CE marking can be found on all kinds of products that are intended for trading in the European Economic Area (EEA). The letters are the abbreviation of the French phrase “Conformité Européene”, which translates to “European Conformity”. If a product is stamped with the CE marking, it indicates that it complies with the relevant European legislation for free movement within the area.
What products need CE marking?
The products that require CE marking are listed in the New Approach Directives guidance, available from the Europa website. As a generalisation, CE marking applies to equipment, electrical items, medical devices and recreational goods. This includes:
- Measuring instruments
- Household appliances
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Radio equipment
- Toys
How to use CE marking
To determine whether a CE marking is required, manufacturers must understand which EU Directives apply to their product. There are more than 20 potentially-applicable directives, so research and thorough understanding is necessary.
The manufacturer is solely responsible for ensuring that the CE marking is appropriately applied to their products, although some Directives require compliance testing by an authorised third party. Any documentation from the product’s manufacture, storage, certifications and technical assessment must be kept safe and made available to the Market Surveillance Authorities if requested.
Can anyone use CE marking?
As you can see, CE marking is an essential component of quality assurance within the EEA. Misusing the CE label is considered a serious offence and is monitored in the UK by Trading Standards, the Health and Safety Executive, the National Measurement Office, the Vehicle Certification Agency and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
If a manufacturer is found to be wrongly labelling their products with the CE marking, they may be given an opportunity to remove the marking or bring their products up to code (whichever is appropriate). Failure to do so can result in products being removed from the market, fines and imprisonment.
Further information
For more information about CE marking in the UK, you can visit the Government website or check with the British Standards Institution.
If you aren’t sure about how to get the CE marking onto your products, contact us. Our label technicians have worked with hundreds of clients that are affected by the legislation and can help you design a secure way to show that your products are CE compliant.