Action required

None
 

Affected customers

SCC Product, Process and Service Certification Program customers and applicants.

Background

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) received support from the Governments of Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) to implement the Protocol on the mutual acceptance of the results of conformity assessment included in the Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA). This protocol is largely identical to the protocol in the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). 

This protocol’s implementation has begun, and key activities include:

• In December 2021, SCC and UKAS finalized an annex to their existing cooperation agreement that provides the framework for this protocol’s implementation.
• SCC and UKAS assembled a joint steering committee to conduct this work. They have met three times and will continue to meet regularly throughout 2022. Slobodan (Bob) Levi is chairing this committee on behalf of SCC.
• The first product category to be activated will be ATEX/HAZLOC (Hazardous Locations in Canada and Equipment for explosive atmospheres in the UK).

Discussions are ongoing regarding the process for possible scope extensions for conformity assessment bodies (CABs) already recognized for ATEX in the EU as Notified Bodies, and who are also interested in becoming Approved Bodies in the UK. This includes confirmation of the UK’s requirements, the process for recognition as an Approved Body in the UK, and the impact of the new UKCA mark. Once these are confirmed, SCC will advise all SCC-accredited CABs so that the steps to being recognized as an Approved Body in the UK can begin. 
Regarding the UK’s new product conformity marking, the UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is the new product marking that will be required for all goods being placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) starting on January 1st, 2023. There is an exception for medical devices, for which the deadline is July 1st, 2023. This is the final deadline, and there will be no further extension. Additional information on the UKCA mark is available on the UK Government’s website.

New requirements

None

Deadline

The new UKCA marking will be required for all goods placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) starting on January 1st, 2023. There is an exception for medical devices, for which the deadline is July 1st, 2023. 

Questions and Feedback

We will continue to inform you on progress and impacts as this work continues. 
Please contact Slobodan (Bob) Levi, Senior Policy Analyst, Trade Services, at slobodan.levi@scc.ca if you have any questions or would like to discuss this protocol and its implementation.
SCC is also interested in your feedback on the order and priority of activating additional product category(ies) in the protocol’s Annex I and/or Annex II. See the lists of categories below. Please inform Slobodan (Bob) if you have feedback in this regard. 

The list of product categories included in Annex I of the protocol are the following: 

• Electrical and electronic equipment, including electrical installations and appliances, and related components;
• Toys;
• Construction products;
• Machinery, including parts, components, including safety components, interchangeable equipment, and assemblies of machines;
• Measuring instruments;
• Hot-water boilers, including related appliances;
• Equipment for use outdoors as it relates to noise emission in the environment; and
• Recreational craft, including their components.

Note: The electromagnetic compatibility and radio equipment product categories of are not included in this list as these categories remain activated as a result of the 1998 Canada-EU mutual recognition agreement (MRA). This MRA was terminated with the entry into force of CETA, as these categories were included under the CETA Conformity Assessment Protocol and have now been adopted in the TCA. 

The list of product categories included in Annex II of the protocol are the following:

• Medical devices including accessories;
• Pressure equipment, including vessels, piping, accessories and assemblies;
• Appliances burning gaseous fuels, including related fittings;
• Personal protective equipment;
• Rail systems, subsystems and interoperability constituents; and
• Equipment placed on board a ship.