United Kingdom (GB) - Consumer electronics (mains-powered)
UKCA and compliance requirements for consumer electronics (mains-powered)
General mains-powered electronic products for home use that are not covered by a more specific category. Covers electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, hazardous substances and take-back obligations.
For example: powered speaker, desk lamp with LED driver, set-top box, clock radio.
If the product has any radio function it becomes 'radio equipment': in the EU the RED then replaces the EMC Directive and LVD as the applicable act (their objectives are applied via RED Article 3.1), and similarly the UK Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 take over. US NRTL listing (e.g. UL) is an OSHA workplace requirement, not a federal consumer-sales mandate, but US retailers, importers and insurers routinely require it. UK WEEE producer-registration duties (WEEE Regulations 2013) also apply but are not a separate id in this dataset — verify. EU energy labelling / ecodesign rules may apply to some products and are beyond this dataset's scope.
Base requirements5 instruments
The GB safety law (successor to the EU Low Voltage Directive regime) for mains-voltage electrical equipment. Manufacturers self-assess against safety objectives, keep technical documentation, draw up a declaration of conformity and affix UKCA or CE marking — no third-party certification is required.
Key obligations
- 01Design and manufacture equipment in accordance with the principal safety objectives set out in Schedule 1 to the Regulations (essential characteristics, protection from hazards and from external influences).source
- 02Carry out the conformity assessment procedure (internal production control / self-assessment — no third-party certification is required) and draw up technical documentation before placing equipment on the GB market.source
- 03Prepare a declaration of conformity and retain it, with the technical documentation, for 10 years after the equipment has been placed on the GB market.source
- 04Provide instructions and safety information that are clear, legible and in easily understandable English, and ensure equipment carries the required manufacturer identification.source
The GB law on electromagnetic compatibility: electrical and electronic equipment must not emit electromagnetic disturbance above levels that stop other equipment working as intended, and must have adequate immunity to disturbance. Most manufacturers self-declare conformity and affix UKCA or CE marking.
Key obligations
- 01Design and manufacture equipment so that the electromagnetic disturbance it generates does not exceed the level above which radio and telecommunications equipment or other equipment cannot operate as intended (Schedule 1 essential requirements).source
- 02Ensure the equipment has a level of immunity to electromagnetic disturbance appropriate to its intended use, allowing it to operate without unacceptable degradation of that use.source
- 03Carry out a conformity assessment (self-declaration via internal production control, or voluntary third-party assessment), draw up a declaration of conformity, and affix the UKCA or CE marking.source
- 04Retain the declaration of conformity and technical documentation for 10 years after the apparatus has been placed on the GB market (applies to manufacturers and importers).source
The general safety net for consumer products in Great Britain: no producer may place a product on the market unless it is safe, and producers and distributors must monitor products and notify authorities about unsafe ones. In Northern Ireland these Regulations were superseded on 13 December 2024 by the EU General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988.
Key obligations
- 01No producer shall place a product on the market unless the product is a safe product (regulation 5) - one which under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use presents no risk, or only the minimum risk compatible with the product's use.source
- 02Producers must provide consumers with the relevant information to enable them to assess the risks and take precautions, and enable traceability by indicating the producer's name and address on the product or its packaging.source
- 03Producers must monitor marketed products: sample-test them, investigate and where necessary keep a register of complaints, and keep distributors informed of the results.source
- 04Distributors must act with due care to help ensure only safe products are supplied and must not supply products that, as a professional, they know or ought to know to be dangerous (regulation 8).source
Restricts ten hazardous substances (including lead, mercury, cadmium and four phthalates) in electrical and electronic equipment placed on the Great Britain market. Manufacturers must self-assess, draw up a declaration of conformity and technical documentation, and affix the UK marking.
Key obligations
- 01EEE placed on the market must not contain the substances listed in Schedule A1 above the maximum concentration value by weight in homogeneous materials: 0.1% for lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP, and 0.01% for cadmium.source
- 02Manufacturers must carry out the internal production control procedure and draw up technical documentation demonstrating compliance.source
- 03Manufacturers must draw up a declaration of conformity stating that the requirements have been met in relation to the EEE.source
- 04The UK marking must be affixed visibly, legibly and indelibly to the EEE (or to its packaging or accompanying documents where that is not possible).source
UKCA is Great Britain's product conformity marking, introduced after EU exit for goods that previously used CE marking. Since 1 October 2024, CE marking is also recognised in Great Britain with no end date for most goods covered by the framework, so businesses can generally use either marking.
Key obligations
- 01Before placing a product in scope of the regime on the GB market, carry out the conformity assessment required by the relevant product regulation and affix the UKCA marking — or the CE marking, which businesses have the flexibility to use in place of UKCA under the continued recognition policy.source
- 02Draw up a UK declaration of conformity and maintain technical documentation (technical files and test reports) demonstrating compliance.source
- 03Apply the UKCA marking in its standard, recognisable form, at least 5mm in height (unless a different minimum dimension is specified in the relevant legislation), and ensure it is easily visible, legible and indelible.source
- 04Until 11pm on 31 December 2027, the UKCA marking may alternatively be placed on a label affixed to the product or on a document accompanying the product (certain sectors such as marine, medical devices, rail and construction products have their own specific rules).source
If your product also...
Extra regulations triggered by specific features
Has radio / wireless (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, GPS, RFID/NFC)
Intended for or marketed to children (under 14)
Connects to the internet / runs updatable software
Documents you will need
Deduplicated across the regulations above
- Declaration of conformityDrawn up by the manufacturer; retained for 10 years after the equipment is placed on the GB market. The Regulations set out the required content in a Schedule.source
- Technical documentationDemonstrates conformity with the safety objectives; retained for 10 years by manufacturers and importers.source
- Instructions and safety informationMust accompany the equipment and be clear, legible and in easily understandable English.source
- Traceability and monitoring recordsNo declaration of conformity or technical file is required. Producers should be able to evidence traceability (name and address on product or packaging), sample testing, complaint investigation and, where necessary, a complaints register.source
- UK Declaration of ConformityMust be drawn up by the manufacturer stating the requirements have been met; a model template is available for download from the GOV.UK RoHS guidance page.source
Frequently asked
Do I need a third-party test lab or certification body?+
Not legally — the Regulations use manufacturer self-assessment (internal production control), so you can self-declare conformity. Most manufacturers still use accredited labs to test against designated standards, because a standards-based test report is the practical way to evidence conformity with the Schedule 1 safety objectives.
Do I need an approved body for EMC compliance?+
Usually not. The normal route is self-declaration via internal production control, testing against designated standards. Third-party type examination by a UK approved body (or EU notified body for CE) exists as an optional route.
Does GPSR 2005 require UKCA marking or a declaration of conformity?+
No. It is a general safety-net regulation with no conformity marking, declaration of conformity or technical file. Your obligations are that the product is safe, that consumers get the information they need, that you can trace products (name and address on the product or packaging), and that you monitor and notify.
Which substances does UK RoHS restrict?+
Ten substances, listed in Schedule A1: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), and four phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP). The limit is 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials for each, except cadmium at 0.01%.
My product is CE marked — do I also need UKCA to sell in Great Britain?+
For most goods covered by the UKCA/CE regime (electrical, EMC, radio, toys, machinery and similar), no. Since 1 October 2024 the government recognises CE marking for the GB market with no end date, so you can use CE, UKCA, or both. Check your specific product area though — sectors like medical devices, construction products, marine, rail and unmanned aircraft have separate arrangements.
Other markets, same product
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