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Talk to our experts- CE marking
- CE marking is the mark a manufacturer affixes to a product to declare that it meets the legal requirements of the EU product rules that apply to it, so it can be sold throughout the European Economic Area (EEA). It is required only where EU rules mandate it and is not an EU safety approval.
Also called: CE mark
How it works
CE marking is a manufacturer's declaration: by affixing the CE marking, the European Commission explains, a manufacturer declares that the product meets all the legal requirements for CE marking and can be sold throughout the EEA. This also applies to products made in other countries. The US International Trade Administration notes that CE is an acronym for the French "Conformite Europeenne".
The manufacturer carries out the conformity assessment, sets up the technical file, issues the EU declaration of conformity and affixes the CE marking. The EU's Your Europe portal says there is no central EU body that gives permission or a certificate to use the CE mark.
How a product gets CE marking
The manufacturer identifies all relevant EU-wide product requirements for the product.
Self-assessment where the law allows it, or a notified body where the law requires third-party testing.
The manufacturer gathers the evidence that shows the product complies.
The manufacturer issues the declaration that the product meets the applicable rules.
The mark goes on the product, visible, legible and indelible.
A notified body is an independent organization authorized by an EU country to assess product compliance when legislation requires it. If a notified body is used, its 4-digit ID number must appear next to the CE marking.
Which products need CE marking
Your Europe's non-exhaustive list of products in EU laws on CE marking includes:
- Toys, drones, electrical and electronic equipment, pyrotechnic products, recreational crafts and watercraft
- Some kinds of pressure equipment, gas appliances, batteries and machinery
- Weighing and measuring equipment and personal protective equipment
- Medical appliances, including diagnostic equipment
If no EU rules that mandate CE marking exist for a product, CE marking must not be used. Products that do not require it are subject to general product safety rules. The Commission adds that CE marking does not indicate that a product has been approved as safe by the EU or another authority, and it does not indicate the origin of a product.
Rules for the mark and the documents
- The marking must be visible, legible and indelible, with a minimum size of 5 mm unless product rules specify otherwise.
- The EU declaration of conformity and its supporting technical documentation must be retained for at least 10 years after the product is placed on the market.
- Importers and distributors help ensure that only products compliant with EU rules and bearing CE marking are placed on the EEA market.
This is general information, not legal or regulatory advice.
Example
A distributor plans to list 120 SKUs for EU buyers. Its suppliers have sent EU declarations of conformity for 90 of them, so 120 minus 90 = 30 SKUs stay out of the EU catalog until the documents arrive.
On Shopify
Shopify's File metafield type accepts generic files under 20 MB and renders them as a downloadable link in themes, so a supplier's declaration of conformity can be attached to the product in a metafield. A true or false metafield can also back a storefront filter in Shopify Search & Discovery.
How Uncap helps
On Uncap's safety and PPE distribution page, certification documentation is attached to the product: ANSI, NIOSH, ASTM, EN and CSA markings, cut levels, impact ratings, arc flash values, declarations of conformity and revision dates, carried on the product and with the order.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What does CE stand for in CE mark?
CE is an acronym for the French "Conformite Europeenne". The CE mark is the manufacturer's declaration that a product meets the EU rules that apply to it.
Can you self-certify a CE mark?
Yes, where the EU law for the product allows self-assessment, the manufacturer can evaluate the product without a conformity assessment body. Where the law requires third-party testing, a notified body must be involved, and its 4-digit ID number appears next to the CE marking.
What is the difference between CE marking and a Declaration of Conformity?
CE marking is the mark on the product, while the EU declaration of conformity is the document the manufacturer issues to declare compliance. The manufacturer issues the declaration and affixes the CE marking after the conformity assessment, and keeps the declaration with its technical documentation for at least 10 years.
Is CE certification mandatory?
CE marking is mandatory only for products covered by harmonized EU rules that specifically mandate it, such as toys, machinery and personal protective equipment. If no such rules exist for a product, CE marking must not be used.
