Manufacturers, importers and test labs have a new route into the Great Britain market. A statutory instrument updates GB product safety law to add India to the list of places where ‘approved bodies’ can be established, with the change switching on when the UK‑India trade deal comes into force. That means Indian conformity assessment bodies will be able to seek the same UK appointments as domestic organisations to certify goods for GB. The government’s published treaty text makes clear the agreement is signed but not yet in force. (gov.uk)

This is about national treatment, not automatic mutual recognition. In plain terms, Indian labs will be eligible to apply for approval on the same terms as UK bodies; certificates only carry weight once a lab is formally appointed against each regulation. Businesses should expect the usual accreditation, appointment and surveillance steps rather than instant acceptance of any test report. (gov.uk)

The instrument amends the establishment clause across a broad sweep of GB regimes: toys, electromagnetic compatibility, simple pressure vessels, lifts, pressure equipment, ATEX equipment for explosive atmospheres, non‑automatic weighing instruments, measuring instruments, recreational craft, radio equipment, personal protective equipment and gas appliances. It mirrors the approach used for CPTPP countries in 2024, extending the same treatment to India. (legislation.gov.uk)

Timing matters. The UK‑India agreement was signed on 24 July 2025 but will only apply once both countries finish their domestic processes. GB recognition for Indian‑based approved bodies begins on that entry‑into‑force date. For planning purposes, firms should treat this as a contingent reform and watch for official confirmation. (gov.uk)

For manufacturers, the commercial angle is straightforward. If a trusted Indian lab secures GB appointment, type‑testing and certification can be done closer to production, cutting sample freight, queues and coordination costs. The reverse is also true: UK labs can seek accreditation to assess against Indian requirements, but neither side gets a free pass; approvals still need to be earned. (gov.uk)

Labs eyeing GB appointments should map out the process now. The recommended route is accreditation against the relevant ISO/IEC standard (for example 17065 or 17025) followed by an application to the Secretary of State. Expect annual surveillance and a full reassessment every four years as part of ongoing oversight once appointed. (gov.uk)

One technical tweak worth flagging for engineers and buyers of pressure equipment: the materials clause is being aligned so that, once the change takes effect, certificates issued under quality‑assurance systems certified by competent bodies in India can be presumed compliant, subject to the usual conditions. That follows the 2024 update that added CPTPP territories. (legislation.gov.uk)

Scope is GB‑only. Northern Ireland continues to follow EU product rules under the Windsor Framework, so CE/UKNI rules still apply there. Businesses supplying NI should keep EU ‘notified body’ arrangements in view while treating this GB reform as separate. (gov.uk)

Operationally, the signal for market access teams is to track the UKMCAB register for newly appointed Indian bodies, and to talk to existing partners about accreditation timelines and capacity. UKMCAB listings remain the definitive record of who is authorised for what, and are updated as appointments are made. (find-a-conformity-assessment-body.service.gov.uk)

Bottom line for planning: this change reduces where testing has to happen, not what has to be proven. Keep product requirements and lab competence front and centre, budget for the standard accreditation cycle, and be ready to move once the entry‑into‑force date is confirmed by the government. (gov.uk)