Great Britain: Updates to product compliance regulations – digital labelling

 

Great Britain has published the Product Safety and Metrology etc (Amendment) (Marking and Labelling) Regulations 2024.  It introduces a new option to label products: digitally.

The United Kingdom has announced its intention to introduce a voluntary option for businesses to use digital labelling, as an alternative to physical labelling, for certain marking and information requirements. This will apply to most manufactured products. Where the Regulations require businesses to provide a product’s UK conformity marking, manufacturer details, importer details, responsible person details (or in the case of the Aerosols Dispensers Regulations 2009, the person responsible for the marketing of the aerosol dispenser) and UK Declaration of Conformity, this will allow businesses to provide access to such marking and information through a digital link.

The United Kingdom also intends to make permanent the current temporary labelling easements relating to a product’s UK conformity marking and importer details. Where the Regulations require businesses to provide a product’s UK conformity marking and importer details on a product, this will allow businesses to provide the same marking and details on the product’s packaging, on a label affixed to the product or the product’s packaging, or on an accompanying document. In respect of the existing importer details easement, this will be made permanent and expanded to provide more flexibility for all importers.

These labelling easements will also be extended to cover a product’s manufacturer details. Where the Regulations require businesses to provide manufacturer or responsible person details (or marketer details in the case of the Aerosols Dispensers Regulations 2009) on the product, this will also allow businesses to provide these details on the product’s packaging, on a label affixed to the product or the product’s packaging, or on an accompanying document.

This legislation applies to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

Products covered fall under the 18 product regulations under the responsibility of the Department for Business and Trade, the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero), the Explosives Regulations 2014 (Department for Work and Pensions (Health and Safety Executive)), and the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

To find out more about product compliance in United Kingdom, please contact the Product Compliance Institute directly.