What is a CE Marking?

The CE marking is a conformity marking consisting of the letters “CE”, and taking the form as shown here. CE is an abbreviation for ‘Conformité Européenne’, French for ‘European Conformity’.

The CE marking symbolizes that a product it is affixed to is in conformity with all relevant essential requirements, and that the product compliance has been established using the appropriate conformity assessment procedure(s). The ‘essential requirements’ refer, among other things, to safety, public health and consumer protection.

CE marking is obligatory for any product covered by one or more of the so-called European ‘New Approach Directives’. Without the CE marking, these products are not allowed to be placed or to be put into service in the European Economic Area. In this regard, the CE marking sometimes is called a ‘trade passport’, because like carrying a passport when entering a country, the CE Marking is required for market access.

What is the Objective of CE Marking?

The European CE certification procedure has been mainly set up to:

• Harmonize all varying national regulations for consumer and industrial products in European Member States, so that the Single Market is encouraged;
• Bring about cost savings for producers;
• Enhance the safety of products;
• Supply public bodies with a uniform procedure that can be checked
  In the past, product requirements and test procedures in Europe were set by the individual Member States of the European Union. This meant that, for example, companies that wanted to sell their products on the European market sometimes had to deal with more than ten different technical requirements or procedures for just one product. The existence of all the different national legislation was contrary to the aim of the European Union in realizing one Single Market, in which there would be a free circulation of goods (as well as a free circulation of persons, services and capital).

What are Benefits of CE Marking?

The CE marking is a kind of trade passport for the European marketplace: it allows the manufacturer to freely circulate their product throughout the 30 countries of the European Economic Area (EEA). The great benefit for manufacturers is that there is now only one set of requirements and procedures to comply with in designing and manufacturing a product for the entire EEA. The various and conflicting national regulations are eliminated. As a result, the product no longer needs to be adapted to the specific requirements of the different member states of the EEA.  In addition, it may be considered a benefit that by implementing the requirements, the product will be safer for the user and this may also reduce damage and liability claims.

What documents are required for CE marking?

Documents required for CE marking are:

• Design and drawing of product 
• Process flow chart 
• Manufacturing flow chart 
• Test report 
• Declaration of conformity.

In Which Countries CE mark is required?

Austria (since 1995), Belgium, Bulgaria (since 2007), Czech Republic (since 2004), Cyprus (since 2004), Denmark, Estonia (since 2004), Finland (since 1995), France, Germany, Greece, Hungary (since 2004), Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia (since 2004), Lithuania (since 2004), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta (since 2004), Norway, The Netherlands, Poland (since 2004), Portugal, Romania (since 2007), Slovakia (since 2004), Slovenia (since 2004), Spain, Sweden (since 1995), United Kingdom (Great Britain).

Which type of product requires CE Marking?

The CE Marking Is Required Only for the Following Types of Products:

Toys, Machinery, Electrical equipment, Electronic equipment, Personal protective equipment, Pressure equipment, Medical devices, Active implantable medical devices, In vitro diagnostic medical devices, Radio and Telecommunications terminal equipment, Simple pressure vessels, Gas appliances, Lifts, Recreational craft, Equipment and protective systems for use in explosive atmospheres, Non-automatic weighing instruments, Cableways, Construction products, Explosives for civil use, New hot water boilers, Measuring Equipment.

Who is Responsible for CE Marking?

The European CE marking directives, intend to make ‘one’ person the main responsible and accountable for CE compliance. The way to identify that responsible person is rather unique for these directives. One would expect that the directives state that the ‘manufacturer’ is responsible for CE marking. But instead they define two moments in time when the responsibility for CE starts:

According to the text of the CE directives, a product must comply with the CE requirements and have a CE marking from the moment it is:

• placed on the Community market for the first time;
• put into service in the Community market for the first time.

Placing on the market is the initial action of making a product available for the first time, either for payment or free of charge. Putting into service takes place at the moment of first use within the EEA by the end user

With help from the definitions of ‘placing on the market’ and ‘putting into service’ in each practical case always ‘one’ responsible person can be identified:

• The manufacturer, when located in the in the EEA;
• The company that manufactures equipment for its own use (‘putting into service’);
• The importer of products from outside the EEA;
  The importer of second hand equipment to be placed in the European market fro the first time;
• A private labeler (who presents himself as being the ‘producer’);
• The person that revises or modifies a product in such a way that it is considered to be a new product (and that product needs CE).

Therefore the conclusion is that there may be one ‘person’ bearing the final responsibility for the CE compliance. However, this person cannot ensure CE compliance without the help of all the parties involved in the design, production and distribution chain.

Why do i need a representative in Europe?

Would you welcome an opportunity for the same marketing ease in Europe as you enjoy in your home market?

Would you prefer investing your time and effort in sales rather than trying to understand the complex European product regulations and certification procedures?

Then you will appreciate the service De System offers to exporters who sell to Europe: you can focus fully on your business opportunities by knowing that all pre-market and post-market regulatory issues in Europe are taken care of professionally by De System experts.

It is required by the EU legislation that a non-EU manufacturer must print its EU Authorized Representative’s name, address & contacting details on the packaging/labeling of the product(s) sold onto the EU & EFTA market. The authorities from any of the 27+3 EU & EFTA Member States may call the Authorized Representative up for CE Marking vigilance at any time and the Authorized Representative must respond immediately and properly within the permitted time.

Can I put CE mark on my product along with other marks?

A product may bear other markings & marks other than CE mark, provided that they:-

• Fulfill a different function from that of the CE marking.
• Are not liable to cause confusion with CE marking.
• Do not reduce legibility & visibility of CE marking.