Introduction

On commercial products, CE marking indicates that a product has been assessed by the manufacturer and deemed to meet EU safety, health and environmental protection requirements. It is required for products manufactured anywhere in the world that are then marketed in the EU.

Application

The CE mark on a product indicates that the manufacturer or importer of that product affirms its compliance with the relevant EU legislation and the product may be sold anywhere in the European Economic Area (EEA). It is a criminal offence to affix a CE mark to a product that is not compliant or offer it for sale.

For example, most electrical products must comply with the Low Voltage Directive and the EMC Directive, among others; toys must comply with the Toy Safety Directive. The CE mark indicates compliance with as many Directives as apply at the time of the declaration of compliance. In the case of electrical products, several later Directives such as the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) are relevant in addition to the Low Voltage Directive and EMC Directive. The exact significance of the CE mark therefore depends on when it was applied to a specific unit.

Not all products need CE marking to be traded in the EEA; only product categories subject to relevant directives or regulations are required (and allowed) to bear CE marking.

Following Brexit, the UK government introduced UKCA marking as its equivalent conformance indicator and this is required for relevant goods to be sold in UK – although goods with the CE mark can still be used until 1 January 2023.

Product group

• Active implantable medical devices
• Appliances burning gaseous fuels
• Cableway installations designed to carry persons
• Construction products
• Ecodesign of energy related products
• Electromagnetic compatibility
• Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
• Explosives for civil uses
• Hot-water boilers
• 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 Equipment
• Recreational craft
• Restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
• Safety of toys
• Simple pressure vessels