What is Meant by CE Certification?

CE stands for “Conformité Européenne”, which translates to “European Conformity”. It is a symbol that is placed on products that conform to the safety, health, and environmental protection standards set by the European Union. The CE mark is required in order to sell certain types of products within the EU.

There are several different directives that products can fall under, and each directive has its own specific CE requirements. For example, the Toy Directive requires toys to be designed and manufactured in such a way that they do not pose any risks to the safety of children. On the other hand, the Machinery Directive covers a wide range of products, from lawnmowers to coffee machines, and requires that these products are designed and built in a way that minimizes the risk of injury to users.

Evaluation and Certification of Products (CE Directives, EN Standards)

In order to obtain the CE marking, manufacturers must carry out an evaluation of their products to ensure that they comply with the relevant directives. They must then prepare a technical file or design dossier which documents this compliance. This file is then sent to a notified body, which will carry out an independent assessment. If the notified body is satisfied that the product meets the necessary requirements, it will issue a certificate of conformity. The manufacturer can then affix the CE mark to their product and sell it within the EU.

There are several hundred notified bodies across Europe, most of which are accredited by national governments. Notified bodies can be private companies or public organizations, and they must be independent of the manufacturers whose products they are certifying.

EN standards are the technical specifications that products must meet in order to be CE certified. They are developed by European standards organizations, such as CEN and CENELEC. Manufacturers must carry out tests to ensure that their products comply with the relevant EN standards.