The UKCA mark was launched in the UK to replace the EU CE mark after Brexit. Due to the lack of preparation time two transition periods were added.

1^st January 2022

Companies have been able to deliver stock with a CE mark but after 1^st January 2022 the CE mark will no longer be recognised in the UK and for toys a UKCA mark must be used for any stock placed on the UK market after 1^st January.

Stock placed on the UK market before 1^st January 2022 can continue to be sold through.

Until 1^st January 2023, for Toys companies have the option to affix the UKCA marking on a label affixed to the product or on an accompanying document. 

An accompanying document means:

• Instructions
• Leaflet
• Packaging

In addition, for the purposes of Brexit the UK Government has stated that it can also mean:

• Shipping paperwork
• Customs papers
• Invoices to GB customers
• Transit carton labels
• Pallet labels
• Declarations of Conformity even where links are supplied to electronic documents

The UK Government has given this expanded definition of accompanying documents within Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 guidance. Accompanying documents would follow each batch of products through the distribution chain but not necessarily each product.

The use of “accompanying documents” is acceptable until 31^st December 2022.

1^st January 2023

After 1^st January 2023 where applicable the UKCA mark must be on the actual product or on the packaging / label accompanying the product. Note that not all legislation requires UKCA marking on the actual product including toys however other legislation such as EMC which can apply to toys does require it on the product.

For more details see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukca-marking

Note that a UK address has been required since 1^st January 2021 and for products that require mandatary third party testing UK Approved Bodies must be used.