UKCA and CE marking for imported products: what eBay sellers who import stock must check

What is UKCA marking for imported products?

UKCA marking for imported products is a conformity marking that shows a product meets the product regulations that apply to it in Great Britain. UKCA stands for UK Conformity Assessed. The CE marking is the European equivalent, and gov.uk says the UK continues to recognise the CE marking, alongside or in place of the UKCA marking, for the Great Britain market for many products. Read the current position on gov.uk's guide to using the UKCA marking.

For eBay sellers who import stock from AliExpress or other overseas suppliers, the marking matters because the importer has legal duties. You cannot assume the supplier has done everything right just because a logo is printed on the box.

This guide explains the general rules in plain words. Product rules are detailed and differ by product type, so check the gov.uk guidance for your products and take professional advice where you need it.

Which products need a UKCA or CE marking?

The markings apply to products covered by specific product regulations. gov.uk sets out the product types and the rules for each, sector by sector. Product types that eBay sellers often import and that fall under these rules include:

• toys;
• electrical equipment, such as lamps, chargers and small appliances;
• radio equipment, such as Bluetooth and wireless devices;
• personal protective equipment, such as some safety glasses and gloves;
• machinery and some tools.

Many everyday goods, such as plain storage boxes, phone stands or kitchen utensils, have no conformity marking requirement. They still have to be safe under general product safety law, and some have other specific rules, for example for materials in contact with food. Check the product regulations that apply to each product type you import.

Is the CE marking still accepted in Great Britain?

For many products, yes. gov.uk explains that the UK continues to recognise the CE marking for the Great Britain market, alongside or in place of UKCA, through the Product Safety and Metrology (Amendment) Regulations 2024. This gives businesses flexibility on which conformity route to use.

Recognition applies product type by product type, so do not assume it covers everything. gov.uk's guide to placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain sets out the rules by sector. Northern Ireland has its own arrangements, covered in separate gov.uk guidance.

Look-alike marks

Not every mark that looks like CE is the CE marking. Spacing, proportions and the presence of a real declaration of conformity all matter. A mark on its own proves nothing; the paperwork behind it is what shows the product went through a conformity process.

What are the importer's responsibilities?

gov.uk says it is the manufacturer's responsibility to apply the marking, or an authorised representative's if agreed. If you bring a product into Great Britain from overseas to sell, you are usually the importer, and the importer's duties include:

• Checking the conformity process. Ensuring the manufacturer has carried out the correct conformity assessment for the product.
• Checking the marking and documents. Making sure the product carries the right marking and that the required documentation exists.
• Adding your details. Showing your name, registered trade name or trademark, and a postal address on the product, its packaging or an accompanying document.
• Keeping records. Keeping information so products can be traced back to the supplier.

What documents should you keep?

If Trading Standards or a buyer asks about a product, your records are your answer. For each product and batch, keep:

• the declaration of conformity for the exact model;
• any test reports the supplier sent, with who issued them;
• the supplier's full name, address and contact details;
• invoices and shipping documents showing when each batch arrived;
• photos of the marking, your importer label and the instructions on a sample from each batch;
• messages with the supplier about compliance.

Store them so you can find them by product and by batch. If a fault appears in one batch, you need to know which buyers received units from it.

When you become the manufacturer

gov.uk says that if an importer places products on the market under their own name or trademark, or changes a product in a way that affects compliance, they take on the manufacturer's responsibilities. That catches out sellers who put their own brand on AliExpress products. Private labelling can be a good business, but it means you are responsible for the conformity process, not just for checking it.

A worked example: importing a Bluetooth speaker

Example: suppose a hypothetical seller wants to import 100 small Bluetooth speakers from an AliExpress supplier. This walk-through shows the kind of checks involved; the exact rules for a real product come from gov.uk and its sector guidance.

1. Identify the rules. A wireless speaker is radio equipment, and it has electrical parts and a battery, so several sets of product regulations may apply.
2. Ask for documents. The seller asks the supplier for the declaration of conformity and test reports, and checks they name this model and the rules that apply.
3. Check the marking. The seller checks the sample carries a proper UKCA or CE marking, as the rules for this product type allow.
4. Add importer details. The seller arranges for their business name and UK postal address to go on the packaging or a label.
5. Check instructions. The seller checks that safety information and instructions are in English.
6. Keep records. The seller files the documents, supplier details and batch dates.

Each step is quick on its own. Together they take a few days of messages and checks, which is why it pays to start them while the samples are on their way rather than after the bulk order is paid for.

If the supplier cannot provide a declaration of conformity for the exact model, the seller treats that as a reason not to buy, however good the price.

How do you check markings with an AliExpress supplier?

Ask before you pay for a bulk order, and judge the answers.

• Which product regulations does this product meet, and which marking does it carry?
• Can you send the declaration of conformity for this exact model?
• Can you send the test reports behind it, and who issued them?
• Can you print my business name and UK address on the packaging or a label?
• Are the instructions and safety warnings available in English?

Send the questions in writing through the platform's messages, so the answers are kept. A reliable supplier answers clearly and sends documents that match the model. Vague answers, documents for a different product, or an offer to "add any mark you like" are red flags. Our guide to finding reliable AliExpress suppliers covers supplier vetting more widely.

This only applies to stock you import. eBay's drop shipping policy allows dropshipping from a wholesale supplier, but listing an item and then buying it from another retailer or marketplace that ships directly to your buyer is not allowed. Whichever model you use, you stay responsible for delivery and for the buyer's satisfaction. See is AliExpress dropshipping allowed on eBay for more.

Why does marking matter beyond the law?

Correct marking protects your business as well as your buyers. Unsafe or non-compliant products can be removed from sale, and Trading Standards in Great Britain handle enforcement, with the Office for Product Safety and Standards dealing with national cases. A product recall or a safety complaint costs far more than checking documents up front.

Liability is another reason. If a product causes harm, manufacturers and in some cases others in the supply chain can be sued under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, and gov.uk notes that many businesses buy product liability insurance. An importer is often the first UK business in the chain, which puts you in the frame.

Markings also affect returns and reviews. Buyers who receive a charger or toy with no proper markings or English instructions are more likely to complain, return it or leave negative feedback. The checks that keep you within the law also keep your eBay account healthy.

A quick checklist

• Find out whether each product type you import needs a conformity marking.
• Check on gov.uk whether CE is accepted for that product type in Great Britain.
• Get the declaration of conformity and test reports for the exact model before you buy in bulk.
• Put your business name and UK postal address on the product, packaging or documents.
• If you add your own brand, plan for the manufacturer's responsibilities.
• Keep supplier details and documents for every batch.