Many products such as electrical products and toys need to have CE marking to be sold. We have put together the basic facts about CE marking and what you need to remember as a merchant. CE marking does not necessarily mean that the product was made in the EU, only that the product was assessed before being launched on the market and thus meets the requirements (for example harmonized standards) to be sold here.
CE is an abbreviation of Conformité Européenne (“in conformity with EU Directives”). A product with the CE mark may be sold throughout the EU. By placing the CE mark on the product and preparing the technical documentation and EU Declaration of Conformity, the manufacturer confirms that the product complies with the legislation relating to standards and safety for the product.
When the manufacture of a product ceases, the manufacturer is liable to ensure that its EU Declaration of Conformity is available to market supervision authorities within the EU. This applies up to 10 years after manufacture has ceased.
Who is responsible for CE marking?
It is primarily the manufacturer that must perform a number of checks to evaluate and ensure that the product conforms to EU Directives.
If the manufacturer is not in the EU (or has not appointed a representative here), you, as the importer/retailer, must ensure that the product meets the relevant EU requirements and is not a safety risk for the consumer. The importer must confirm that the manufacturer outside the EU has taken the necessary action. As the importer/retailer, you must ensure that the documentation (for example the EU Declaration of Conformity and technical documentation) is available at the request of CDON or a public authority.
What are the requirements for the CE mark?
The CE mark must be attached to the product or its rating plate so that it is visible, easily legible and indelible. If a notified body was involved in the supervision phase of manufacturing, its ID number must also be displayed. There are formal requirements for the CE mark, including that it must be of a certain minimum size, where it must be placed on the product, etc.
The EU and national authorities have further information on CE marking and the products to which it applies. Here are two links with more information (at both EU and national levels):
https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/ce-marking_en
List of products that must be CE marked can be found at the bottom of this page on the European Commission website;
https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/ce-marking/manufacturers_sv