UKCA vs CE marking in 2026: what overseas brands need to know
By Drew Cooper, Founder & Director · Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
For most product types, Great Britain accepts the CE marking alongside the UKCA marking, with no end date set. That means a product already CE-marked for the EU can usually be sold in England, Scotland and Wales without re-marking. The exceptions are sectors with their own rules, such as medical devices and construction products, and Northern Ireland, which follows EU rules. CE acceptance does not remove the other UK requirements: UK contact details, English-language labelling and, for some categories, UK registration.
The position by market
| Market | Marking accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Great Britain, most product types | UKCA or CE | Continued CE recognition under the Product Safety and Metrology (Amendment) Regulations 2024, with no end date. |
| Great Britain, medical devices | UKCA, or CE for a transition period | The MHRA sets its own timetable. Devices must also be registered with the MHRA. |
| Great Britain, construction products | Sector-specific rules | Check the current position before relying on CE. |
| Northern Ireland | CE (UKCA alone is not valid) | EU product rules apply under the Windsor Framework. |
| European Union | CE only | UKCA is not recognised in the EU. |
What this means in practice
- Already CE-marked for the EU: keep the CE marking. Check your label carries UK contact details where required and that your declaration of conformity is available.
- Selling in the US only so far: US marks such as FCC or UL do not replace UK or EU conformity marking. Your product needs assessing against UK (or EU) requirements first, and CE is usually the better choice because it covers both Great Britain and the EU.
- Selling into Northern Ireland: plan for CE, as UKCA alone will not work there.
- Medical devices: follow the MHRA's timetable and registration rules rather than the general position.
Marking is only part of it
A CE or UKCA mark tells a regulator that the product has been assessed. It does not cover everything else Great Britain expects: a UK-based economic operator who can be identified, safety information and warnings in English, traceability details, and the documentation to back up the marking. Marketplaces such as Amazon check these before or after a listing goes live.
What to watch
The Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 gives the government powers to update product rules, including new duties for online marketplaces. The detailed regulations are still being developed, so the position above can change. We review this page when it does.
How Lantara helps
We check which marking and documentation your products need, review your labels, and keep you up to date as the rules change. See UK product compliance and labelling, or start with a free readiness check.