United Kingdom
A label that satisfies Brussels does not automatically satisfy London. Great Britain operates its own conformity system, requires its own operator and, for several categories, its own mark.
Goods placed on the market in Great Britain require an importer or an authorised representative established in the UK, identified with a British postal address. An EU responsible person does not cover Britain, and a British responsible person does not cover Ireland.
Our UK packages are issued by REP27 LTD in Mildenhall, Suffolk, so the address printed on the label belongs to a company that exists within the jurisdiction.
UKCA is the British equivalent of CE for the regulated categories: electrical safety, EMC, toys, machinery, PPE and others. It is applied by the manufacturer based on a UK declaration of conformity.
Recognition of CE marking has been extended for several categories, and the situation has changed multiple times. We place the mark your category and your date actually require, and we clearly indicate when the safest approach is to carry both marks.
English, and English that a British consumer understands as English. Instructions translated for the EU market and reused for Britain are usually understandable, but they appear foreign and are the first thing a reviewer notices.
Age warnings, care symbols and material declarations generally follow the same category rules as the EU, which is why the two packages share a product record and differ only where the law differs.
Northern Ireland continues to follow EU product rules. A product sold throughout the entire United Kingdom often bears both the EU and UK markings, which is exactly what the two packages together produce.
For many categories, CE marking remains recognized in Great Britain indefinitely under legislation enacted in 2024, provided the product continues to meet aligned requirements. For others, UKCA is the sole route.
The best practice for a seller with stock moving in both directions is a label that bears both marks and both operators, rather than two separate production runs and a warehouse decision.
Where the category has diverged — such as some construction products, medical devices, certain machinery — the two markets genuinely require separate files, and we advise so instead of printing both marks in hope.
A GB importer must affix their name and address on the product, or on the packaging or accompanying documents where the product is too small. That information is separate from the manufacturer's.
When a distributor purchases from an EU seller after Brexit, they are usually the importer. Many discover this only when an authority contacts them, because pre-2021 paperwork never specified it.
Northern Ireland applies EU rules, so goods moving there from Great Britain may need the EU markings. The UKNI marking exists for the narrow case where a UK body performed the assessment for goods sold in Northern Ireland.
In terms of labelling, the typical approach is straightforward: include the EU markings for Northern Ireland and Ireland, and the GB markings for Britain, on the same artwork.
| Element | European Union | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|
| Conformity mark | CE | UKCA, or CE where recognized |
| Operator on the label | EU responsible person | UK importer or authorised representative |
| Declaration | EU declaration of conformity | UK declaration of conformity |
| Language | Language of each member state | English |
| Northern Ireland | Follows the EU column | UKNI only in narrow cases |
The same information, in the order an inspector or reviewer encounters it.
If you sell in both markets, generally yes, and both marks can appear on the same artwork.
Yes, if they import the goods. That makes them the importer with the associated obligations, so confirm this in writing beforehand.
No. The address must belong to an operator who has explicitly accepted the role.
For many categories, yes, under the recognition legislation. For others, UKCA is required, and the list has changed multiple times.
It must be an operator established in the UK with a valid address capable of receiving correspondence.
English is accepted in Ireland for consumer information; Irish is not mandatory on labels.
Print-ready artwork for the markets you sell in, a permanent code with a public record, and a free reissue whenever your details change. Seven days free, no credit card required.
EU Label Compliance