CE marking and UKCA marking of machinery
When the European Union was founded, one of the aims was to create a single European market by removing trade barriers that existed among the EU Member States. This has been achieved partly through legislation known as the “New Approach” directives, which includes the requirement to CE Mark machinery that is to be placed on the European market for the first time.
The New Approach Directives are designed to ensure that goods are safe to use and that the standards of safety are the same across the European Trading Block. The HSQE Department works with customers on CE marking of machinery under the Machinery Directive.
The Machinery Directive has been in force in the UK since 2008 through the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations, which applies to all powered articles. As well as whole machines, these requirements apply to interchangeable equipment, safety components placed independently on the market, lifting accessories, chains, ropes and webbing, removable transmission devices and partly completed equipment. Apart from some high-risk categories of equipment, the organisation that places machinery on the market is responsible for ensuring that design and manufacture meet the required safety standards and must record this through the preparation of a Technical File.
We are often asked what happens to CE marking now that the UK has left the EU? The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations are part of UK law and the Government has declared its intention that nothing will change after the BREXIT transition period. The use of CE marking will continue until the end of December 2021 for certain circumstances but, from the end of December 2020 the new UKCA mark comes into use. At the same time, applicable EN standards will be added to a list of Approved Standards
The HSQE Department helps companies to develop the systems needed for CE marking and UKCA marking and manages the certification process where a Notified Body is needed.
Please contact us to discuss your needs or to discuss how CE marking and UKCA marking applies after December 2020.
The lastest guidance on UKCA marking is here.
