CE Marking
CE marking is a legal requirement for most products sold in Europe but is not always fully understood or adhered to. York EMC Services is able to help manufacturers and importers succeed by providing guidance, testing, and training towards correctly CE marking their products before placing them on the market.
Why CE Mark?
A CE mark is a legal requirement under both European and national law for the vast majority of products, and all those that fall under a New Approach directive, which are sold in the EEA. Furthermore, it is illegal to apply CE marking if the product has not been subject to the appropriate conformity assessment procedures.
Countries in the EEA include Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
CE marking was created to allow the free movement of goods within Europe and replace individual countries’ separate, national, standards and certification requirements. A CE marked product can be sold throughout the EEA without further nationally required certification, although contractual requirements may stipulate additional testing or certification.
Adhering to the requirements of CE marking will ensure a basic level of safety and functionality which might not otherwise be present.
What Is The CE Marking?
The CE marking is a prescribed shape.
The CE marking is a declaration by the manufacturer or person placing a product on the market that it meets the requirements of all applicable EU directives and that appropriate conformity assessments have been carried out.
This is applicable throughout the European Economic Area (EEA) which is made up of the countries of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association.
CE stands for “Conformité European”, literally “European Conformity”. The mark itself must take an exactly prescribed form although it may be reduced or enlarged if the proportions are maintained. The minimum size is 5mm. It must be affixed visibly, legibly and indelibly to the product or, if this is not possible, to the packaging.
The CE marking must be supported by a Declaration of Conformity, a legal document stating the name of the manufacturer, the product(s) covered by the declaration, the directives applicable to the product(s), and the basis on which conformity is declared, for example standards tested to or reference numbers of a technical file and the Notified Body that has approved it.
What Products Need To Be CE Marked?
All products which fall under the scope of the New Approach directives or the Global Approach directives. This will cover most products with the exception of fixed installations and equipment exclusively for military use.
The European Commission's Guide to the Implementation of Directives Based on New Approach and Global Approach, commonly known as the “Blue Guide”, gives further information.
What Is Involved?
York EMC Services can assist this process with continuing professional development, consultancy and testing services.
We can help you:
- determine which directives are applicable
- This is a function both of the product and of the environment in which it is to be used. We can advise which directives apply.
- generate EMC Technical Documentation
- We can also provide a Notified Body Assessment, to give you (and your customers) extra assurance that your product meets the requirements of the EMC Directive.
- design to best practices
- We offer consultancy and relevant training: one-day interactive workshops, our five-day EMC Fundamentals course & advanced design, filtering and shielding courses.
- carry out the relevant assessments on the product to ensure compliance
- Our three laboratories in Bristol, Castleford (West Yorkshire) and Dalgety Bay (Fife) can test to a wide range of EMC and electrical safety (LVD) standards. Our Bristol laboratory also offers a range of radio and telecom testing.
Once conformity has been verified a Declaration of Conformity must be generated and the CE marking attached.
What The CE Marking Is Not
- The CE marking does not signify that the product has been manufactured in Europe.
- It signifies only that a declaration has been made that the product meets all applicable European standards.
- The CE marking itself is not a guarantee of quality.
- It is a manufacturer’s declaration and is thus reliant on the thoroughness of that manufacturer in assessing their products’ compliance with all the relevant directives.
What can York EMC Services Provide?
York EMC Services offer the following services to assist in CE Marking:
- High quality technical training aimed primarily at professional engineers and technicians in Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Electrical Safety. Equipping designers, testers, and managers with the skills and knowledge necessary to identify and meet the relevant directives and standards will allow more efficient and cost effective overall project management.
- We have a team of consultants who are available to assist in design and problem solving, EMC strategies and management, the generation of technical files and technical construction files.
- York EMC Services is a BIS-appointed Notified Body for the assessment of technical documentation.
- Our UKAS accredited test laboratories in Bristol, Castleford (West Yorkshire) and Dalgety Bay (Fife) offer EMC and Electrical Safety (LVD) testing.
Further information on CE marking can be obtained from the European Commission.
Last updated: 2008-Jul-27
