Ecodesign requirements

If you manufacture, supply or import certain energy-related products for sale you must ensure that your products meet the applicable technical design requirements.

The requirements depend on the type of product. Each product category is governed by its own regulation. In Scotland, these are set out in the UK ecodesign legislation, while in Northern Ireland, EU implementing regulations continue to apply under the Windsor Framework. The regulations may specify:

• the products covered
• application dates
• design requirements, including the use of raw materials, energy and resource consumption over the product’s life cycle, information for end-users and service personnel, ease of disassembly, recycling potential, noise, vibrations, durability, and the risk of environmental emissions
• measurement and testing methods
• conformity assessment procedures
• product information and labelling requirements

Manufacturers are required to:

• assess the environmental aspects and impact of the product
• ensure the product is designed to meet relevant ecodesign requirements
• carry out conformity assessment, typically through self-assessment
• apply the appropriate product marking:
• for Great Britain, you can use the UKCA mark
• for the EU and Northern Ireland, the CE mark is required
• where applicable, products assessed by UK-based conformity bodies for the NI market must also bear the UKNI mark alongside the CE mark.

See the Government guidance on placing manufactured goods on the GB (Scotland England and Wales) market

GOV.UK Placing manufactured goods on the GB market, New rules for January 2021

For placing goods on other markets, see:

• placing manufactured goods on the EU market
• placing manufactured goods on the market in Northern Ireland from Great Britain
• placing manufactured goods on the market in Northern Ireland from the EU

Product documentation

You must keep technical documentation and declarations of conformity for each model model you manufacture or import for at least ten years after it was last placed on the market. This information must be made available to enforcement authorities within 10 days upon request.

Further information

• GOV.UK: The energy labelling of products
• GOV.UK: Saving energy through better products and appliances