Sector

Manufacturing & Engineering

Factories, production, engineering services, chemicals and industrial processes.

Manufacturing & Engineering 119,440 enterprises in the UK

Start here

See all 21

Who regulates you

See all 33

OPSS (opens in a new tab)

Product safety regulator responsible for ensuring consumer products are safe. Enforces product safety regulations, UKCA marking requirements, and works with market surveillance authorities. Part …

Enforces 28 Acts this sector relies on.

Environment Agency (opens in a new tab)

Environmental protection in England. Regulates waste, emissions, water quality, flood risk, and environmental permits for industrial activities. Enforces environmental law and issues permits for …

Enforces 23 Acts this sector relies on.

HSE (opens in a new tab)

Workplace health, safety, and welfare regulation across all industries. Enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations. Investigates serious incidents …

Enforces 23 Acts this sector relies on.

NRW (opens in a new tab)

Principal environmental regulator for Wales. Combines functions of Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, and Forestry Commission Wales. Issues environmental permits, manages natural …

Enforces 13 Acts this sector relies on.

OEP (opens in a new tab)

Independent body established post-Brexit to scrutinise environmental law and investigate complaints about public authorities' failures to comply with environmental law in England and Northern …

Enforces 10 Acts this sector relies on.

SEPA (opens in a new tab)

Scotland's principal environmental regulator. Protects and improves Scotland's environment. Issues environmental permits for waste, emissions, water abstraction, and radioactive substances. Enforces environmental law and …

Enforces 10 Acts this sector relies on.

Key legislation

See all 96
General Product Safety Regulations 2005 Cited by 23 of this sector’s guides · 58 provisions SI
UK REACH Regulation (retained EU law) Cited by 13 of this sector’s guides · 173 provisions SI
Medical Devices Regulations 2002 Cited by 11 of this sector’s guides · 282 provisions SI
Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 Cited by 10 of this sector’s guides · 78 provisions SI
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2020 Cited by 4 of this sector’s guides · 362 provisions SI
Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 Cited by 4 of this sector’s guides · 260 provisions SI
Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation (UK CLP) Cited by 4 of this sector’s guides · 71 provisions SI
Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 Cited by 3 of this sector’s guides · 459 provisions Act

What’s changing

Rate update

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Lime Benchmark) (England) Order 2026

Rate update

Excise Duties (Surcharges or Rebates) (Hydrocarbon Oils etc.) (Amendment) Order 2026

General rules

Common requirements that apply across industries. Conditions such as employing people or operating premises are shown only after they are known.

All guidance for manufacturing & engineering

International Trade

1

Tax & Finance

2

Environment & Sustainability

8

SECR and ESOS - energy and carbon reporting

Mandatory energy and emissions reporting requirements for large companies and LLPs.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Environmental Permits for Manufacturing

Understand when you need an environmental permit and how to apply for one.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Packaging Producer Responsibility

Register for EPR, report packaging data, and meet recycling obligations through PRN/PERN purchases or compliance schemes.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Producer responsibility for electronics manufacturers: WEEE and batteries

A guide for makers, importers and brand-owners of electrical and electronic equipment and batteries. It explains the ongoing producer-responsibility duties — working out whether you count as a producer, joining a compliance scheme, registering, reporting what you place on the market, financing collection and recycling, and applying the crossed-out wheeled-bin marking — as distinct from one-off product conformity.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Meet packaging producer responsibility and Plastic Packaging Tax

If you make plastic packaging, you have reporting and tax duties on top of the product rules. This guide takes you through extended producer responsibility for packaging (EPR) — collecting and reporting packaging data and, for larger producers, paying disposal fees — and the Plastic Packaging Tax, which applies once you manufacture 10 or more tonnes of finished plastic packaging in a 12-month period.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Control and monitor air emissions

How to comply with air emissions permit conditions for Part A and Part B regulated activities. Covers the difference between Environment Agency and local authority regulation, emission limits, MCERTS monitoring, stack testing, abatement equipment, and reporting requirements.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Packaging waste producer responsibilities

Who must comply with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging, how to register and report data, and what disposal fees and recycling obligations apply. Covers small and large producer thresholds, compliance schemes, PRNs and PERNs, and how EPR interacts with Plastic Packaging Tax.

Applies if your goods reach customers in packaging that you supply, brand or import

UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) compliance

Complete guide to UK ETS obligations for installations, aviation operators, and maritime operators. Covers registration thresholds, annual reporting deadlines, verification requirements, allowance surrender, and penalties.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Show 5 more

Get a water discharge permit

How to get an environmental permit for discharging liquid effluent or waste water to surface water or groundwater. Covers standard rules and bespoke permits, groundwater protection, monitoring requirements, and the difference between environmental permits and trade effluent consent.

Applies if you release liquid effluent or waste water into a river, the sea or the ground

Trade effluent consent for discharging to sewers

How to get consent from your water company to discharge trade effluent into public sewers. Covers what counts as trade effluent, when consent is needed, how to apply, prohibited substances, consent conditions, charges, and enforcement under the Water Industry Act 1991.

Applies if you put process liquids, washwater or other non-household effluent down the drain into the public sewer

Apply for a water abstraction licence

How to apply for a licence to abstract water from rivers, streams, boreholes, or other sources. Covers the 20 cubic metres per day threshold, licence types, pre-application enquiries, Environmental Impact Assessment, annual charges, and devolved nation requirements.

Applies if you take water from a river, borehole, spring or well rather than the mains

Water abstraction licences and drinking water quality in Northern Ireland: NIEA and DWI

How water is regulated in Northern Ireland for two different kinds of business: a mill or other user that takes water from a river, lough or borehole and needs an abstraction and impoundment licence from NIEA, and a water undertaker that supplies drinking water and must meet the 2017 Water Quality Regulations enforced by the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Environmental Permit - Part A(1) Installation

Large combustion plant (50MW thermal input and above) and other major industrial installations require a Part A(1) environmental permit.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Growth & Strategy

1

Sector-Specific

8

UKCA Product Marking

Understand UKCA marking requirements for products sold in Great Britain.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Packaging Design Requirements

Meet essential requirements and labelling standards for packaging.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Label and place textiles, clothing and footwear on the GB market

A task guide for makers of textiles, clothing and footwear placing product on the GB market. It covers fibre and footwear composition labelling, nightwear flammability safety, conformity where the garment is personal protective equipment, and the general product safety baseline, with the placing-on-market sequence in order.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Textiles, clothing and leather manufacturer: compliance checklist

A verification checklist for makers of textiles, clothing and leather products. Use it to confirm that labelling, nightwear flammability, PPE conformity, general product safety, UK REACH restricted substances, CITES protected materials, environmental permits, trade effluent consent and animal by-products controls are all in place before a production run.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Restricted and protected materials: UK REACH and CITES for textiles and leather

A reference for makers of textiles, clothing and leather products on the two materials-control regimes. It covers UK REACH restrictions on substances in dyes, finishes, leather tanning and inks, and CITES controls on materials from endangered species such as exotic leather, fur, feathers and shell.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Place machinery and equipment on the market

Almost everything this sector makes must meet a product-conformity or type-approval regime before you can sell it. This guide takes you through the regimes that apply to machinery and equipment — machinery safety, electromagnetic compatibility, pressure equipment and simple pressure vessels, lifts, type approval for agricultural and forestry vehicles and non-road mobile machinery, general product safety, and food-contact materials for food-processing machinery. Use the sections that match what you make.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Vehicle and transport equipment manufacturer: compliance checklist

A verification checklist that pulls the vehicle and transport-equipment package together. Use it to confirm type-approval and conformity are done and documented, emissions and CO2 met, replacement parts safe, end-of-life producer responsibility set up, UK REACH substances assessed, and export-control licensing checked before you export.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Which approval regime applies to your transport equipment

An orientation guide for makers of transport equipment. It routes you to the right conformity or approval regime by product type and mode of transport — road vehicles, motorcycles, recreational craft, ships, railway vehicles, aircraft, spacecraft and pedal bicycles — and names the regulator that runs each one.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Show 34 more

Electronics and electrical product conformity: which regime applies

A quick-lookup reference for makers and importers of electronic and electrical products. Use the product features to find which conformity regime or regimes apply, the regulator, and whether the rule is a Great Britain or a UK-wide matter, then go to the linked snippet for the detail.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Chemical manufacturer: compliance checklist

A verification checklist for makers of chemicals and chemical products. Use it to confirm that UK REACH registration, GB CLP classification and labelling, product authorisation, COMAH duties, environmental permits, DSEAR controls, explosives licensing and core workplace health-and-safety duties are all in place before a production run.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Which chemical regulations apply to your products and site

A reference guide for chemical manufacturers that routes you to the regimes that apply to your products and your site. It points you to UK REACH and GB CLP for substances and mixtures, product authorisation for biocides, plant protection products and cosmetics, COMAH and environmental permitting for major-hazard sites, and the explosives licensing regime.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Place electronic and electrical products on the GB market: conformity assessment and UKCA marking

A guide for makers and importers of electronic and electrical products placing products on the GB market. It explains which conformity regimes apply to which products, the steps to assess conformity and apply the UKCA marking, and how the GB-scope safety regime differs from the UK-wide RoHS, WEEE, electromagnetic compatibility, radio and metrology regimes.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Place chemical substances and products on the GB market

A task guide for chemical manufacturers placing substances and products on the GB market. It covers UK REACH registration, GB CLP classification, labelling and packaging, and product authorisation for biocides, plant protection products and cosmetics, with the placing-on-market sequence in order.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Food-contact materials compliance in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: councils, FSS and FSA rules

What paper, board and converting businesses must do to put food-contact materials on the market in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each nation has its own 2012 Regulations, its own enforcers and its own penalty scale, and Northern Ireland applies EU food-contact law under the Windsor Framework, including the EU ban on bisphenol A.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Place fabricated metal products on the market: conformity and UKCA marking

If you make metal products to sell — structural steelwork, boilers and pressure vessels, or general metal goods — they must be safe and, where a product regime applies, carry conformity marking before you place them on the Great Britain market. This guide takes you through construction products and structural steel, pressure equipment, and the residual general product safety duty.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Place jewellery, toys, medical devices and other goods on the market

Every product you make carries its own conformity regime before it reaches the market. Most goods carry general product safety. Toys, personal protective equipment and medical devices have their own marking and registration rules. Articles of precious metal must be hallmarked. Work through the section that fits what you make.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Place basic metal products on the GB market: conformity and marking

If you place metal products on the market — structural steel and reinforcing steel for construction, or other finished metal goods — they must be safe and, where a product regime applies, carry conformity marking and a declaration of performance before you place them on the Great Britain market. This guide takes you through construction products and structural steel, and the residual general product safety duty.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Place non-metallic mineral products on the market

Cement, aggregates, concrete products, glass and ceramic building products are construction products and must meet the conformity rules before you sell them; other goods must still meet the general product safety duty. This guide takes you through construction-products conformity — declaration of performance and marking — and the residual product-safety baseline.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Place rubber and plastic products on the market: conformity and product safety

If you make rubber or plastic products to sell — plastic builders' ware, tyres, food-contact articles and packaging, or general plastic goods — they must be safe and, where a product regime applies, meet that regime and carry conformity marking before you place them on the market. This guide takes you through construction products, tyre safety, food-contact materials, and the residual general product safety duty.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Ongoing material duties for vehicle manufacturers: end-of-life recycling and restricted substances

A task guide for motor-vehicle manufacturers on the two ongoing material duties that continue beyond placing a vehicle on the market — end-of-life vehicle producer responsibility, and the restriction of chemical substances under UK REACH. Both are recurring duties to set up, not one-off checks.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Type-approve and place motor vehicles, trailers and components on the GB market

A task guide for makers of motor vehicles, trailers, bodywork and components placing product on the GB market. It covers whole-vehicle and multi-stage type-approval, component and separate-technical-unit (STU) approval, emissions and CO2 type-approval, and replacement-part safety, with the placing-on-market sequence in order.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Meet the furniture fire-safety and product-safety rules

Upholstered furniture and mattresses must meet strict fire-safety requirements before you can sell them, and all furniture must meet general product safety. This guide takes you through the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 — the ignition-resistance tests and the labelling — and the residual general product safety duty.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Place wood and wood products on the market

Before wood and wood products reach the market they carry their own rules: legal sourcing under the UK Timber Regulation, performance marking for construction products like structural timber and panels, formaldehyde limits on wood-based panels, general product safety for consumer goods, and heat treatment and marking for solid-wood packaging that travels abroad. This guide takes you through each in turn.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Vehicle Type Approval

Get type approval for vehicles manufactured or imported into GB.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Meet motor fuel quality and hydrocarbon oil duty

The fuels you make carry two duties beyond running a safe installation: they must meet the motor fuel quality standards for what can be supplied, and the mineral oils you produce are subject to hydrocarbon oil (excise) duty, with HMRC approval and accounting. This guide takes you through both.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Place paper products on the market

Before paper products reach the market they carry their own rules. Consumer goods must be safe under general product safety. Cartons, wrap and other food-contact paper and board must meet the food-contact materials rules. The packaging you place on the market brings extended producer responsibility duties. This guide takes you through each in turn.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Product safety compliance checklist for the GB market

Compliance checklist for businesses placing consumer products on the Great Britain market. Covers the general safety requirement, UKCA marking and documentation, traceability, supply chain roles, record keeping, and recall preparedness under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, Consumer Protection Act 1987, and Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025.

Applies if you make, import or supply finished goods that end up in consumers' hands

Assess whether your product meets the general safety requirement

How to carry out a product safety risk assessment to determine whether your product meets the general safety requirement under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Covers the OPSS PRISM methodology, designated standards, documenting your assessment, and building a due diligence defence.

Applies if you make, import or supply finished goods that end up in consumers' hands

Product standards and CE marking for the Northern Ireland market

How product standards and marking requirements differ for the Northern Ireland market under the Windsor Framework. Covers CE marking requirements, why UKCA marking is not valid in NI, the EU General Product Safety Regulation applying in NI from December 2024, and dual compliance obligations for businesses selling across the whole UK.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Construction product marking - CE and UKCA compliance

How the Construction Products (Amendment) Regulations 2025 affect CE and UKCA marking for construction products placed on the Great Britain market. CE marking continues to be recognised until further notice, and from 8 January 2026 GB also recognises products complying with the new EU Construction Products Regulation 2024/3110. UKCA marking remains voluntary. Covers Declarations of Performance, harmonised and designated standards, and OPSS enforcement.

Applies if you distribute or resell construction products made by others

Electrical product safety compliance

How to comply with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 when placing electrical products on the Great Britain market. Covers safety objectives, voltage scope, conformity assessment, technical documentation, UKCA and CE marking, EMC Regulations overlap, and RoHS requirements for electrical and electronic equipment.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

UKCA and CE marking for medical devices

How to choose between UKCA and CE marking for your medical device on the GB market. Covers UKCA marking via UK Approved Bodies, CE marking transitional acceptance (2028/2030 deadlines), the MHRA consultation on indefinite CE recognition, dual marking for GB and NI access, and NI-specific requirements.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Medical devices: placing on the GB market

How to comply with the UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002 when placing medical devices on the Great Britain market. Covers device classification, UKCA marking transition timelines, MHRA registration, essential requirements, clinical evidence, conformity assessment by device class, post-market surveillance, and Unique Device Identification.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Medical device compliance checklist

Verification checklist for medical device manufacturers and UK Responsible Persons. Covers device classification, conformity assessment, technical documentation, UKCA/CE marking, MHRA registration, PMS system, vigilance reporting, labelling, and ongoing obligations.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Toy safety compliance in Great Britain

How to comply with the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 when placing toys on the Great Britain market. Covers essential safety requirements, age grading and warnings, chemical limits, conformity assessment routes, UKCA and CE marking, documentation obligations, and economic operator duties.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Medical devices and equipment compliance

Regulatory requirements for medical devices including vigilance reporting and equipment maintenance.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Placing medical devices on the Northern Ireland market

How to comply with the Northern Ireland medical device regime under the Windsor Framework. Covers EU MDR/IVDR requirements, CE marking, UKNI marking via UK Approved Bodies, EU Authorised Representative, and dual compliance for manufacturers selling in both GB and NI.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Post-market surveillance for medical devices

How to establish and maintain a post-market surveillance system for medical devices on the GB market under the enhanced requirements in force from 16 June 2025. Covers PMS plans, proactive data collection, trend analysis, summary reporting, Field Safety Corrective Actions, and data retention periods.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Report a medical device safety incident to MHRA

Step-by-step guide to reporting serious medical device incidents to MHRA via the MORE portal. Covers incident identification, timeline classification (2, 10, or 15 calendar days), MIR form submission, follow-up investigation, CAPA, and Field Safety Corrective Actions.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Choosing a UK Approved Body for medical devices

How to select and engage a UK Approved Body for conformity assessment of your medical device. Covers the 9 designated bodies and their scope, when an Approved Body is required, the assessment process by device class, and when self-certification is permitted.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Classify your medical device for the GB market

How to classify your medical device under the UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002. Covers Class I through III for general devices, active implantable devices, IVDs (current Annex system and future Class A-D), and Software as a Medical Device.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Software and AI as medical devices (SaMD/AIaMD)

How MHRA regulates software and AI-powered medical devices. Covers the SaMD definition and boundary guidance, current classification under UK MDR 2002, future reclassification to Class IIa minimum, Good Machine Learning Practice principles, predetermined change control plans, and clinical evidence for AI.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

All journeys

UK REACH compliance checklist

Quick check of your UK REACH registration and notification status. Covers manufacturer and importer registration, downstream user obligations, …

Set up as a textiles, clothing or leather manufacturer

Learning path for new textile, clothing and leather or footwear manufacturers. Get your products correctly labelled and safe …

Set up as a vehicle or transport equipment manufacturer

Learning path for new vehicle and transport-equipment manufacturers and importers. Work out which approval regime applies to your …

Set up as an electronics or electrical equipment manufacturer

Learning path for new electronics and electrical equipment manufacturers and importers placing products on the GB and UK …

Placing a medical device on the GB market

End-to-end learning path for manufacturers bringing a medical device to the Great Britain market for the first time. …

Selling medical devices in both GB and Northern Ireland

How to achieve dual-market access for medical devices across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Covers the different regulatory …

Medical device compliance quick check

Quick compliance verification for experienced medical device manufacturers. Check your device classification, registration status, marking validity, PMS system, …

Set up a non-metallic mineral products manufacturing business

Learning path for new manufacturers of glass, ceramics, cement, lime, plaster, concrete products and cut stone. Work out …

Set up a paper manufacturing business

Learning path for new paper manufacturers — pulp and paper mills, board, corrugating, converting and paper products. Work …

Set up a rubber or plastics manufacturing business

Learning path for new rubber and plastics manufacturers — injection moulders and extruders, plastic builders' ware and pipe …

Responding to a medical device safety incident

Immediate actions when a serious incident occurs involving your medical device. Covers incident identification, reporting timeline determination, MORE …

Set up a basic metal production business

Learning path for new basic-metal producers — iron and steelworks, aluminium and other non-ferrous smelters and refiners, and …

Set up a furniture manufacturing business

Learning path for new furniture manufacturers — upholstered furniture and mattresses, wooden, kitchen and office furniture. Work out …

Set up a machinery manufacturing business

Learning path for new machinery and equipment manufacturers — engines, pumps and compressors, machine tools, lifting and handling …

Set up a machinery repair and installation business

Learning path for new repair and installation businesses — general machinery repair and industrial installation, and the specialist …

Set up a metal fabrication business

Learning path for new fabricated-metal manufacturers — structural steel fabricators, tank and vessel makers, jobbing platers, tool and …

Set up a printing or media reproduction business

Learning path for new printers and reproduction businesses — commercial, digital, screen and large-format printers, packaging and label …

Set up a wood-products manufacturing business

Learning path for new wood-products manufacturers — sawmilling, veneers, plywood and panels, joinery, wooden packaging and cork goods. …

Set up an other-manufacturing business

Learning path for new makers of jewellery, instruments, sports goods, toys, medical and dental devices and other goods. …

Set up as a chemical manufacturer

Learning path for new chemical and chemical-products manufacturers. Work out which regimes apply to your products and site, …

Product compliance for manufacturers

Learn how to ensure your products meet UK safety and marking requirements before placing them on the market

Subsectors

SIC 2007 divisions covered by this sector.

Textiles

Manufacture of textiles

SIC 13

Clothing Manufacturing

Manufacture of wearing apparel

SIC 14

Leather & Footwear

Manufacture of leather and related products

SIC 15

Wood & Timber Products

Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials

SIC 16

Paper Products

Manufacture of paper and paper products

SIC 17

Printing & Publishing

Printing and reproduction of recorded media

SIC 18

Petroleum & Coke Products

Manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products

SIC 19

Chemicals

Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products

SIC 20

Rubber & Plastics

Manufacture of rubber and plastic products

SIC 22

Glass, Ceramics & Building Materials

Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products

SIC 23

Basic Metals

Manufacture of basic metals

SIC 24

Metal Products

Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment

SIC 25

Electronics & Optical Products

Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products

SIC 26

Electrical Equipment

Manufacture of electrical equipment

SIC 27

Machinery & Equipment

Manufacture of machinery and equipment nec

SIC 28

Motor Vehicles

Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers

SIC 29

Other Transport Equipment

Manufacture of other transport equipment

SIC 30

Furniture Manufacturing

Manufacture of furniture

SIC 31

Other Manufacturing

Other manufacturing

SIC 32

Machinery Repair & Installation

Repair and installation of machinery and equipment

SIC 33