THE UKCA MARKING
The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is a new UK product marking that is used for all goods (including motorcycle clothing) placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) that fall within the scope of PPE (personal protective equipment). This covers goods which previously required the CE marking, testing to a vast range of criteria such as abrasion, tear, seam strength and chemical compliance.
THE TRANSITION
This new UKCA marking technically came into effect on 1st January 2021. However, to allow businesses effected which cross a broad spectrum of industries time to adjust to the new requirements, all products can still use the CE marking marking until 1st January 2023.
As of 1st January 2023 the CE marking is no longer applicable in Great Britain and the UKCA takes its place indefinitely, with dual certification possible.
DIFFERENT MARKING, SAME CRITERIA
The UK has now left the EU and this transition period where most EU legislation (including the PPE regulation (EU) 2016/425 including motorcycle clothing) still applies. The EU/UK relationship has become a ‘third’ country, in which the new UK legislation will be UK 2019 SI 696 Schedule 35 Regulation 38. This mirrors PPE regulation (EU) 2016/425.
In summary, the UKCA marking which you will see on Merlin product in the future will have been through the same test criteria as the products marked CE (for EU sale) but are marked accordingly for legal sale in Great Britain.