Declaration of Conformity Translation Services UK

For UK use a Declaration of Conformity must be translated into English and cover UKCA and GPSR obligations. For EU use the DoC must be translated into an official language of every Member State where the product is placed on the market, with EU MDR Annex IV and IVDR specifying the language or languages required by the competent authority.

Market	Marking	Language of DoC required	Primary regulator
Great Britain	UKCA	English	UK Trading Standards
Great Britain (imported CE goods)	CE (recognised)	English translation of the CE DoC	UK Trading Standards under GPSR
Northern Ireland	CE / UKNI	English plus EU language where required	Local market surveillance
EU Member State (general)	CE	Official language of that Member State	National authority
EU Member State (medical device)	CE under MDR	Language(s) required by the competent authority	Notified body plus national authority

What language requirements apply under UKCA and UK GPSR?

Under UKCA marking rules and the UK General Product Safety Regulations, a Declaration of Conformity kept for products sold in Great Britain must be available in English. Importers of EU-manufactured goods are required to comply by holding an English DoC, testing reports and the technical file for the market surveillance authority.

Small-importer GPSR playbook — the minimum translated content a UK SME reselling EU goods must hold:

1. English-language DoC with the manufacturer's and, where applicable, authorised representative's name and address.
2. English references to the regulations in force and the harmonised standards used.
3. Testing reports summarised or fully translated as directed by Trading Standards.
4. Technical documentation index in English pointing to the underlying technical file.
5. Contact details of the UK Responsible Person for market surveillance queries.

What language requirements apply under EU MDR and IVDR?

The EU Medical Device Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/745) and IVDR require the Declaration of Conformity for medical devices to be translated into an official language of each EU Member State where the device is made available. Annex IV lists the minimum content the manufacturer shall provide, and in-vitro diagnostic DoCs follow the same Member-State language rules.

UKCA vs CE marking: which DoC translation do UK importers actually need?

UK importers of CE-marked EU products need an English translation of the CE Declaration of Conformity for UK customs and GPSR audits. A CE marked product does not automatically make the DoC valid for UK use, and UKCA marking carries separate documentation requirements that a translated DoC helps evidence.

Our verification review of an incoming CE DoC also flags copy-paste or fake CE and UKCA marks — a check competitors rarely surface. Signals we look for during translation:

Can you self-certify the UKCA mark, and is UKCA still required?

Manufacturers can self-certify the UKCA mark for most product groups where self-declaration was already permitted under CE rules. UKCA remains a valid route to placing products on the Great Britain market, alongside the UK Government's extended recognition of CE marking — check current UK Government guidance for the product-specific rule.

A certified DoC translation carries a signed statement of accuracy from the translator or translation company. A sworn translation is signed before a court-appointed translator in an EU civil-law jurisdiction. A notarised translation adds a notary or solicitor's confirmation of the translator's identity. An apostilled translation adds Hague Convention legalisation by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Tier	What it adds	Typical use
Certified	Signed accuracy statement	UK Trading Standards, UK Home Office, most regulators in England and Wales
Sworn	Court-appointed translator's oath	Some EU competent authorities and consular bodies
Notarised	Notary or solicitor confirms translator identity	Corporate filings, some visa routes
Apostilled	FCDO Hague legalisation	Non-EU jurisdictions requiring notarisation and legalisation

Which certification tier does the destination authority require?

The certification tier depends on the destination authority: UK Trading Standards and the Home Office accept a certified translation; some EU competent authorities and consular bodies require sworn or notarised translation; documents crossing into non-EU jurisdictions typically need apostille legalisation before or after translation. Confirm the tier with the destination regulator before commissioning.

The manufacturer assumes sole responsibility for the accuracy of the Declaration of Conformity as a legal document. The UK importer or authorised representative is responsible for ensuring a valid English DoC exists for market surveillance. The translation company is responsible for the linguistic accuracy certified in its signed statement — three overlapping duties, not one.

Party	What they are answerable for	How the duty is evidenced
Manufacturer	Product complies with applicable EU legislation or UK regulations	Signed original DoC and technical file
Authorised representative (UK Responsible Person)	DoC available in English for GB market	Name and address on the DoC; records held in the UK
UK importer	Holding the English DoC and technical file for market surveillance	Certified translation on file plus audit trail
Translation company	Linguistic accuracy of the translated DoC	Signed certified PDF with statement of accuracy

How does a certified translation protect the importer during a GPSR audit?

A certified translation protects the importer during a UK GPSR audit by evidencing that the English DoC on file is a true representation of the manufacturer's original. A qualified linguist has signed a statement of accuracy, and the translation company can be identified by name and address if the market surveillance authority queries the file.