What is CE marking?
To strengthen the conditions for placing goods on the European market, the New Legislative Framework was adopted in 2008 with an aim to protect consumers and workers from unsafe products and boost the quality of conformity assessment. Part of this Framework included Decision 768/2008 – a common framework for the marketing of products, which lays down rules for CE marking.
CE Marking on a product is a manufacturer’s declaration that a product meets the applicable health, safety, and environmental requirements outlined in the appropriate European product legislation and has undergone the relevant conformity assessment procedure.
Do all products sold in EU require CE marking?
No. CE marking is compulsory for most products covered by the New Approach Directives. Products not covered under a New Approach Directive do not require CE marking. It is illegal to place a CE mark on a product that is not covered by a directive.
The following products require CE marking:
What are New Approach Directives?
The New Approach Directives define the essential requirements that products must meet when they are put on the market, but they do not give technical specifications to meet those requirements. Manufacturers may choose to use harmonized standards or another standard to comply with the essential requirements of the directive. Some products may require compliance to more than one directive.
The following is the current list of New Approach Directives:
What are my responsibilities?
Manufacturers, importers and distributors each have responsibilities.
For example, manufacturers must identify the applicable directive and verify the product meets the requirements, including having the product tested to check its conformity. The manufacturer must also determine if an independent conformity assessment is required. The manufacturer is responsible for affixing the CE marking, compiling a technical file (which includes all the documents that prove that the product conforms to the technical requirements), and drafting an EU Declaration of Conformity stating that the product meets all legal requirements.
A component or subassembly of machinery (per Machinery Directive only) that cannot be CE marked in its delivered state require a Declaration of Incorporation that states which aspects of the equipment the component/subassembly manufacturer is responsible for and which essential requirements have been fulfilled by them. Compliance with the other essential requirements is the responsibility of the manufacturer that assembles and CE marks the complete machine. A Declaration of Conformity is required from the final manufacturer/assembler for the completed product.
The EU Declaration of Conformity should contain key information including:
The technical documentation and the EU Declaration of Conformity must be kept for 10 years after the product has been placed on the market or for the period specified in the directive.
Manufacturers are responsible for affixing the CE marking unless the importer or distributors market the product under its own name. In this case, the importer or distributor takes on the responsibilities of the manufacturer.
What is Conformity Assessment?
Conformity assessment is the process carried out by the manufacturer for demonstrating whether specified requirements relating to a product have been fulfilled. A product is subjected to conformity assessment both during the design and production phase and is the responsibility of the manufacturer, even if the manufacturer subcontracts the design or production.
Depending on the applicable legislation, there are many different conformity assessment options for manufacturers. The 'Blue Guide' on the implementation of EU product rules 2016 provides an overview of options for conformity assessment beginning on page 70. Some of those options are:
In addition, a technical file must be maintained by the manufacturer, or EU representative if the manufacturer is outside the EU, and be available to the national authorities for inspection and control purposes. The technical file contains all information that is necessary to demonstrate the conformity of the product to the applicable requirements.
What are Harmonized Standards?
Harmonized standards are voluntary standards that can be used to demonstrate compliance to the essential requirements of the directives. Below are links to pages for regulations or directives for topics that have harmonized standards. The applicable harmonized standards are listed on these pages. It is not mandatory to use these standards, but manufacturers must prove the product complies with essential requirements of the applicable Directive.
Topic |
Regulation/Directives and Harmonized Standards |
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Chemicals |
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Conformity assessment and management systems |
New Legislative Framework (NLF) and Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) |
Construction |
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Consumers and workers protection |
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Energy efficiency |
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Electric and electronic engineering |
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Healthcare engineering |
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Measuring technology |
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Mechanical engineering and means of transport |
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Services |
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Sustainability |
Once my product has the CE mark is it good for life?
The EC Declaration of Conformity and CE mark are valid as long as your product meets the applicable health, safety, and environmental requirements of the directive(s). If you have changes in product design or characteristics, you may have to have the product (or component) tested to ensure it is still in compliance with the appropriate directive. In addition, changes to the applicable legislation and/or to the harmonized standards may also result in the product needing to be retested to demonstrate compliance.
Where can I get additional information?
U.S. exporters needing more information on the CE mark and how it might apply to their product should contact Bob Straetz at the Commerce Department in Washington at 202-482-4496 (Robert.Straetz [at] trade.gov).
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