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The CE Marking is short for Conformite Europeenne, a French acronym which means the product has met the European Union's standards for safety, health and environmental protection. Certain products to be sold in particular European countries must have this mark, as it means it has gone through testing and meets all the strenuous standards associated with it. It is important to be able to identify a genuine copy of a CE mark to avoid purchasing something that doesn't meet these standards and therefore cannot be resold.
One of the easiest ways to spot a fake CE mark is making sure it meets the minimum size requirements. Any CE Mark less than 5mm does not meet the standard. In addition, the mark must be in proportion to any other size mark. Basically, the C is a half-circle shape, while the E is a half-circle with a dash in the middle. If the circles were drawn completely, they would appear to be overlapping each other on one end. This is important, as all of these factors must be met in order for the mark to be legitimate.
The CE Marking came about as a replacement to the EC Mark, which were outdated standards that European products had to comply with in order to be sold in the market. Today's CE Marking replaces the EC Mark, and is required on a variety of products from toys to home health aids. The CE Marking was adopted in July of 1994 and became effective January 1, 1995, however, companies were allow to continue selling goods produced under the old standards until January 1997. At this time, all products must bear the CE Marking.
Who Needs CE?
Anyone planning on exporting or marketing products to 27 European Union and three European Free Trade Agreement member states will want to look into applying the CE Marking to their products. There are several types of products that need the CE Marking, including:
Gas-burning appliances
Cable-based human transport systems
Low-voltage Electrical equipment
Construction Supplies/Products
Equipment & Protective Systems Used With Potential Explosives
Civil-Use Explosives
Boilers for Hot-Water
Lifts
Machinery
Instruments of Measurement
Medical Devices
Medical Devices that are Implanted
Medical Devices for In-Vitro Diagnosis
Scales (not automatic)
Radio equipment
Personal Protection Equipment
“Simple Pressure” Equipment
Pressure Equipment
Boats
Toys
How do I get CE Certified?
The process for getting a CE Marking for your product depends on the risk involved with its use. You will first need to look at a list of directives and see where your product falls. If it can be classified under more than one directive, you will need to follow the directions on each directive.
The directive will refer to something called a Conformity Assessment Procedures chart. This chart lists different ways that you can be sure your product conforms to the standard. When a product has a minimal risk for harm, you will be able to self-certify, create your own Declaration of Conformity, and affix your own marking.
When a product carries a higher risk, you must have an independent organization that has prior approval test for conformity. The paperwork can be very confusing, so at this stage you may want to hire someone. There are several reputable companies that can help you and serve as your authorized representative.
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