When purchasing commercial food equipment, it is easy to focus on price, features, and capacity of a machine. However, there is another important consideration: does the equipment meet legal requirements?
You may have seen CE or UKCA markings on commercial food machinery, electrical equipment and other products. These markings indicate that the manufacturer has declared conformity with the legal requirements for the applicable market and product.
However, CE and UKCA markings are often misunderstood. They are not simply quality marks, and UKCA has not simply replaced CE across every product category. Understanding what these markings mean can help food businesses make more informed purchasing decisions and avoid buying equipment that is unsuitable for their requirements.
What Does CE Marking Mean?
CE stands for Conformité Européenne, a french phase translating to European Conformity. It is a marking used for products that fall within the scope of relevant European Union product legislation. The manufacturer uses the CE marking to indicate that the product complies with the applicable requirements.
Commercial food equipment can be subject to different pieces of legislation depending on what the equipment is and how it operates. It is important to understand that CE marking is not a general government approval or guarantee of quality.
The way conformity is demonstrated depends on the product and legislation. In some cases, manufacturers can carry out the relevant assessment themselves, while other products require involvement from an independent assessor.
The CE mark therefore tells you that the manufacturer has followed the applicable conformity procedure, but it does not mean that every machine has undergone the same testing.
What Does UKCA Marking Mean?
UKCA stands for UK Conformity Assessed. It was introduced as the UK's own conformity marking following Brexit and applies to products placed on the Great Britain market where UK product regulations require or permit it.
UKCA is intended to demonstrate conformity with the applicable Great Britain requirements. However, UKCA has not completely replaced CE marking.
Rather than requiring businesses to immediately replace CE marking with UKCA, the UK government introduced legislation allowing continued recognition of CE marking for many product categories. For machinery specifically, businesses currently have the option of using either CE or UKCA marking when the relevant requirements have been met.
This is particularly relevant to commercial food equipment because manufacturers may supply the same machine across several European markets. A machine may therefore carry a CE marking rather than UKCA and still be suitable for the Great Britain market, provided it meets the applicable requirements.
What Legal Requirements Apply to Commercial Food Equipment?
There isn't one single law covering every type of commercial food equipment. The requirements depend on the equipment being supplied. Businesses should not assume that every piece of food equipment follows the same conformity process.
For machinery in Great Britain, one of the key pieces of legislation is the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. These regulations set out requirements that machinery must meet before it can be placed on the GB market or put into service. Their purpose is to ensure that machinery meets essential health and safety requirements.
Other types of equipment may also be subject to additional legislation. For example, electrical equipment can fall under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, which set safety requirements for electrical products placed on the GB market.
What Is Conformity Assessment and Declaration?
Conformity assessment is essentially the process of demonstrating that a product meets the legal requirements that apply to it. Depending on the equipment, this can involve:
- Identifying the relevant legislation.
- Assessing potential risks.
- Applying appropriate technical standards.
- Carrying out testing.
- Producing technical documentation.
- Preparing a Declaration of Conformity.
- Using an approved or notified body where the legislation requires third-party assessment.
A Declaration of Conformity is a formal document in which the manufacturer or other responsible person declares that the product complies with the relevant requirements. It can provide useful information about the equipment and the legislation or standards used to demonstrate conformity.
When purchasing commercial machinery, businesses should ask the supplier whether the appropriate Declaration of Conformity and supporting documentation are available.
Why Should Food Businesses Check Compliance?
Checking compliance before purchasing equipment may seem unnecessary when buying from an established supplier. However, it can prevent significant problems later. By doing so, you will protect employees and your investment.
Protecting employees
Commercial food machinery can contain sharp blades, moving components, electrical systems, and other hazards. Product regulations are designed to ensure that machinery meets relevant safety requirements before it is placed on the market.
Avoiding unsuitable equipment
Imported equipment can sometimes appear considerably cheaper than equivalent machines from established suppliers. However, businesses need to establish whether the equipment is actually suitable for the UK market and meets the applicable requirements.
Protecting your investment
Purchasing unsuitable equipment can create additional costs if modifications, repairs or replacement become necessary. Checking the documentation before purchasing is considerably easier than discovering a compliance problem after the machine has been installed.
Making servicing easier
Good technical documentation can also make maintenance and servicing more straightforward. The model, manufacturer, and relevant technical information can help engineers identify the correct components and procedures when the machine requires attention.
The Importance of Safe Operation
Although conformity markings ensure that equipment is safe for operation, employers must ensure that it is being used and maintained properly. Staff must be properly trained and aware of any safety features or guards that should be used. All operators should have an awareness of manufacturer instructions regarding the usage and maintenance of the equipment.
The machinery must be properly maintained, and any faults quickly repaired to ensure that the machine remains compliant with safety standards. Carrying out appropriate workplace risk assessments will also help this.
Just because a machine has a CE or UKCA marking does not mean that it can be operated without proper training or maintenance.
Choose Equipment With Compliance in Mind
CE and UKCA markings can initially seem complicated, particularly following the changes introduced after Brexit. The key point for food businesses is that the correct conformity requirements depend on what equipment you are buying and where it is being placed on the market.
Businesses should therefore look beyond the marking itself. Checking the manufacturer, model, Declaration of Conformity, operating instructions, and condition of the equipment can provide much greater confidence when investing.
Taking a few minutes to check compliance before purchasing commercial food equipment can help prevent much bigger problems later.