Regulations and Standards for Batteries in the United Kingdom

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Regulations and Standards for Batteries in the United Kingdom

Batteries and products containing batteries sold in the UK are subject to various safety standards, substance restrictions, labelling, documentation, and testing requirements. Ensuring compliance is essential, as non-compliant batteries can explode and cause fires.

In this guide, we take a closer look at the Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2008, Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 and other UK regulations relevant to batteries and products containing batteries. However, this article does not cover UK regulations relevant only to electronic parts, such as the Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016.

Note: This article does not cover requirements for Northern Ireland, which is generally aligned with EU product safety requirements.
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Which products must be UKCA marked?

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UKCA marked products

UKCA marking indicates compliance with one or more UK regulations that in turn requires the UKCA mark on the product or its packaging. The marking can be found on many products that were previously CE marked when the UK was part of the EU. As such, the UKCA mark is commonly found on toys, electronics, PPE, medical devices and many other products.

In this guide, we list different UKCA marking regulations and explain what type of products they cover. The information presented in this guide is based on information found on the GOV.UK website. The product examples are taken from the lists of designated standards and, in some cases, from the text of the relevant regulation.

Note: This article does not cover requirements for Northern Ireland, which is generally aligned with EU product safety requirements.
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Regulations and Standards for Personal Protective Equipment in the United Kingdom

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Personal Protective Equipment in the United Kingdom

Personal protective equipment sold in the United Kingdom should comply with various regulations, safety standards, and other requirements. Non-compliant PPE may not adequately protect the user – for instance, helmets that break easily may not protect motorcyclists and construction workers from head injuries, which may lead to severe injuries.

In this guide, we explain how regulations such as the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation (EU) 2016/425 and the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 apply to personal protective equipment sold in the United Kingdom.

Note: This article does not cover requirements for Northern Ireland, which is generally aligned with EU product safety requirements.
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UK General Product Safety Regulations 2005: An Overview

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UK General Product Safety Regulations

The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 requires that products are safe for use before they are sold to consumers in the United Kingdom. To achieve this, companies must ensure that their products meet certain safety standards and are correctly labelled, documented, and tested.

In this guide, we take a closer look at the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and how it practically impacts companies selling consumer products in the United Kingdom.

Note that this guide only covers the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 in the UK, which is based on the EU GPSD. This is not to be confused with the more recent EU GPSR from 2024.

Note: This article does not cover requirements for Northern Ireland, which is generally aligned with EU product safety requirements.
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Regulations and Standards for Baby and Children’s Products in the United Kingdom

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Children’s products sold in the United Kingdom are subject to safety standards, labelling, documentation, and testing requirements. This is the case both for toys and other children’s products, such as high chairs, strollers, cribs, baby carriers, and drinking bottles.

In this guide, we take a closer look at regulations that are highly relevant to children’s products, such as the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, the Toys (Safety) Regulations, and the UK REACH regulation.

Note: This article does not cover requirements for Northern Ireland, which is generally aligned with EU product safety requirements.

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Cosmetic Product Regulations in the United Kingdom: An Overview

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Cosmetic Product Regulations in the United Kingdom

Cosmetic products sold in the United Kingdom must comply with various substance restrictions, labelling, documentation, and testing requirements. In this guide, we take a closer look at Cosmetic Products Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, UK REACH, and other compliance requirements relevant to skincare, haircare, makeup and other cosmetic products.

Additionally, we explain the differences between the UK and EU versions of the regulations affecting cosmetic products.

Note that even if some requirements may still be the same in the EU and UK, this may change as regulations continue to be amended and the two diverge further. However, note that the article excludes requirements for cosmetic products sold in Northern Ireland, which remains aligned with EU requirements.

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CE Marking Requirements in the United Kingdom: An Overview

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There has been a lot of confusion about the future status of CE marking in the United Kingdom since Brexit. In its place, products were supposed to be marked with the UKCA symbol.

However, the UK has since changed course and decided to accept CE marking for certain product types. This can simplify the product compliance process, as the implication is that a CE marked product could be sold in both the UK and the EU.

In this guide, we explain which products can be CE marked in the UK, and how CE marking differs from UKCA marking.

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List of Product Liability Insurance Companies in the United Kingdom

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Product liability insurance provides coverage in case you face claims due to personal injury or property damage. No product is ‘risk-free’ when it comes to potential safety hazards – which can be caused by unforeseen manufacturing or design errors.

In short, product liability insurance can serve as your last line of defense, if something goes wrong despite your best efforts.

In this guide, we list some of the United Kingdom’s leading product liability insurance providers, covering both insurance companies and brokers.
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Extended Producer Responsibility in the United Kingdom: An Overview

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Extended Producer Responsibility in the United Kingdom
The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) extends a producer’s financial and operational responsibility regarding packaging and packed goods past the post-consumer stage. In practical terms, this means that UK importers and manufacturers may need to pay for the collection and disposal of packaging waste generated from sales.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements also cover registration, collection, and reporting – and labelling of the packaging.

In this guide, we explain EPR requirements in detail and provide information on a few EPR compliance scheme companies, which can help you to comply with the requirements.
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Möbius Loop Guide for the US, EU and UK

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Möbius Loop Symbol

The Möbius loop is a widely recognized symbol that generally indicate packaging recyclability. The requirements for using the Möbius loop symbol differ depending on whether you sell in the EU, US, or UK.

For example, some regulations – such as 16 CFR Part 260 in the US – set requirements and guidance on how to use the Möbius loop symbol. For instance, importers and manufacturers might need to provide proof of their packaging’s recyclability or qualify their recyclability claims.

In short, you should not use the Möbius loop symbol unless you have something to support it. Even then, the requirements are not always crystal clear.

In this guide, we explain the meaning of the Möbius loop symbol, and how guidance regarding its usage varies across the EU, the US, and the UK.

Note that we always refer to “packaging” because, in the official documents we could find, the provided examples usually concern packaging products (e.g. cardboard boxes or food containers).

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