regulation 2009/ 2824
ยท Gas appliances (EU Regulation) 2016/426
ยท Machinery Supply Regulations (Safety) 2008/1597
ยท Noise Emission into the Environment by Equipment for Outdoor Use Regulation 2001/1701
ยท Personal Protective Equipment (EU Regulation) 2016/425
ยท Measurement Instruments Regulation 2016/1153
ยท Regulation of non-automatic weighing instruments 2016/1152
ยท Bottle Measuring Containers (EEC Requirements) Regulations 1977
For the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA):
ยท Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 ('RoHS Regulations')
For the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ):
ยท Ecodesign for Energy Related Products Regulations 2010
For the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) [The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)]:
ยท The Explosives Regulations 2014
Regulations outside the scope of this announcement:
The UK Government is taking a tailored approach to product regulation to ensure the interests of businesses, consumers and the UK economy are taken into account. There are certain sectors that require a tailored approach to conformity assessment and therefore the extension of CE marking recognition for products under the following regulations is not included in this legislation. This includes:
For the Department of Levelling, Housing and Communities (DLUHC):
ยท Construction Products Regulation 2013
For the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) [- Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)]
ยท Medical Devices Regulations 2002
For the Department of Transport (DFT)
ยท Railways (Interoperability) Rules, 2011
ยท Merchant Navy (Marine Equipment Regulations) 2016
ยท The Cable Car Facilities Regulations 2018 (SI 2018/816) and the Cable Car Facilities (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/1347).
ยท Transport of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009
ยท Regulation 2019/945 on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
