Created:

17-3-01

Last
Update:

25-5-02

CE
Marking: A Short Introduction

SUBJECTS:

- What is CE Marking?

- Why CE Marking?

- How do you benefit from the CE Marking?

- Does your product require a CE Marking?

- What are the requirements regarding affixing a CE Marking?

WHAT IS CE MARKING?

The CE Marking is a conformity marking consisting of the letters
"CE". The CE Marking applies to products regulated by certain
European health, safety and environmental protection legislation. The CE
Marking is obligatory for products it applies to: the manufacturer affixes
the marking in order to be allowed to sell his product in the European
market.

CE is an abbreviation for 'Conformité Européenne', French for
'European Conformity'. The CE Marking indicates that the product it is
affixed to conforms to all relevant essential requirements and other
applicable provisions that have been imposed upon it by means of European
directives, and that the product has been subject to the appropriate
conformity assessment procedure(s). The essential requirements refer, among
other things, to safety, public health and consumer protection.

Please note:

1.The CE Marking is not a quality-mark. First, it refers to the safety
rather than to the quality of a product. Second, CE Marking is mandatory
for the product it applies to, whereas most quality markings are voluntary.

2. Many people use the term "CE Mark". Initially, this was the
phrase used to indicate this conformity marking. However, "CE
Mark" was officially replaced by the term "CE Marking" in
1993. Thus, it is better to speak of "CE Marking".

WHY CE MARKING?

Since the Treaty of Rome was signed in 1946, the community
of European states have continued to pursue the establishment of an
internal market in Europe.

In this 'Single Market' a free movement of goods, persons, capital and
services would have to be realized.

For a long time, the free movement of goods was frustrated by the fact that
the national member states of the European Community were allowed to set
national safety and health requirements for products. In practice, the many
different technical product requirements and test procedures proved to
cause trade barriers between the member states of the European Community,
and thus were contrary to the goals of this organization.

Inspired by a series of rulings of the European Court of Justice, the
European Commission and Council tried to break down the trade barriers by
harmonizing the different national rules.

HOW DO YOU BENEFIT FROM THE CE MARKING?

The CE Marking is a kind of trade passport for the European marketplace: it
allows the manufacturer to freely circulate their product throughout the 18
countries of the European Economic Area (EEA).

There is only one set of requirements and procedures to comply with in
designing and manufacturing a product for the entire EEA. The various and
conflicting national regulations are eliminated. As a result, the product
no longer needs to be adapted to the specific requirements of the different
member states of the EEA.

In addition, it may be considered a benefit that by implementing the
requirements, the product will be safer for the user and this may also
reduce damage and liability claims.

"DOES MY PRODUCT REQUIRE A CE MARKING?"

To answer this question one has to determine where the customers are
located and whether the products can be considered to be part of certain
product groups.

1.The CE Marking is required only in the countries
of the European Economic Area (EEA).

The European Economic Area (EEA) is formed by the fifteen Member States of
the European Union (EU), viz: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom as well as three members of the
European Free Trade Association (EFTA): Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

Although Switzerland
is member of the EFTA, it does not take part in the EEA.

2.The CE Marking is required only for the following types of products:

-Toys

-Machinery

-Electrical equipment

-Electronic equipment

-Personal protective equipment

-Pressure equipment

-Medical devices

-Active implantable medical devices

-In vitro diagnostica

-Telecommunications terminal equipment

-Simple pressure vessels

-Gas appliances

-Lifts

-Recreational craft

-Equipment and protective systems for use in explosive atmospheres

-Non-automatic weighing instruments

-Cableways

-Construction products

-Explosives for civil use

-New hot water boilers

The CE Marking is NOT required for the following products:

-Chemicals

-Pharmaceuticals

-Cosmetics

-Foodstuffs

WHAT IS REQUIRED REGARDING THE AFFIXING OF THE CE MARKING?

The CE Marking must be affixed to the product, to its data plate or, where
this is not possible or not warranted due to the nature of the product, to
its packaging, if any, and to the accompanying documents by the
manufacturer, the authorized representative in the European Community or,
in exceptional cases, by those responsible for placing the product on the
market.

The CE Marking must be affixed visibly, legibly and indelibly. Where
special provisions do not impose specific dimensions, it must have a height
of at least 5 millimeters.

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