The UK's withdrawal from the EU's Single Market and Customs Union on January 1 next year has led to an update of the Amazon platform's policies. In addition to the tax changes, Amazon has also recently released a notice of "Changes to Product Compliance and Labeling Requirements". In the announcement, Amazon stated that the CE compliance mark will be replaced.
Amazon UK Announcement: Changes to Product Compliance and Labeling Requirements
Amazon has made some changes to its compliance requirements and labeling rules that will apply to certain items sold by sellers on Amazon.
Amazon Product Compliance Updates
I. Product compliance changes are as follows (including but not limited to):
1. New energy labeling requirements
2. The new UKCA mark of conformity will replace the CE mark of conformity.
3. New REACH chemical regulations
4、Medical device related changes
5、Jewelry purity mark change
6. Food and Beverage Labeling Changes
These changes apply to sellers on the UK site, who can view the corresponding information on the platform's Brexit help page.
Among the updates, the most important thing for sellers is that the United Kingdom will use the new compliance standard UKCA, and the commonly used CE marking will be invalidated.
CE marking is a basic safety requirement limited to products that do not jeopardize the safety of humans, animals, or goods. Strictly speaking, the CE mark is a safety mark of conformity, but also manufacturers to open and enter the European market passport to the European station sellers, this certification is very important. In our country, basically many suppliers are script CE certification, if not certified products are absolutely not to choose.
Based on the current situation, it looks like it will be implemented on January 1, 2021 in the UK. Amazon has also indicated that there will be a one-year transition period for sellers before the conformity mark is replaced, which means that after January 1, 2022, the CE mark will be abolished.
Although the new regulation was announced for sellers in the UK, it is actually more noteworthy for sellers in Europe. This is because the CE mark is still recognized in the EU after the UK has replaced the mark.
This is equivalent to, before the implementation of the policy next year, sellers who do both UK and European sites, the products have to have two kinds of certification: CE certification, UKCA certification. Therefore, before the end of the transition period, sellers should make preparations in advance.
New Energy and REACH Certification Update
In addition to the most concerned CE certification, new energy and REACH certification are also noteworthy.
Among them, REACH is a chemical regulatory system established by the European Union. In the Amazon announcement, the United Kingdom also has an independent regulatory framework for chemicals, REACH, and the implementation of the REACH regulation will also take place on January 1, 2021.
This means that sellers wishing to sell, manufacture or distribute chemicals in the UK and EU will need to comply with the UK REACH and EU REACH requirements.
REACH certification is a product certification that complies with the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemical substances in products. Typical product categories include: chemicals, alloys, plastics, semi-finished products; toys, furniture, stationery, cosmetics, paints, lacquers, glues and detergents; textile apparel, footwear, and leather goods; electrical and electronic appliances; furniture, leisure and sporting goods; and more.
The sale of these products will be prohibited if the content of certain chemical substances exceeds the prescribed limits.
To summarize, sellers in the UK should replace the CE certification with UKCA certification in a timely manner. In addition, in the new energy, REACH certification, etc., sellers should also pay attention to the replacement time limit, within the prescribed time to update.
The UKCA mark will apply to most goods currently subject to CE marking. This includes aerosol products. From January 1, 2021, the technical requirements you must meet as well as the conformity assessment processes and standards available for demonstrating conformity will be essentially the same as they are now. The UKCA marking provides separate guidance on medical devices, railroad interoperability, construction products and explosives for civil use. The UKCA mark is intended to be used from January 1, 2021, allowing cross-border sellers to adapt to the new requirements and still be able to use the CE mark until January 1, 2022. The GB and EU rules remain unchanged. If the EU changes its rules and you CE mark your products on the basis of these new rules, you will not be able to use the CE mark to sell in the UK until December 31, 2021 even if you have not yet done so. The UKCA marking of goods sold in the EU will not be recognized in the EU market and the CE marking will still be required for products to be sold in the EU market.
II. When to use UKCA marking
The new UKCA mark will need to be used immediately after January 1, 2021 if all of the following conditions are met. The conditions are set out below:
1. For the UK market;
2. Protected by legislation dealing with UKCA marking;
3. Mandatory third party conformity assessment is required;
4. The conformity assessment is carried out by a UK conformity assessment body and you have not yet had until January 1, 2021 to transfer the conformity assessment document from your UK organization to an EU-approved organization.
This does not apply to existing stock, e.g. if your goods are fully manufactured and ready to be placed on the market by January 1st 2021. In this case, even if covered by a certificate, your item can still be sold in the UK with a certificate of conformity issued by the CE marking UK organization.
Rules for the use of UKCA pictures
The use of product markings must be ensured:
1. If you reduce or increase the size of the mark, the letters forming the UKCA mark must be reduced or increased in proportion to the scale of the version below;
2. The height of the UKCA mark is at least 5mm - unless a different minimum size is required by relevant legislation;
3. The said UKCA markings are easily visible and clear in the UKCA pictures.
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