What is UKCA?
The UK Conformity Assessment UKCA marking is the new UK product marking used for goods placed on Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland). At the same time, Northern Ireland remains within the single market. It covers most goods that previously required the CE marking, known as ‘new approach’ goods. Moreover, it applies to sprays.
The UKCA marking came into force on January 1st, 2021, for products requiring conformity assessment by a UK Notified Body. In most cases, including self-certifying products, the CE marking is allowed until January 1st, 2023, except for medical equipment, which will use the CE marking until June 30th of the same year. Self-certifying products with CE marking will keep being self-certifying with the UKCA marking.
Products in stock can be sold in GB with the CE marking if they are ready to enter the market before entering into force of the UKCA marking. In these cases, the product may be sold in the UK with a CE marking even if it is governed by a certificate of conformity issued by a UK body, with a deadline of December 31st, 2022.
Certain goods from the UK to be brought into the European Union market will need to have the CE marking to be sold. If they require the services of a Notified Body for third-party conformity assessment, and if a UK Notified Body has performed this service, their CE marking will no longer be valid.
The UKNI marking is the new conformity marking for products placed on the market in Northern Ireland that has undergone conformity assessment by a UK-based body. The CE marking must always accompany this marking.
Aviation materials and drone certification
In the UK, there are several specifications developed about the UKCA marking and the certification that are unsolved, this is the case of the conformity assessment in the certification of aviation materials and drones, and with all CE certification no longer valid, firms will have to return to the EU certification providers to re-certify their products.
ALTER is the first Notified Body in Europe accredited to assess conformity to drones. The company provides drones services related to testing, regulatory support, and evaluation of agreement according to the COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2019/945 intended to be operated in the open category and remote identification add-ons.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to get your CE marking to sell your drones in the European Union before or after reaching the UKCA marking.
