CE Marking Acceptance for PPE Products in UK

In January of this year (2024) the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in the UK announced the intention to indefinitely extend the acceptance of CE marking for PPE products for placement on the UK market, and the introduction of a ‘fast-track’ provision allowing Notified Bodies to certify PPE products to the UKCA mark.

This allows for PPE products with CE marking to be sold on the UK market without the need for UKCA marking, and for PPE products with CE marking to be eligible for UKCA marking through conformity assessment by a European Notified Body.

On Monday 15th April “The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024” was laid before Parliament to continue recognition of the CE marking and implement Fast-Track UKCA and labelling measures for a range of products including PPE and will come into force on 1st October 2024.

This has now become legislation and the text is available here:

The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024

Further information on the UK’s approach to product marking is available here:

Using the UKCA marking

What does this mean for manufacturers?

• The UKCA mark will not be required for placing PPE products on the UK marketplace, instead the CE mark will continue to indicate compliance to the PPE Regulation.
• UKCA certification can now be handled by a Notified Body using CE certification as evidence.

This legislation is an indefinite extension for the acceptance of CE for the UK market. The terminology used here is deliberate, and ‘indefinite’ can be interpreted as not permanent, only that the end date in undefined. This would allow for the UKCA mark to be revisited in the future.

Additional information

UL Solutions¹ is an EU notified body for the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation and the Marine Equipment Directive.

UL Solutions² is also a UK Approved Body (UKCA) for the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation and the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations. We can issue certificates for the UKCA marking and the Red Ensign mark. Please get in touch to find out how we can help you with your global market access needs.

For details on UL Solutions’ scope of accreditation, please see below:

1. UL International (Netherlands) B.V. is accredited by RvA and appointed by the Dutch government to work as a notified body under Notified Body No. 2821. EUROPA - European Commission - Growth - Regulatory policy - NANDO
2. UL International UK Ltd. is accredited by UKAS and appointed by the U.K. secretary of state to work as an Approved Body under Approved Body No. 0843. UL International (UK) LTD - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)