Measuring container bottles: product marking

Question

Accepted Answer

Measuring container bottles

The Measuring Container Bottles (EEC requirements) Regulations 1977 apply to containers which are stoppered, have a nominal capacity of between 0.05 litre and 5 litres, and which are used for the storage, transportation and delivery of liquids.

Measuring container bottles are required to display a manufacturer’s mark, their nominal quantity, and (if not filled to the brim) the distance between the fill level and the brim.

The regulations make provisions for the reversed epsilon ‘Э’ (EEC sign) and the UKCA mark, which are self-declarations of conformity with the regulations. Only bottles complying with the regulations can display the reversed epsilon and/or UKCA mark.

The Government has committed to providing unfettered access for qualifying Northern Ireland (NI) goods to other parts of the UK’s internal market. Containers regulated under the Measuring Container Bottles (EEC requirements) Regulations 1977 as it applies in NI, which can be placed on the market in NI, can be sold in the rest of the UK.

Supplying measuring container bottles to the Great Britain market

To be able to be marked with the UKCA marking or the reversed epsilon sign, the measuring container bottle must comply with the requirements set out in the Measuring Container Bottles (EEC requirements) Regulations 1977.

The UKCA mark or reversed epsilon mark must appear on measuring container bottles sold in Great Britain (GB).

Until 31 December 2027, the UKCA mark may be affixed to the bottle, on a label affixed to the bottle or on a document accompanying the bottle.

Measuring container bottles complying with the regulations as they apply in NI (see below) may also be placed on the market in GB under the terms of NI’s unfettered access to the rest of the UK internal market.

Read guidance on UKCA marking.

Supplying measuring container bottles to the Northern Ireland market

Under the terms of the Windsor Framework, relevant EU rules relating to the placing on the market of manufactured goods continue to apply in NI.

The reversed epsilon (‘Э’) marking continues to be the compliance mark for measuring container bottles sold in NI. Additionally, for NI, manufacturer’s marks which have been approved by the Secretary of State must be accompanied with an UKNI Indication.

Measuring container bottles placed on the market in NI in accordance with the Measuring Container Bottles (EEC requirements) Regulations 1977 can also be sold in GB without any additional approvals.

It is possible to affix both the UKCA marking and the reversed epsilon marking to a measuring container bottle, as long as both sets of requirements for the EU and GB are met. When selling into the EU, the reversed epsilon marking remains mandatory.

Read guidance on UKNI marking.

Accepted markings on each market

You can check the table below to see which product markings can be used for bottles sold on each relevant market under these regulations.

Placing goods in scope of the regulations on the market in GB, NI or EU

Type of product	Accepted markings or combination of markings
Manufactured products being placed on the GB market	UKCA; or ‘Э’ (reversed epsilon); or UKCA and ‘Э’ (reversed epsilon)
Manufactured products being placed on the NI market	‘Э’ (reversed epsilon)
Manufactured products being placed on the EU market	‘Э’ (reversed epsilon)

Placing qualifying NI goods in scope of the regulations on the market in GB (unfettered access)

Type of good	Accepted markings or combination of markings
Qualifying NI goods being placed on the GB market	‘Э’ (reversed epsilon); or ‘Э’ (reversed epsilon) and UKNI

Read guidance on unfettered access.

Register a new manufacturer’s mark

To register a new manufacturer’s mark, please contact opss.enquiries@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

MCB registers

You can download the registers to see the active and inactive marks registered by manufacturers below. These marks are used for market surveillance and enforcement activities.

Current MCB marks (2024) (PDF, 671 KB, 3 pages)

Inactive MCB marks (2014) (PDF, 200 KB, 2 pages)

Legislative background

The Measuring Container Bottles (EEC requirements) Regulations 1977 implemented the provisions in the Directive (75/107/ECC). The main aim of the 1977 Regulations is to promote measurement accuracy, quantity assurance and transparency for consumers, while also harmonizing container sizes for trade within the UK internal market.

The EU Withdrawal Act 2018 preserved the Regulations and enabled them to be amended so they can continue to function effectively now the UK has left the EU. Accordingly, for the GB market, the Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 fixed any deficiencies that arose from the UK leaving the EU (such as references to EU institutions) and made specific provision for the GB market.

The following legislative amendments and Government announcements apply:

On 1 August 2023 and 24 January 2024, the UK Government announced it would extend recognition of goods that meet EU requirements, including the CE marking and the reversed epsilon ‘Э’ (EEC sign), indefinitely, beyond 2024 for many products. This means that certain goods that meet EU requirements can be placed on the GB market beyond 31 December 2024. The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2024 give effect to this and came into force on 1 October 2024. This means businesses will have the flexibility to use either the UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) or reversed epsilon ‘Э’ (EEC sign) mark to sell measuring container bottles under the Measuring Container Bottles (EEC requirements) Regulations 1977 in GB.
For NI, under the terms of the Windsor Framework, the Measuring Container Bottles (EEC requirements) Regulations 1977 continue to implement the provisions of Directive 75/107/ECC, and these should be followed in order to place relevant measuring container bottles on the market in NI.

Measuring container bottles: product marking