What has to be printed on the product, its packaging or the documents before goods from China can be sold in Great Britain, for six common product types. Every line cites the GOV.UK guidance or the regulation on legislation.gov.uk it comes from. Pick a category, copy the list and send it to the factory with your artwork brief.
Great Britain continues to recognise the CE marking alongside or in place of the UKCA marking under the Product Safety and Metrology (Amendment) Regulations 2024. That covers the electrical, EMC and toy rules below. Medical devices, construction products, marine equipment, rail products, cableways, transportable pressure equipment and uncrewed aircraft systems have their own rules.
GOV.UK: Placing UKCA or CE marked products on the market in Great BritainThe UKCA marking can go on a label affixed to the product, or on a document accompanying it, until 11pm on 31 December 2027. It can also go on the product itself. Markings must be at least 5mm high unless the product's legislation sets another size, and easily visible, legible and indelible.
GOV.UK: Using the UKCA markingThe importer must put its name (or registered trade name or trade mark) and a postal address on the product. The packaging or an accompanying document is allowed only where the product's regulations permit, typically where it is not possible to mark the product. The concession to use packaging or a document until 31 December 2027 applies to goods imported from an EEA state or Switzerland, not to goods shipped direct from China.
GOV.UK: Placing UKCA or CE marked products on the market in Great BritainChoose a product category
Consumer products with no product-specific regime are covered by the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 in Great Britain. The EU General Product Safety Regulation (2023/988) applies in Northern Ireland, not in Great Britain. Products covered below by a specific regime must meet that regime as well.
The producer's name and address. For goods made in China by a manufacturer with no UK representative, the producer is the UK business placing them on the market, so this is your name and address.
The product reference or, where applicable, the batch the product belongs to.
Warnings and information that let consumers assess risks that are not obvious without them, and take precautions.
Mains-voltage equipment falls under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 and most electrical and electronic apparatus under the Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016. Wireless products fall under the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 instead of the EMC rules.
The UKCA or CE marking, backed by a declaration of conformity.
A type, batch or serial number or other element that identifies the equipment.
The manufacturer's name, registered trade name or trade mark, and a single postal address. On the equipment; the packaging or a document only where it cannot go on the equipment.
The UK importer's name, registered trade name or trade mark, and a postal address. On the equipment; the packaging or an accompanying document only where that is not possible.
For EMC apparatus, the importer's details on the apparatus; an accompanying document only where they cannot go on the apparatus or its packaging.
Instructions and safety information in clear, legible, easily understandable English.
The crossed-out wheeled bin symbol, on each item. Only in exceptional cases, because of the product's size or function, on the packaging, the instructions and the warranty instead.
A date mark showing the equipment was placed on the market after 13 August 2005, on each item.
Toys are covered by the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
The UKCA or CE marking, visible, legible and indelible, on the toy, a label affixed to it or its packaging. For seven years from 31 December 2020 it may go on an accompanying document instead; small toys may use a separate label or leaflet.
A type, batch, serial or model number or other information that identifies the toy.
The manufacturer's name, registered trade name or trade mark, and a single contact address. On the toy; the packaging or a document only where the toy's size or nature prevents it.
The UK importer's name, registered trade name or trade mark, and contact address. On the toy; the packaging or a document only where the toy's size or nature prevents it, or the packaging would have to be opened.
Warnings, instructions and safety information in English, clearly visible and legible, with warnings preceded by the word "Warning" or "Warnings".
Warnings that decide the purchase, such as the minimum or maximum age, visible before purchase, including on a website listing.
User limitations including at least the minimum or maximum age and, where appropriate, abilities, weight and adult supervision.
For toys that might be dangerous for children under 36 months: "Not suitable for children under 36 months" (or "under three years") or the graphic in Schedule 5, with a brief indication of the specific hazard, which may be in the instructions. Not needed for toys manifestly unsuitable for under-36-month-olds.
Cosmetics sold in Great Britain need a Responsible Person with a UK address, and are labelled under Article 19 of the GB cosmetics regulation. Cosmetics carry no UKCA or CE marking.
The name and address of the UK Responsible Person. It must be a UK established address, not a PO box or mail forwarding address.
The country of origin, for an imported product.
The weight or volume (nominal content).
The date of minimum durability, or the period after opening.
Precautions for use and warnings.
The batch number. Where the container is too small for it to appear on both, it may appear on the outer packaging alone.
The product's function, unless clear from its presentation.
The list of ingredients. It may appear on the packaging alone.
All of the above in English and easy to read.
Fibre content labelling is set by Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 as it applies in Great Britain, enforced by the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012. Clothing is also a consumer product under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, so add the general items too.
The name and percentage by weight of every fibre, in descending order.
Only the fibre names listed in Annex I of the regulation.
For a product with two or more components of different fibre content, the content of each.
The phrase "Contains non-textile parts of animal origin" where the product has them, such as leather or fur trims.
A label or marking that is durable, easily legible, visible and accessible, and securely attached if it is a label.
In English, and visible to the consumer before purchase, including online.
Kitchenware, tableware, food containers and other items meant to touch food are labelled under Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 as it applies in Great Britain. They carry no UKCA or CE marking.
The words "for food contact", a specific indication of use (such as coffee machine, wine bottle or soup spoon), or the symbol in Annex II. Not needed for items clearly intended for food contact.
Special instructions for safe and appropriate use, where needed.
The name or trade name, and address or registered office, of the manufacturer, processor or seller responsible for placing the item on the market.
Labelling or identification that makes the item traceable.
Information that is conspicuous, clearly legible and indelible; for retail sale, the use words, instructions and any active-material information in English (or English and Welsh).
For plastic items, a written declaration of compliance with the plastics regulation, at every stage before retail.
Checked on 27 September 2026
This checklist covers labelling and marking for Great Britain. It is not a list of every requirement: safety testing, technical files and product-specific rules also apply. Northern Ireland follows EU rules for goods.
In Great Britain, yes, for the product regulations covered by the Product Safety and Metrology (Amendment) Regulations 2024, including electrical equipment, EMC and toys. The UK continues to recognise the CE marking alongside or in place of the UKCA marking. Medical devices, construction products and a few other sectors have their own rules.
For goods from China, yes, as a rule: the importer's name and postal address go on the product, and the packaging or an accompanying document is allowed only where the product's regulations permit, usually when marking the product is not possible. The option to use a document until 31 December 2027 applies to goods imported from an EEA state or Switzerland.
Until 11pm on 31 December 2027, according to GOV.UK. It can also be placed on the product itself.
No. The EU General Product Safety Regulation (2023/988) applies in Northern Ireland from 13 December 2024. Great Britain continues to apply the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, which require the producer's name and address and a product reference or batch on the product or its packaging.
The name and percentage by weight of every fibre in descending order, using only the fibre names in Annex I of Regulation 1007/2011, in English, on a durable, securely attached label, plus "Contains non-textile parts of animal origin" where relevant.
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