Use these checks to confirm your products meet the rules for the market in Great Britain. Each item says what to have in place and how to get it. Follow a signpost where you need to act.
Check conformity marking
A conformity marking is needed only where the regulations for your product type require one. For many product types the UK recognises the CE marking alongside, or instead of, the UKCA marking under the Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024.
The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is the UK product marking for goods placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Where product regulations meet UK needs, the UK also recognises the CE marking, alongside or in place of the UKCA marking, under the Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024, which came into force on 1 October 2024. Those regulations set no end date for that recognition.
Full name
UK Conformity Assessed
Geographic scope
Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales)
Regulator
Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS)
CE marking recognition
In force from 1 October 2024; no end date set
Key legislation
Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024
UKCA marking dimensions and appearance
Minimum height
5mm, unless the relevant legislation sets a different minimum
Proportions
Scale proportionately if resized
Visibility
Easily visible, legible and indelible
Placement
On the product itself
Alternative placement to 31 December 2027
On a label affixed to the product or an accompanying document, until 11pm on 31 December 2027
Products with specific marking rules The label and accompanying-document arrangement above applies to most sectors, but these product groups have their own specific rules. Check the product regulations for your sector.
Cableways
Specific rules
Construction products
Specific rules
Marine equipment
Specific rules (Red Ensign or Wheelmark)
Medical devices
Specific rules
Rail products
Specific rules
Transportable pressure equipment
Specific rules (Pi marking)
Uncrewed aircraft systems
Civil Aviation Authority rules
UK Declaration of Conformity The manufacturer, or an authorised representative, draws up a UK Declaration of Conformity as part of the technical documentation. It is kept for the period your product regulations set, typically 10 years from each product being placed on the market.
Conformity assessment routes
Self-declaration
Where the regulations allow it, the manufacturer declares conformity
UK Approved Body
Required by some regulations; accredited by UKAS and listed on the UKMCAB database. Some regulations also require its identification number on the product.
Fast-track UKCA
UKCA marking where recognised EU requirements and conformity assessment have been met
Northern Ireland The UKCA and CE routes described here do not apply to products placed on the Great Britain market that originate from Northern Ireland. Qualifying Northern Ireland products can be placed on the GB market with the CE, or CE and UKNI, marking.
Placing UKCA or CE marked products on the market in Great Britain (opens in a new tab)
Product safety and metrology regulatory changes: UKCA and CE regimes (opens in a new tab)
Product regulations and marking approaches for the GB market (opens in a new tab)
UK designated standards (opens in a new tab)
Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) (opens in a new tab)
When UKCA is required, the CE marking extension, conformity assessment routes, and documentation requirements for the GB market
Check conformity assessment
Verify you have completed the correct conformity assessment procedure for each product and hold a valid UK Declaration of Conformity identifying the product, applicable regulations, and standards applied.
A UK Declaration of Conformity (UK DoC) is the manufacturer's statement that a product meets the applicable UK product regulations. The manufacturer, or an authorised representative if one has been appointed, draws it up once satisfied that the product complies, and it forms part of the technical documentation.
Who draws it up
Manufacturer or authorised representative
When
Before the product is placed on the market
Retention
10 years from each product being placed on the market
Who keeps a copy
Manufacturer; importer
Available to
Enforcing authorities on request
What the declaration may include The contents vary by regulation, so check the product regulations for your product. A UK declaration may include the following.
Business details
Name and full business address of the manufacturer or authorised representative
Product identification
Serial number, model or type
Responsibility statement
The manufacturer takes full responsibility for the product's compliance
Approved body
Details of any approved body involved
Legislation
UK legislation, or recognised EU product regulations, the product meets
Standards
Designated (UK) or harmonised (EU) standards applied, with dates
Signatory
Name and signature of the authorised signatory
Date of issue
Date the declaration was drawn up
UKCA marking, conformity assessment and documentation - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
Assessment routes, Approved Bodies, technical documentation requirements, and self-declaration procedures
Check general safety requirements
All consumer products must be safe under normal and reasonably foreseeable use. The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 apply to products not covered by sector-specific rules. OPSS enforces compliance.
The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR) require all consumer products placed on the GB market to be safe. They apply to products not covered by sector-specific safety regulations (such as toys, electrical equipment, or cosmetics which have their own rules).
The Regulations impose duties on both producers (manufacturers, own-branders, importers) and distributors (retailers, wholesalers) to ensure only safe products reach consumers.
Geographic scope
Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)
Products covered
All consumer products not covered by sector-specific safety legislation
General safety requirement
Only safe products may be placed on the market or supplied to consumers
Enforcement authority
Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and local Trading Standards
Maximum penalty (conviction on indictment)
Fine up to £20,000 and/or imprisonment up to 12 months (regulation 20(1))
Summary conviction penalty
Fine up to the statutory maximum and/or imprisonment up to 3 months (regulation 20(1))
Statutory maximum fine
Unlimited in England and Wales for offences from 12 March 2015; £10,000 in Scotland
Definition of a safe product A product is safe if, under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use (including duration and where applicable putting into service, installation, and maintenance), it presents no risk or only minimum risks compatible with the product's use, considered acceptable and consistent with a high level of protection for consumers.
Normal use
Product must be safe during normal intended use
Foreseeable use
Product must be safe during reasonably foreseeable use (including misuse)
Vulnerable users
Safety assessment must consider risks to children and vulnerable users
Presumption of conformity
Compliance with designated UK standards creates presumption of safety
Designated standards
British Standards Institution (BSI) standards approved by the Secretary of State
General Product Safety Regulations 2005 - GOV.UK guidance (opens in a new tab)
Product safety advice for businesses (opens in a new tab)
Legal obligations for producers and distributors, safety assessment criteria, traceability, and enforcement penalties
Check documentation is complete
Keep technical documentation for the period your product's regulations set, typically 10 years after each individual product is placed on the market.
Product regulations require manufacturers and importers to keep technical documentation and the UK Declaration of Conformity so they can show an enforcing authority that a product conforms. In the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 the period is 10 years beginning on the day each product is placed on the market, so the clock runs separately for each product, batch or unit supplied. Other product regulations typically use the same period; check the regulations for your product.
Technical documentation
10 years from each product being placed on the market
UK Declaration of Conformity
10 years from each product being placed on the market
Manufacturer monitoring register
At least 10 years from the entry being made
Who keeps the documentation
Manufacturer; importer; authorised representative where the mandate covers it
Product safety advice for businesses - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
Check recall readiness
Producers must be able to take action against a risk, including withdrawal, warnings and, as a last resort, recall. Your role in the supply chain sets your other duties.
Product regulations in Great Britain give each business in the supply chain its own duties. The roles are manufacturer, authorised representative, importer and distributor, and one business can hold more than one role. The duties below follow the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016; other product regulations that use the same model set similar duties, so check the regulations for your product.
Defined roles
Manufacturer, authorised representative, importer, distributor
Worked example
Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016
Consumer products generally
General Product Safety Regulations 2005
Geographic scope
Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales)
Manufacturer The manufacturer carries the primary responsibility. It must:
design and manufacture the product to meet the safety objectives carry out, or have carried out, the conformity assessment procedure draw up technical documentation and a declaration of conformity before placing the product on the market, and keep them for 10 years beginning on the day the product is placed on the market mark the product with its name or trade mark and a single postal address provide clear instructions and safety information in easily understandable English take corrective measures immediately if a product does not conform, and inform the market surveillance authority where it presents a risk give an enforcing authority the information and documentation needed to show conformity when asked Authorised representative A manufacturer may appoint an authorised representative established in the UK by a written mandate. The mandate must cover at least the duty to keep the technical documentation and declaration of conformity and the duty to provide information and cooperate with authorities. Design and manufacture, and drawing up the technical documentation, cannot be part of the mandate. The manufacturer stays responsible for the proper performance of every duty it passes on.
Importer An importer places products from outside the UK on the GB market. Before doing so it must:
check that the conformity assessment has been done, the technical documentation drawn up, and the manufacturer has met the labelling rules not place a product on the market that does not conform, and inform the manufacturer and the market surveillance authority if it presents a risk put its own name or trade mark and a postal address on the product, or on the packaging or an accompanying document if that is not possible keep storage and transport conditions from jeopardising conformity keep the technical documentation and declaration of conformity for 10 years beginning on the day the product is placed on the market, and make them available to an enforcing authority on request take corrective measures, and inform the market surveillance authority of any risk, immediately Distributor A distributor must act with due care to ensure the product conforms. Before supplying it must check that the product has the required documents and instructions, and that the manufacturer and importer have met their labelling duties. It must not supply a product it believes does not conform until it has been brought into conformity, and must inform the manufacturer or importer and the market surveillance authority if there is a risk. It must also keep storage and transport conditions from compromising conformity, ensure corrective measures are taken for non-conforming products it has supplied, and cooperate with enforcing authorities.
An importer or distributor takes on the manufacturer's obligations if it places a product on the market under its own name or trade mark, or modifies a product in a way that may affect its conformity.
Product safety advice for businesses - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
The general safety requirement, who enforces it, and the penalties for breaking it
Different marking rules apply
Products sold in Northern Ireland follow EU rules under the Windsor Framework. CE marking is required for the NI market. UKCA marking alone is not accepted in Northern Ireland.
If you sell into both GB and NI, ensure you apply the correct marking for each market. Products manufactured in NI can use CE marking to access both the NI and EU markets.
Placing manufactured goods on the NI market (opens in a new tab)
Next steps
If any check raised a concern, follow the signpost to the guide on that topic. Go through the checks again when you introduce a new product line or your supply chain changes.
If you know a product you have placed on the market or supplied poses a risk to consumers, notify an enforcement authority, usually your local Trading Standards service, in writing straight away, with the action you have taken. Failing to notify is a criminal offence.