United Kingdom (GB) - Drone / UAS
UKCA and compliance requirements for drone / UAS
Uncrewed aircraft for consumer and commercial use. Radio compliance and battery rules form the base; aviation-specific class marking and operational rules sit on top of everything listed here.
For example: camera quadcopter, FPV racing drone, toy drone, agricultural drone.
IMPORTANT CAVEAT: EU drones must additionally carry an EASA class identification label (C0–C4) under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, and operators face the operational rules of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 — these aviation instruments are beyond this dataset; treat them as mandatory additional sector rules. The UK has its own CAA UAS regulations (registration, operator ID, and a UK class-marking scheme being phased in — verify current status). US: FAA rules apply on top — registration, Remote ID (14 CFR Part 89) and Part 107 for commercial operation — out of scope here. As radio equipment, the RC/Wi-Fi links make the RED / UK Radio Equipment Regulations and FCC intentional-radiator certification the core electronics requirements; EMC and LVD objectives are covered via the RED. The mains entries refer to the charger. Toy drones for children under 14 are also toys (EU/UK) and children's products (US). Camera drones raise privacy/GDPR considerations.
Base requirements4 instruments
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 In Northern Ireland these Regulations were superseded on 13 December 2024 by the EU General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988.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
The GB law for products that intentionally transmit or receive radio waves (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular and other wireless products). Radio equipment must meet three essential requirements — safety, electromagnetic compatibility and efficient use of the radio spectrum — before being placed on the GB market with UKCA or CE marking.
Key obligations
- 01Design and manufacture radio equipment to ensure a high level of safety (health and safety of persons and domestic animals, and the protection of property).source
- 02Ensure an adequate level of electromagnetic compatibility.source
- 03Ensure the equipment operates in a manner that promotes efficient use of the radio spectrum.source
- 04Carry out a conformity assessment procedure, draw up a declaration of conformity (retained for 10 years from market placement and provided to enforcement authorities on request), and affix the UKCA or CE marking.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
Plugs into mains power (50–1000 V AC)
Intended for or marketed to children (under 14)
Connects to the internet / runs updatable software
Documents you will need
Deduplicated across the regulations above
- 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
- Declaration of conformityMust identify the specific product and include manufacturer name/address (and authorised representative where applicable); retained for 10 years from market placement and made available to enforcement authorities on request. Format set out in Schedules 6 and 7 (a simplified form is provided for).source
- Technical documentationEvidence that the equipment meets the three essential requirements, including the conformity assessment records.source
- Instructions and usage informationInstructions and safety information in easily understandable English, including frequency bands, transmit power and any restrictions on putting into service.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
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.
My product has Wi-Fi or Bluetooth — which UK regulations apply?+
The Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 apply to anything that intentionally transmits or receives radio waves, and they carry their own safety and EMC essential requirements. Radio equipment in scope is generally excluded from the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, so the RER is usually your primary regime (RoHS and other laws can still apply in parallel).
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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