The UK to recognize CE-marked weighing and measuring instruments

Before Brexit when the United Kingdom (UK) was still part of the European Union (EU), products placed on the UK market were required to comply with the EU directives and bear a CE mark (from the French conformité Européenne meaning "European conformity") to demonstrate compliance with these directives. 

After Brexit, the UK implemented new regulations to replace the EU directives. The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark was introduced as the new compliance mark for the UK market. The UK implemented a transition period ending on 31 December 2024, giving manufacturers and importers time to implement the new UK regulations into their business operations.

However, on 23 May 2024, the UK parliament passed legislation "Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024" to continue indefinitely recognizing EU requirements, including the CE marking, for a range of product regulations.

This new legislation covers recognition of the most common EU directives including:

• The restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (Directive 2011/65/EU)
• Eco-design requirements for energy-related products (Directive 2009/125/EC and all implementing Regulations for specific product groups that have been adopted under this Framework Directive)
• Electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (Directive 2014/35/EU)
• Machinery (Directive 2006/42/EC)
• Electromagnetic compatibility (Directive 2014/30/EU)
• Measuring instruments (Directive 2014/32/EU)
• Non-automatic weighing instruments (Directive 2014/31/EU)
• Radio equipment (Directive 2014/53/EU)
• Pressure equipment (Directive 2014/68/EU)
• Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (Directive 2014/34/EU)

During a meeting between the NIST OWM and the UK Weighing Federation (UKWF), it was confirmed that this new legislation will allow U.S. manufacturers (in most cases) to place their products on the UK market if these products meet the EU directives and bear the CE mark. This includes weighing and measuring instruments used for legal metrological applications. In other words, separate UK certification of the instrument (UK-Type Examination Certificate) and/or the production process (e.g., Module D) will no longer be required, potentially saving US manufacturers thousands of dollars on certifications.

Not every EU directive or regulation is recognized in the UK. For example, medical devices that fall under the EU Medical Device Regulation are excluded from the recognition of EU requirements and must meet the UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002 for them to be placed on the UK market.

This new legislation will come into force on 1 October 2024.

Visit the UK government website to get more information on this legislation or the use of the UKCA mark.