CE marking

The CE marking is a type or marking used in the European Economic Area. This marking means that the product on which the CE marking is printed has been assessed to meet the health, safety, and environmental protection regulations of the European Union.

The CE marking consists of the characters "CE", which are an abbreviation of the French "Conformité Européenne" ("European Conformity" in English). If the conformity of the product was checked by an external body, a four-digit identification number identifying this body is added next to the "CE" characters.

The CE marking is regulated by Regulation (EC) n° 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 339/93.

More specifically, it is article 30 of Regulation (EC) n° 765/2008 that regulates the CE marking. Such article states that the CE marking shall be affixed only by the manufacturer of a product or his authorised representative. This article also states that by affixing or having affixed the CE marking, the manufacturer indicates that he takes responsibility for the conformity of the product with all applicable requirements set out in the relevant Community harmonisation legislation providing for its affixing.

It is important to note that the CE marking is not a quality seal or a certification mark awarded by a government authority or body, but a marking printed by a manufacturer or his representative which affirms the product’s conformity with EU law.

Manufacturers of products for which there is a corresponding EU regulation are obliged to use the CE marking within the European Economic Area. They apply the marking to their products on their own responsibility, thereby signaling that they have taken into account the requirements that the EU regulations place on the product in question.

The assessment of whether a product meets the requirements set in EU law may be conducted by the manufacturer himself. However, EU law often establishes that an external body must certify that the product meets EU law. As a result, it will often be the case that the manufacturer must seek the approval of an external body before printing the CE marking on its products. Self-assessment is only possible when EU law allows it. This will normally be the case when the product has minimal risk.

The symbol must be clearly visible, unmistakable, legible and permanent on the product with a minimum size of five millimeters. These printing requirements can be easily achieved with the help of an inkjet printer, for example.