CE Marking Certification

The European Commission refers to the CE Marking of products as a "passport" which can permit a manufacturer to freely circulate their products within the European marketplace. The marking applies only to products regulated by the European Commission’s health, safety and environmental protection legislation (product directives) but this is estimated to include more than 50% of the goods currently exported from the U.S. to Europe. All other consumer products are subject to the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive 92/59/EC, which does not require the CE-mark.

The CE mark is a required European marking for certain product groups to specify conformity with the essential health and safety necessities set out in European Directives. The letters 'CE' are an abbreviation of Conformité Européenne, French for European conformity.

Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive list of the products that require a CE marking. Therefore, it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to determine if a product requires a CE marking. The “New Approach Directives” are documents that contain the legislation issued by the European Commission on the necessities that need to be met and procedures that must be followed in order for a particular product to be CE marked for sales in the EU.

CE marking is a key indicator of a product’s compliance with EU legislation and allows the free movement of products within the European market. By affixing the CE marking on a product, a manufacturer is declaring, on his sole responsibility, conformity with all of the legal requirements to achieve CE marking and therefore confirming validity for that product to be sold throughout the EEA, the 27 member states of the EU and European Free Trade Association countries - Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Turkey. This also applies to products made in third countries which are sold in the EEA and Turkey. However, not all products must bear the CE marking. Only those product categories subject to specific directives that offer for the CE marking are essential to be CE marked.

Principles of CE Mark

• The CE marking shall be affixed only by the manufacturer or his authorized characteristic.
• The CE marking shall be affixed only to products to which its affixing is providing for by exact Community harmonization legislation, and shall not be affixed to any other product.
• By affixing or having affixed the CE marking, the manufacturer indicates that he takes responsibility for the conformity of the product with all applicable necessities set out in the relevant Community harmonization legislation provided that for its affixing.
• The CE marking shall be the only marking which attests the conformity of the product with the applicable requirements of the relevant Community harmonization legislation providing for its affixing.
• The affixing to a product of markings, signs or inscriptions which are likely to mislead third parties regarding the meaning or form of the CE marking shall be prohibited. Any other marking may be affixed to the product provided that the visibility, legibility and meaning of the CE marking is not thereby impaired.
• Member States shall confirm the correct implementation of the regime governing the CE marking and take appropriate action in the event of improper use of the marking. Member States shall also offer for penalties for infringements, which may include criminal sanctions for serious infringements. Those penalties shall be proportionate to the seriousness of the offence and constitute an effective deterrent against improper use.

Benefits of CE Marking

• It guarantees that the product conforms to the regulations in the exact directive
• CE marking delivers manufacturers with market access to the whole European Economic Area, since countries within this area may not restrict the insertion on the market of products bearing the CE marking.
• It may meaningfully decrease damage claims and liability premiums.
• It is a guarantee for the manufacturer that the product is safe for consumers