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Created:

16-3-01

Last
Update:

25-5-02

EMC
Directive: CE Certification Procedure

THE
CE-CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE

Before the CE Marking may be affixed, the compliance of the product with
the applicable requirements must be certified.

The CE-certification procedure of the EMC Directive consists of certain
steps that will be presented here.

Please be informed that CEMarking.net can provide advice and assistance in
all stages of the certification process.

STEP 1: DETERMINE WHICH CE DIRECTIVE(S) APPLY TO THE PRODUCT

The first step in the certification process is to determine which (other)
European CE Directives apply to the product. It is possible that one
product falls under the scope of more than one CE Directive.

STEP 2: READ THE TEXTS OF THE APPLICABLE DIRECTIVE(S)

Read the text of the EMC Directive and possible other applicable CE
Directives. The essential requirements for the product can be found in the
text.

STEP 3: APPLYING THE ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS OR HARMONIZED STANDARDS

The essential requirements that apply to the product are set out in the
Directive. They define the results to be attained, or the risks to be dealt
with, but do not specify the manufacturing specifications or technical
solutions for reaching that result.

The manufacturer is free to choose any technical solution as long as the
final product meets the result as defined in the essential requirements.

Technical solutions for meeting the essential requirements can be found in
European harmonized standards (EN standards). However, please note that the
application of EN standards is not mandatory.

The great advantage of using publicized EN standards is that it leads to a
'presumption of conformity' with the essential requirements of the
applicable European Directives.

The European harmonized standards are adopted by European standards
organizations (CEN, CENELEC or ETSI) upon a mandate issued by the European
Commission.

STEP 4: CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT

The fourth steps in the CE certification procedure relate to the actual
assessment of the conformity of the product with the essential
requirements.

For the EMC Directive conformity assessment means that the product is
tested on compliance with the applicable limits for the emission of and
immunity for electromagnetic disturbances.

STEP 5: INSTRUCTION

The goal of the European CE Directives is to minimize the health and safety
risks of the product for the user. From this perspective it is necessary to
provide an instruction about the safe installation, use, maintenance and
reparation of the product. The importance of information of the user is
also recognized in the European Directive on General Product Safety
(92/59/EEC).

Because it is essential that the user is able to understand the (safety)
instructions, it is obligatory to provide a translation of the manual in the
official language(s) of the country where the product is being placed on
the market.

STEP 6: EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

The EMC Directive imposes an obligation for the manufacturer, his
authorized representative established within the Community or the importer,
to draw up an 'EC Declaration of Conformity' when the product is placed on
the market. This is basically a legal statement ensuring that the product
satisfies the essential requirements of the applicable directives.

The EC Declaration of Conformity must be kept for at least ten years from
the last date of manufacture of the product, and must be made available to
the surveillance authority immediately upon request.

STEP 7: THE AFFIXING OF THE CE MARKING

The CE certification process is concluded with the affixing of the CE
Marking to the product. The CE Marking indicates that the product conforms
with the relevant essential requirements, and other applicable provisions,
and that the product has been subject to the appropriate conformity assessment
procedure(s). Hence, Member States are not allowed to restrict the placing
on the market and putting into service of CE marked products, unless such
measures can be justified on the basis of evidence of the non-compliance of
the product.

The CE Marking must consist of the initials 'CE'.

If the CE Marking is reduced or enlarged the proportions must be respected.

The logo must have a height of at least 5-mm.

The CE Marking must be affixed visibly, legibly and indelibly.

The CE Marking must be affixed to the product or to its data plate.
However, where this is not possible or not warranted on account of the
nature of the product, it must be affixed to the packaging, if any, and to
the accompanying documents, where the directive concerned provides for such
documents.

The affixing of markings on the product which are likely to deceive third
parties as to the meaning and form of the CE Marking is not allowed. Any
other marking may only be affixed to the product, the packaging or a label
provided that the visibility and legibility of the CE Marking is not
thereby reduced.

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Related Publications:

Other Articles of Interest:

EMC
Directive 89/336/EEC

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