Now that Britain has left the EU, one of the biggest challenges facing the industry is the replacing of ATEX certification with UKCA mark for manufacturers selling in the UK market place.
The new mark covers most goods that were previously covered under the European Union’s CE mark.
So you want to continue to sell in the UK, you will have to make changes which may involve getting your equipment certified to the new UKCA Scheme.
What Is UKCA Marking?
The United Kingdom Conformity Assessment was introduced following the UK’s exit from the European Union in 2021 and is used to declare that a product conforms to UK legislation.
The mark is usually placed on goods and replaces the CE mark for products that are sold in the UK.
All UKCA technical documentation must be carefully recorded and kept for at least 10 years after product launch, to be produced for inspection where necessary.
Documents should show how the product is manufactured and demonstrate its conformity with the relevant legislation.
What Is Changing?
As part of the UKCA changes, the ATEX directive is to be replaced by the new UK Ex scheme for products sold across the UK.
As a result, manufacturers must make changes to the certification of their products so that they are compliant with the new Ex scheme.
The UKCA marking will work in a very similar way to the CE marking, however manufacturers will now need to go through a UK conformity assessment procedure.
This will assess whether their product complies with all applicable UK product safety regulations and standards.
Is ATEX Still Valid?
The UKCA mark was introduced in January 2021 and a grace period of 12-months followed which allowed ATEX products to continue to be sold.
So from January 1st 2022, products placed on the GB market must carry the UKCA market and be compliant with the UK Ex scheme with ATEX and CE markings no longer accepted after that.
What About Those Outside The EU?
For those outside of the European Union, the changes listed above do not apply as products will still require a CE and ATEX mark – but not UKCA.
However, if you’re purchasing directly from a UK manufacturer there are additional factors to consider and you should be aware that:
The buyer takes on extra responsibility for the imported goods and you may require additional evidence; to back up compliance and for customs clearance purposes.
This information should all be readily available the manufacturer has declared CE.