search.noResults

search.searching

saml.title
dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
FEATURE BARCODING, LABELLING & PACKAGING


Getting UKCA marking right T


he UK’s “EU Exit Statutory Instruments” amended the existing law to enable


the UKCA Marking requirements to replace the CE Marking requirements at the end of the European Union exit transition period. While references to “harmonised standards” changed to “designated standards”, the actual standards currently remain the same as EU harmonised standards.


From 1 January 2021, UKCA marking (UK Conformity Assessed) has therefore replaced EU CE Marking requirements for products placed on the market in England, Scotland and Wales (GB). UKCA marking is not required for products that were already placed on the GB market prior to 1 January 2021 and, depending on the product, there is a transitional period of acceptance of CE marking to at least 1 January 2022. UKCA marking is required for products which can be self-declared or products that require mandatory third-party conformity assessment via UK Market Conformity Assessment Bodies, which have now replaced EU Notified Bodies in the UK. The EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 allowed ‘EU Exit’ Statutory Instruments to rescind and amend EU legislation (UK Regulations). This now allows manufacturers to apply the UKCA mark to most products to demonstrate conformity to UK Regulations (Statutory Instruments) and the associated essential requirements. Manufacturers will additionally require a UKCA GB market Declaration of Conformity which will need to list UK Regulations and UK designated standards for compliance. For products and UK regulations that require a certification body, a UK Market


22 APRIL 2021 | IRISH MANUFACTURING


Conformity Assessment Body will be required.


NORTHERN IRELAND MARKET CONFUSION One important issue to be aware of, and which is causing some confusion in the marketplace, is that additional requirements may need to be considered for products in Northern Ireland (NI) due to separate protocol requirements. The NI Protocol came into force on 1 January 2021. This means that NI will align with relevant EU rules relating to placing manufactured goods on the market, and CE marking will continue to be accepted. This means that the UKCA mark cannot be used for goods placed on the NI market. If a UK body carries out a mandatory


third-party conformity assessment, then a UKNI marking must be applied, accompanied by a EU conformity marking (e.g. CE marking). Goods with both the CE and UKNI marking cannot be placed on the rest of the EU market. If a mandatory third-party conformity assessment was carried out by an EU-recognised notified body, goods with the CE marking can be placed on NI and EU the markets. For products that do not require third-party conformity assessment, in most cases marking requirements will be satisfied by combined CE and UKCA markings for the GB, EU and NI markets. The UK government guarantees businesses in NI unfettered access to the UK market, without the need for additional approvals. Qualifying goods can therefore be placed on the GB market based on the conformity markings used in Northern Ireland, such as the CE, and


By Jon Lea, Senior Product Specialist at TÜV SÜD, a global product testing and certification organisation


CE/UKNI markings. Qualifying goods are those in free circulation in NI - not under a customs procedure or in an authorised temporary storage facility before being moved between NI and GB.


SECTOR-SPECIFIC UK Regulations have been updated to allow a transition period of acceptance of CE marking until 1st January 2022 for most products destined for the GB market. However, for some products, this has been extended – this includes marine equipment (for the Wheelmark replacement) and medical products. The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1874 Amendment 4, in combination with Marine Information Note MIN 590 Issue 4, provide further guidance for UK conformity assessment procedures following the transition period. Specifically, this permits equipment approved through the EU Marine Equipment Directive to continue to be placed on UK ships until 1 January 2023. There are no separate NI marking requirements for marine products, as they are registered under flags and as there is no flag as such for NI, all products will be UK marine marked.


TÜV SÜD www.tuvsud.com/uk


For medical devices, CE marking will be recognised in GB until 30 June 2023, after which UKCA requirements will apply in full. In NI, the CE mark will continue to be allowed after 30 June 2023. While initial UKCA requirements will align with CE marking, it is important to remember that overtime divergence is possible. It is therefore vital for manufacturers to stay up to date on the evolving regulatory landscape.


/ IRISHMANUFACTURING


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36