Guidance

Measuring container bottles: register a manufacturer's mark

Register a new manufacturer's mark and access lists of approved and inactive measuring container bottles (MCB) marks.

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 five litres, and which are used for the storage, transportation and delivery of liquids.

Measuring container bottles (MCB) 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 reverse epsilon ‘Э’ (EEC sign), which is a self-declaration of conformity with the regulations. Only bottles complying with the regulations can display the reverse epsilon.

For the UK market the UKCA mark will replace the reverse epsilon ‘Э’:

Until 11pm 31 December 2024 the new UKCA mark or the ‘Э’ must appear on measuring container bottles sold in Great Britain. Northern Ireland continues to follow the EU regulations.

From 11pm 31 December 2024 the UKCA mark must appear on measuring container bottles sold in Great Britain, but may be affixed to the bottle, on a label affixed to the bottle, or on a document accompanying the bottle.

From 11pm 31 December 2027 the UKCA mark must be affixed to measuring container bottles sold in Great Britain.

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 (2023) (PDF, 629 KB, 2 pages)

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

Published 10 March 2014
Last updated 13 March 2023 + show all updates
  1. Register of active marks updated.

  2. Page updated to reflect the further extension of the transition period for UKCA marking.

  3. Revised to reflect UKCA mark requirements after 1 January 2021. New contact details for registering a manufacturer's mark.

  4. Quinn Glass are now trading as Encirc Glass and have two new measuring container bottle factory codes. The Active Register has been updated.

  5. First published.