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Great Britain

Great Britain

Navigate Great Britain's post-Brexit regulatory regime with UK product safety rules, flexible CE/UKCA marking options, and access to one of Europe's largest and most mature consumer markets.

66M
Population
£3.4T
GDP (2023)

Key Requirements Overview

CE & UKCA

CE marking recognised indefinitely for most DBT-regulated goods; UKCA remains a valid GB conformity mark

UK Product Safety

UK General Product Safety Regulations and sector-specific rules

Environmental & EPR

UK RoHS, UK REACH, WEEE and packaging Extended Producer Responsibility

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Great Britain Market Overview

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) accounts for the majority of the UK's population and economic output. Since Brexit, Great Britain has developed its own product safety and conformity assessment framework, while remaining closely aligned with many former EU rules. For most mainstream manufactured goods, businesses can choose to use CE marking (recognised indefinitely for many regulations) or UKCA marking when placing products on the GB market.

Market Characteristics

Independent GB product regulatory framework post-Brexit
Indefinite recognition of CE marking for most DBT-regulated goods, alongside UKCA
High consumer protection standards and active market surveillance
World-leading retail and e-commerce ecosystem centred on the UK
Gateway to broader UK, European and global export markets

Post-Brexit Regulatory Landscape in Great Britain

Since 1 January 2021, Great Britain has operated its own product safety and conformity assessment regime, separate from the EU and from Northern Ireland. Most requirements are now set out in UK statutory instruments that mirror former EU directives, supported by "designated standards" (typically BS EN/BS ISO).

For 18 key product regulations overseen by the Department for Business and Trade, CE marking is recognised on an indefinite basis for the GB market, while UKCA remains a valid and future-proof GB conformity mark. Certain sectors (such as medical devices and construction products) have their own GB rules and transitional timelines, so manufacturers must check the regime applicable to their product.

Relationship with Northern Ireland

This page covers products placed on the Great Britain market (England, Scotland and Wales). Products placed on the Northern Ireland market generally follow EU product rules and require CE marking (with UKNI where a UK-based conformity assessment body is used). Qualifying Northern Ireland goods can usually move into Great Britain under special rules, but the manufacturer still needs to meet the correct requirements for each destination market.

View Northern Ireland requirements

Quick Facts

Official Language
English
Currency
Pound Sterling (£)
Market Area
Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales – distinct regime from Northern Ireland)
Regulatory Body
Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and local Trading Standards / sector regulators (e.g. MHRA, HSE)
Standards Organization
BSI (British Standards Institution) – publishes UK "designated standards" (BS EN / BS ISO)

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Regulations & Requirements

Key Great Britain regulations

Understanding the regulatory landscape in post-Brexit Great Britain

CE & UKCA Marking in Great Britain

CE and UKCA marking options for the GB market under the post-Brexit product safety regime.

• CE marking – recognised indefinitely for 18 key product regulations overseen by DBT (e.g. electrical safety, EMC, radio, machinery, toys, RoHS)
• UKCA marking – Great Britain's domestic conformity mark; available as an alternative to CE for most DBT-regulated goods
• Designated standards – BS EN / BS ISO standards give a "presumption of conformity" when applied correctly
• Note – different rules and timelines may apply to sectors like medical devices and construction products; always check the latest GB guidance

Product Safety

UK product safety framework for Great Britain covering consumer products and sector-specific requirements.

• General Product Safety Regulations 2005 – core GB framework for consumer product safety
• Sector-specific rules – toys, electrical equipment, machinery, cosmetics, gas appliances, etc.
• OPSS & Trading Standards – lead authorities for enforcement and market surveillance in GB
• Consumer Rights Act 2015 – governs consumer remedies where goods are unsafe or not as described

Environmental & Chemical Requirements

UK environmental and chemical regulations for Great Britain including RoHS, REACH, WEEE and packaging EPR.

• UK RoHS – restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment under GB RoHS Regulations
• UK REACH – GB chemicals regime for registration, restriction and authorisation of substances
• WEEE – UK-wide Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment producer obligations
• Packaging & EPR – UK packaging producer responsibility and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees based on reported packaging data

Medical Devices

GB medical device framework with transitional acceptance of CE marking and the emerging UKCA route.

• UK MDR 2002 (as amended) – core GB framework for medical devices and IVDs
• CE marking – CE-marked devices continue to be accepted on the GB market under extended transitional arrangements (currently into 2028/2030 depending on device type)
• UKCA marking – GB device mark; will sit alongside CE as the domestic conformity route as new regulations come into force
• MHRA & UK Responsible Person – non-UK manufacturers need a UK Responsible Person; all GB devices must be registered with MHRA

PPE & Construction

GB regimes for personal protective equipment, construction products, gas appliances and pressure equipment.

• PPE Regulations – GB PPE regime for personal protective equipment (UK implementation of the PPE Regulation)
• Construction Products – GB construction products regime (separate from EU CPR, with its own timelines for CE/UKCA)
• Gas Appliances – GB gas appliance safety rules
• Pressure Equipment – pressure equipment and pressure systems regulations for GB

Labelling Requirements

Product labelling requirements for the Great Britain market including manufacturer details and safety information.

• Manufacturer / Importer Details – name and UK address of manufacturer or importer for most regulated products
• Responsible Person – UK Responsible Person details where required (e.g. cosmetics, medical devices)
• Safety Warnings – clear safety information and warnings in English
• Energy Labelling – GB energy labelling requirements for certain appliances (largely aligned with legacy EU schemes, but under separate UK law)
Product Categories

GB compliance by product category

Detailed requirements for different product types in the Great Britain market

Electrical Products

Low-voltage electrical equipment must comply with the Low Voltage Electrical Equipment Regulations 2016 and bear UKCA marking.

Testing: Electrical safety, insulation, temperature rise, protection against electric shock
Conformity: Self-declaration usually sufficient; Approved Body for higher-risk equipment
Accredited lab required: Recommended but not always mandatory

Telecommunications Equipment

Telecoms and wireless equipment must comply with the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 and bear UKCA marking.

Testing: Radio frequency, EMC, electrical safety, interference, interoperability
Conformity: Self-declaration for standard devices; Approved Body for complex equipment
Accredited lab required: Yes

Machinery

Machinery must comply with the Machinery Regulations 2008 and bear UKCA marking.

Testing: Mechanical safety, guarding, noise, vibration, electrical systems, operational reliability
Conformity: Self-declaration for most machinery; Approved Body for high-risk machinery
Accredited lab required: Recommended but not always mandatory

Textiles

Textiles must comply with the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and applicable flammability and chemical rules.

Testing: Flammability, fibre composition, REACH-restricted substances, physical safety of components
Conformity: Self-declaration; no Approved Body required for standard textiles
Accredited lab required: Recommended but not mandatory

Footwear

Footwear must comply with general product safety and REACH chemical restrictions.

Testing: Restricted substances, slip resistance, toe protection, puncture resistance, flammability for children's footwear
Conformity: Self-declaration for standard; Approved Body for protective/high-risk footwear
Accredited lab required: Recommended for chemical and performance risks

Leather Products

Leather goods must meet general product safety and REACH chemical requirements.

Testing: Chromium VI, azo dyes, heavy metals, flammability where applicable
Conformity: Self-declaration; Approved Body only for specialised or high-risk products
Accredited lab required: Recommended for chemical and allergen risks

Toys

Toys must comply with the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 and bear UKCA marking.

Testing: Mechanical/physical safety, flammability, toxic elements, electrical safety, choking hazards, labelling
Conformity: Self-declaration where standards fully applied; Approved Body for high-risk toys
Accredited lab required: Yes (mandatory)

Food Contact Materials

Food contact materials must comply with UK food contact legislation.

Testing: Overall/specific migration, heavy metals, additives, purity, chemical composition
Conformity: Usually self-declaration; Approved Body for novel or high-risk materials
Accredited lab required: Strongly recommended

Weighing Instruments (Non-Automatic)

Non-automatic weighing instruments must comply with UK weights and measures regulations and bear UKCA marking.

Testing: Accuracy, repeatability, linearity, load performance, environmental tolerance
Conformity: Third-party verification usually required
Accredited lab required: Yes (authorised verifier testing required for legal-for-trade use)

Measuring Instruments

Measuring instruments and bottles must comply with UK weights and measures legislation.

Testing: Accuracy, capacity, graduation marking, repeatability, material safety
Conformity: Third-party verification for most legal-for-trade instruments
Accredited lab required: Yes (authorised verifier testing generally required)

Pressure Equipment

Pressure equipment must comply with the Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 and bear UKCA marking.

Testing: Design verification, material testing, weld inspection, leak testing, pressure endurance
Conformity: Approved Body required for higher-risk equipment
Accredited lab required: Yes (accredited laboratory and pressure testing required)

Building Materials

Construction products must comply with UK-retained CPR requirements and bear UKCA marking where applicable.

Testing: Structural strength, fire performance, thermal/acoustic properties, durability
Conformity: Self-declaration for standard products; Approved Body for critical performance products
Accredited lab required: Yes (UKAS-accredited generally required)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE must comply with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2018 and bear UKCA marking.

Testing: Mechanical strength, penetration, chemical/biological protection, ergonomics, flammability
Conformity: Approved Body for high-risk PPE; self-declaration for low-risk
Accredited lab required: Yes (mandatory)

Gas Appliances

Gas appliances must comply with the Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 2018 and bear UKCA marking.

Testing: Gas tightness, combustion safety, flame stability, emissions, electrical safety where applicable
Conformity: Approved Body involvement generally required
Accredited lab required: Yes (mandatory)

Lubricants

Lubricants must comply with REACH, CLP, and general product safety requirements.

Testing: Viscosity, oxidation stability, toxicity, heavy metals, additive composition
Conformity: Self-declaration
Accredited lab required: Recommended

Paints & Varnishes

Paints and varnishes must comply with REACH, CLP, VOC limits, and general product safety rules.

Testing: VOC content, heavy metals, toxicity, drying and durability performance
Conformity: Self-declaration; Approved Body only for high-risk industrial coatings
Accredited lab required: Recommended

Batteries

Batteries must comply with the Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009.

Testing: Electrical safety, thermal stability, short-circuit, mechanical shock, leakage, chemical composition
Conformity: Self-declaration for standard batteries; Approved Body for high-risk batteries
Accredited lab required: Yes

Cosmetics

Cosmetics must comply with the UK Cosmetics Regulation and be notified to OPSS.

Testing: Microbiological safety, stability, preservative efficacy, toxicological assessment
Conformity: Self-declaration of safety
Accredited lab required: Recommended

Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceuticals must comply with the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and be authorised by MHRA.

Testing: API verification, purity, potency, stability, bioavailability
Conformity: MHRA approval mandatory
Accredited lab required: Yes (GMP-accredited)

Medical Devices

Medical devices must comply with the UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002 and bear UKCA marking.

Testing: Biocompatibility, electrical safety, software validation, performance and clinical evaluation
Conformity: Self-declaration for low-risk; Approved Body mandatory for Class IIa, IIb, III
Accredited lab required: Yes
Compliance Journey

Your Great Britain compliance process

Follow these steps to ensure your products meet Great Britain requirements

1

Product Classification

Identify the UK statutory instruments and GB product regulations that apply to your product (e.g. electrical safety, EMC, toys, machinery, PPE).

2

Standards Identification

Determine which UK "designated standards" (BS EN / BS ISO) apply and how they demonstrate conformity with the essential safety requirements.

3

Testing & Assessment

Plan and carry out required testing at suitably accredited laboratories (for example, UKAS-accredited labs for UKCA, or labs recognised for CE where you intend to use CE in GB). Compile test reports and risk assessments.

4

Technical Documentation

Prepare a GB technical file covering design, risk assessment, test reports, manufacturing controls and user information to support CE and/or UKCA marking.

Declaration & CE/UKCA Marking

Issue a UK Declaration of Conformity for Great Britain, referencing the relevant UK regulations and designated standards, and affix the CE and/or UKCA marking to your product and packaging as appropriate.

Documentation

Required documentation for Great Britain

Essential documents needed for CE/UKCA marking and GB compliance

Technical File Contents

Required technical documentation to support CE/UKCA marking:

  • Product Description
    General description, intended use, variants and model list
  • Design & Manufacturing
    Drawings, schematics, critical components, BOM, manufacturing controls
  • Risk Assessment
    Hazard analysis and risk reduction measures
  • Test Reports
    Relevant test reports (CE and/or UKCA) from accredited or otherwise competent labs
  • User Instructions
    Instructions for use, installation, disposal and safety warnings in English

UK Declaration of Conformity (Great Britain)

Required declaration elements for GB market:

  • Manufacturer Details
    Name and UK address of the manufacturer or GB importer; UK Responsible Person where required
  • Product Identification
    Model, type, batch or serial number and product description
  • Applicable Regulations
    List of UK statutory instruments (UK regulations) applying in Great Britain
  • Designated Standards Applied
    List of BS EN / BS ISO "designated standards" used to demonstrate conformity
  • Signature & Date
    Authorised GB signatory, place and date of issue

Document Retention Requirements

Technical documentation for products placed on the Great Britain market should generally be retained for at least 10 years after the last unit is placed on the market. Authorities (such as Trading Standards and OPSS) may request access to the documentation during this period.

Stay Updated

Recent regulatory updates

Latest changes and important announcements from regulators

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