On November 14, 2022 Business Secretary Grant Shapps announced businesses will be given a two year grace period to adopt the UKCA mark. The United Kingdom’s government has added a two year adjustment periods is in consideration to many factors. First is the aftermath of post-pandemic shifts in demand and supply causing a tumultuous economic environment. Alongside Putin’s war in Ukraine as energy prices sky rocket. These factors have been considered an instead of burdening businesses with a looming deadline chose to extend the adjustment timeframe.

The new deadline is December 31, 2024. In the meantime, the CE mark will be recognized as business are free to chose the UKCA marking. This gives them the flexibility to chose what is appropriate for their business and customer needs. This opens up a business to focus on other important priorities such as quality customer services, growing the business, and supporting their staff. This is a crucial time for the government not to smoother out new establishing businesses or businesses getting back on their feet. This also allows the government to ensure that the future systems for product safety marking are appropriate for its purpose of providing the highest standard for customers without harming businesses.

Manufacturers were not forgotten. The government is also reviewing the wider product safety framework ensuring that burdens on the business is minimized to what is necessary for safety while keeping the system up to date with new innovative methods such as e-labelling. This extension will give countless businesses, including electronic and lift manufacturers, additional time to focus on delivering growth and creating new jobs, while giving them the flexibility to meet their new legal obligations.

There will be different rules put in place for medical devices, construction products, cableways, transportable pressure equipment, unmanned aircraft systems, rail products, and marine equipment. The governmental departments that run those sector are making their own sector specific arrangements.

Here is the link of the official government update.