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 Regulations1. The change means CE marked energy-related products can be sold in Great Britain without a UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) marking, provided they comply with GB ecodesign standards1.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has since consulted on a further amendment to the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations. The consultation was issued on 9 December 2025 with a deadline for responses of 20 January 20261. It proposes extending the CE recognition mechanism so that it applies to new measures made under the EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), in the same way as for measures made under the Ecodesign Directive1. The EU brought ESPR into effect on 18th July 2024, and the first EU ecodesign regulations made under it are expected to come into force from mid-20271.
DESNZ states the proposal would not extend CE marking recognition to cover any requirements or products outside the scope of the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations1. The proposed updates would apply to Great Britain1. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is responsible for enforcing ecodesign regulations, and its enforcement approach is not proposed to change in response to the extension1.
"We are proposing to amend the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations to extend the CE marking recognition mechanism, so that it applies to new measures made under ESPR"
DESNZ says the proposal forms part of a wider commitment to reduce regulatory burdens for businesses, and that continuing CE recognition would remove the need for manufacturers to go through two conformity assessment processes for selling goods in the EU and GB1. It states the approach is expected to benefit consumers by avoiding additional costs for businesses and preventing these from being passed on, helping to keep prices competitive and ensuring a wide choice of products remains available in the GB market1. The department also states the policy is expected to have no negative impacts because it would not affect the product standards themselves1.
Why it matters for households
The marking rules determine which appliances and energy-related products can legally be placed on the GB market, and on what terms. Indefinite CE recognition means a product assessed against EU requirements can be sold in Great Britain without a second, separate UKCA assessment1. For a household, the practical effect described by DESNZ is on availability and price: the department says removing the duplicate assessment avoids costs that could otherwise be passed on to consumers, and reduces the likelihood of CE marked products being withdrawn from the GB market1.
The consultation concerns the conformity route, not the performance standards. DESNZ states the proposal would not affect the product standards themselves1. Energy labels and the ecodesign requirements that set minimum performance for household appliances are covered separately under the Energy Labels and Ecodesign Rules for Household Appliances guide, and the marking regimes are set out in Product Markings and Standards: UKCA, CE, Kitemark and Keymark. The distinction between the two marking routes is covered in UKCA vs CE marking for home energy products.
What happens next
Responses to the consultation will inform the decision on whether to proceed with extending CE recognition for Ecodesign Regulations1. If the government proceeds, it will prepare a Statutory Instrument to bring the changes into force and lay it in Parliament, and the final policy position will be confirmed in a Government Response to the consultation1. No date for that response has been reported.