Find out how to comply with new legislation
The UK has left the EU and the new rules are here, including a new UK regulatory framework.
Not sure whether legislative changes affect your business? Confused about what you need to do? Businesses may need to take action even if they don’t import or export goods. Make sure you are ready to grow.
This page is aimed at businesses and contains specific information and updates on the EU transition from:
- Trading Standards at Hertfordshire County Council.
- Environmental Health at district/borough councils.
- For areas not covered by Trading Standards and Environmental Health, you will find links to other sources of support at the bottom of this page.
It is important that all businesses visit www.gov.uk/transition and use the ‘Brexit checker' tool to get a personalised list of actions for your business, and also sign up to alerts, updates and webinars.
Update on UKCA marking change and Retained EU Law (Revocation & Reform) Bill
UKCA marking
When we left the EU, the government created the UKCA mark to replace the CE mark.
The deadline for when business need to use the new UKCA mark has again been extended, for most products, until 11pm on 31 December 2024.
The government is also continuing to allow businesses to affix the UKCA marking, and to include importer information for products from EEA countries (and in some cases, Switzerland) on an accompanying document or a label until 31 December 2027. And, to reduce re-testing costs for UKCA certification by allowing conformity assessment activities for CE marking undertaken, for products placed on the market before 11pm on 31 December 2024, to be used by manufacturers as the basis for UKCA marking, until the expiry of the certificate or until 31 December 2027, whichever is sooner.
Further guidance can be found here: Using the UKCA marking
There are separate deadlines and rules for other products, such as -
Construction Products: Construction Products Regulation in Great Britain
Medical devices: Regulating medical devices in the UK
Divergence from EU Law
Leaving the EU was always going to lead to divergence from EU law. One less obvious way this is happening is in the designation of standards for the GB market that differ from harmonised standards that are the EU equivalent.
By following designated standards, manufacturers can claim, ‘presumption of conformity’ (which can be countered by evidence) with the corresponding essential requirements. Designated standards do not replace the essential requirements and manufacturers retain full responsibility for ensuring the applicable GB law is met.
More information on designated standards can be found here: Designated standards
Retained EU Law (Revocation & Reform) Bill
REUL, for short, proposes sunsetting more than 2,400 pieces of retained EU legislation on 31 December 2023, unless, before then, a departmental review proposes retention of, or changes to, the legislation, or delays the sunset until 2026.
The Bill has yet to become an Act but given the timescale and size of the task, government departments are already hard at work on this.
A dashboard of identified laws can be found here: Retained EU Law Dashboard
Brexit guidance
Product safety
This guidance includes the new UK and NI safety mark, sector specific changes to industries such as cosmetics, chemicals and toys along with changes to weighed and measured (quantities of) goods.
Importing
This guidance includes Identification Marks and Health Certificates, importing products of animal origin (POAO), labelling and changes to suppliers' and distributors' responsibilities.
Exporting
This guidance includes Identification Marks and Export Health Certificates, exporting products of animal origin (POAO), labelling and changes to suppliers and distributors’ responsibilities.
Food businesses
This guidance includes changes for food businesses (even if you don’t export or import) regarding food-specific standards, including labelling changes.
Animals and pets
This guidance includes changes for importing and exporting live animals, as well as pet travel.
Other sources of support
Hertfordshire councils and business support organisations strongly encourage you to access their support. See how Hertfordshire organisations can help your business with the EU transition:
Hertfordshire Trading Standards is responsible for ensuring certain products placed on the market are safe and labelled correctly. This includes food and animal feed products and products that must meet specific standards, including safety marking. Hertfordshire Trading Standards is supporting local businesses by ensuring that they are kept up to date with legislative changes and can continue to place compliant products on the market.
Call the Trading Standards Business Advice Line: 01707 281401
Visit the Trading Standards webpage
Environmental Health teams at your local council are responsible for the hygiene and safety of food, Identification Marks and Export Health Certificates. They are supporting local businesses by ensuring that they are kept up to date with legislative changes and can continue to import and export safe food from the EU. Economic Development teams at your local council may have additional services to support your business too.
Hertfordshire Growth Hub's EU Transition Advisors can support businesses by keeping you up-to-date with transition news and updates; providing guidance that is tailored specifically for your business sector; working with you to understand what exactly EU transition means for your business; and helping you to access a host of fully funded support programmes delivered by Hertfordshire Growth Hub and its partners.
Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce: visit the Chamber website for Brexit-related articles, updates and events. Get in touch with the Export Team for support with the new Customs Declaration forms.
Samuel Hudson is Programme Manager for Better Business For All.
