CE Marking is the symbol of product conformity as per define by European Statuary body. The letters "CE" are the abbreviation of French phrase "Conformite Europeene" which literally means "European Conformity". The term initially used was "EC Mark" and it was officially replaced by "CE Marking" in the Directive 93/68/EEC in 1993. "CE Marking" is now used in all EU official documents.
CE marking is a key indicator of a products compliance with EU legislation and enables the free movement of products within the European Economic Area.
CE Mark states that the product is assessed before being placed on the market and meets EU safety, health and environmental protection requirements.
Steps for CE Marks :
- Stage 1: Identify the applicable Directive(s)
- Stage 2: Identify the applicable requirements of the Directive(s)
- Stage 3: Identify an appropriate route to conformity
- Stage 4: Assessment of the products conformity
- Stage 5: Compile the technical documentation
- Stage 6: Examine/verification by Certification body (QCC)
- Stage 7: If found compliance, CE Certificate awarded.
Products that need a CE marking:
Not all products sold in the EU need to bear CE marking. CE marking applies to products, ranging from electrical equipment to toys and from civil explosives to medical devices. Such products fall under one or more Directives which determine the specific requirements that the product must meet in order to be CE marked. The full list of these product categories is below:
- Active implantable medical devices
- Appliances burning gaseous fuels
- Cableway installations designed to carry persons
- Eco-design of energy related products
- Electromagnetic compatibility
- Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
- Explosives for civil uses
- Hot-water boilers
- Household refrigerators and freezers
- In vitro diagnostic medical devices
- Lifts
- Low voltage
- Machinery
- Measuring Instruments
- Medical devices
- Noise emission in the environment
- Non-automatic weighing instruments
- Personal protective equipment
- Pressure equipment
- Pyrotechnics
- Radio and telecommunications terminal equipment
- Recreational craft
- Safety of toys
- Simple pressure vessels
The CE marking is not required for items such as:
- Chemicals
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics and foodstuffs
EU CE Marking Directives
- Machinery Directive: 2006/42/EC
- Low Voltage Directive: 2014/35/EU
- EMC Directive: 2014/30/EU
- Medical Devices Directive: 93/42/EEC
- Personal Protective Equipment Directive: 89/686/EEC
- Construction Products Regulation: Regulation (EU) No 305/2011
- Pressure Equipment Directive: 2014/68/EU
- REACH Regulation (EC) No: 1907/2006
- RoHS_Restriction of Hazardous Substances_Directive: 2011/65/EU
- Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive: 2012/19/EU
- ATEX Directive: 2014/34/EU
- Toy Directive: 2009/48/EC
- R&TTE Directive: 1999/5/EC
- Recreational Craft Directive: 94/25/EC
- Active Implantable Medical Devices Directive: 90/385/EEC
- Explosive for Civil Use Directive: 93/15/EEC
- Noise Emission in the Environment Directive: 2000/14/EC
- Gas Appliances Directive: 2009/142/EC
- Lifts Directive: 1995/16/EC
- Pyrotechnic Directive: 2007/23/EC
- Measuring Instruments Directive: 2004/22/EC