Open consultation

Extended CE marking recognition for Ecodesign Regulations: consultation document (accessible webpage)

Published 9 December 2025

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Introduction

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is seeking views on a proposed amendment to the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010. This amendment would extend Conformité Européenne (CE) recognition to Energy-Related Products (ErPs) sold in Great Britain (GB) that are regulated under the European Union’s (EU) Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).

Currently CE marked products can be sold in Great Britain if they are compliant with GB ecodesign standards, without the need to also affix a UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) marking.

On 18th July 2024, the EU brought into effect a new framework for setting ecodesign standards, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (‘ESPR’). ESPR will replace the Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC). The first EU ecodesign regulations made under ESPR are expected to come into force from mid-2027.

We are proposing to amend the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 (‘the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations’) to extend the CE marking recognition mechanism, so that it applies to new measures made under ESPR, in the same way as for measures made currently under the Ecodesign Directive. This would not extend CE marking recognition to cover any requirements or products outside the scope of the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations.

This proposal forms part of the Government’s wider commitment to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and barriers for businesses in order to promote growth and investment. Continuing CE recognition for the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations would help reduce costs and administrative complexity for manufacturers by eliminating the need to go through two different conformity assessment processes for selling goods in the EU and GB. This approach is a pragmatic solution to meet industry needs by ensuring regulatory compliance while affording manufacturers the flexibility to choose between CE and UKCA marking to meet their legal obligations.

This is expected to benefit consumers by avoiding additional costs for businesses and preventing these from being passed on.  This will help to keep prices competitive and ensure a wide choice of products remains available in the GB market. Additionally, this approach would support international trade by making it easier for businesses to operate across both GB and EU markets.

Amending the regulations to continue this recognition for products regulated under ESPR in the EU would future proof the existing policy of CE recognition and provide businesses with long-term certainty.

The responses to this consultation will inform the decision on whether to develop a Statutory Instrument to amend the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations.

General information

Why we are consulting

We want to gather stakeholder views on the proposed extension of the recognition of CE markings for Ecodesign Regulations to apply to new measures under ESPR, in the same way as currently applies for measures made under the Ecodesign Directive.

Consultation details

Issued: 9 December 2025

Respond by: 20 January 2026 - 11:59pm

Enquiries to:

Energy-related Products team, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Email: efficientproducts@energysecurity.gov.uk

Consultation reference: Extended CE Marking Recognition for Ecodesign Regulations

Audiences:

We are seeking views from all – including manufacturers, merchants and dealers, installers, associations, consumer organisations, academia and members of the public – to ensure that we understand all potential impacts of our proposals.

Territorial extent:

The proposed updates to the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations set out in this consultation would apply to Great Britain.

How to respond

Respond online at:  https://energygovuk.citizenspace.com/energy-security/extended-ce-marking-recognition-ecodesign

We strongly encourage responses via the online survey. Using the online survey greatly assists our analysis of the responses, enabling more efficient and effective consideration of the issues raised. If it is not possible for you to use the online survey, you can respond through email or a written response.

Email to: efficientproducts@energysecurity.gov.uk  

Write to:

Energy-related Products
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
3-8 Whitehall Place
London
SW1A 2EG

When responding, please state whether you are responding as an individual or representing the views of an organisation.

Your response will be most useful if it is framed in direct response to the question posed, though further comments and evidence are also welcome.

Confidentiality and data protection

Information you provide in response to this consultation, including personal information, may be disclosed in accordance with UK legislation (the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004).

If you want the information that you provide to be treated as confidential please tell us, but be aware that we cannot guarantee confidentiality in all circumstances. An automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system will not be regarded by us as a confidentiality request.

We will process your personal data in accordance with all applicable data protection laws. See our privacy policy.

We will summarise all responses and publish this summary on GOV.UK. The summary will include a list of names or organisations that responded, but not people’s personal names, addresses or other contact details.

Quality assurance

This consultation has been carried out in accordance with the government’s consultation principles. If you have any complaints about the way this consultation has been conducted, please email: bru@energysecurity.gov.uk.

Extended CE Marking Recognition for Ecodesign Regulations

The Conformité Européenne (CE) mark is the conformity mark used in the EU. It shows that the product meets all the relevant EU requirements and has been assessed as such. At the end of the EU Exit Transition period the CE mark was replaced by the UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark in Great Britain. UKCA is used to show compliance with GB product regulations. 

Legislative provision was put in place to allow recognition of CE markings for a wide range of product regulation, including the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations. This enabled CE marked Energy-Related Products (ErPs) to be sold in GB without the need to also affix a UKCA marking, provided they comply with GB ecodesign standards. This reduces costs for manufacturers by removing the need to go through two different conformity assessment processes for selling the same goods in the EU and GB. 

In May 2024, the previous government legislated to remove the time limit for CE recognition, establishing indefinite recognition of CE marking for 21 product regulations, including the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations.

The EU has since brought in a new framework for setting ecodesign standards – the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). ESPR will replace the Ecodesign Directive. EU ecodesign regulations coming into force after mid-2027 will accordingly be made under ESPR rather than the Ecodesign Directive. 

The CE recognition provision in the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations refers to the EU’s Ecodesign Directive. If we do not take action then products complying with new EU regulations, made under ESPR, will not qualify for CE recognition in GB and will need to go through an additional assessment in order to be sold in GB.  

We are proposing to amend the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations so that CE recognition applies to ErPs regulated under ESPR in the same way as for ErPs currently regulated under the Ecodesign Directive. This would not change the existing CE recognition for ErPs regulated under the Ecodesign Directive. This is a technical change that would ensure the continuance of our existing CE recognition regime in light of the changes to the EU’s legal framework for ecodesign regulations.

1. Do you agree with the proposal to extend CE recognition to cover ErPs regulated under ESPR, so that it functions in the same way as it currently functions for ErPs regulated under the Ecodesign Directive? Yes/No. Please provide evidence to support your response.

The proposed policy is expected to have positive impacts in comparison to a scenario where CE marking was not extended to products regulated under ESPR (the no action scenario). These include reduced administration and costs for businesses by removing the need to begin using the UKCA assessment process for CE-marked products. This may have the knock-on effects of increased consumer choice by reducing the likelihood of CE-marked products being removed from the GB market. The proposed policy is expected to have no negative impacts because it would not affect the product standards themselves and therefore would create no restriction on the products available. Instead, it would remove the risk of fewer products being available if no action is taken, as manufacturers opt to avoid the costs of going through two conformity assessment procedures.

2. What impacts (positive or negative) do you foresee from extending CE marking recognition to cover products regulated under ESPR?

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is responsible for enforcing ecodesign regulations. OPSS’s enforcement approach is not proposed to change in response to the extension of CE recognition to products regulated under ESPR. In addition, so far as we are aware, ESPR is not expected to change the conformity assessment process for CE marking.

3. Do you foresee any compliance or enforcement challenges arising from the extension of CE recognition to products regulated under ESPR?

Next steps

The responses to this consultation will be used to inform the decision on whether to proceed with extending CE recognition for Ecodesign Regulation. If we do proceed, we will prepare a Statutory Instrument to bring these changes into force and lay it in Parliament. The final policy position will be confirmed in a Government Response to the consultation.