CE marking
Many products require CE marking before they can be sold in the EU. With this marking, the manufacturer indicates that a product meets the requirements set out in EU product rules. It allows the product to be moved and marketed freely in the EU regardless of where it is manufactured.
When is CE marking mandatory?
CE marking is only required for products covered by harmonised EU rules that specifically mandate it. If no such EU requirements exist for your product, CE marking must not be used.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of products that are included in EU laws about CE marking:
- Toys, drones, electrical and electronic equipment, pyrotechnic products, recreational crafts and watercraft
- Some kinds of pressure equipment, gas appliances, batteries, and machinery
- Weighing and measuring equipment
- Personal protective equipment
- Medical appliances, including diagnostic equipment.
For more detailed information, check this complete list of EU legislation covering product categories subject to CE marking requirements.
Warning
CE marking only applies to products covered by specific EU rules that harmonise product requirements in the EU.
Products that do not require CE marking are subject to general product safety rules which ensure they are safe for consumers.
Some products may fall under several EU requirements at the same time. In these cases, you must ensure full compliance with all the relevant requirements before affixing the CE marking.
Who is responsible for CE marking?
The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that a product meets all applicable EU requirements and for affixing the CE marking.
You are considered the manufacturer if you make a product yourself, or have it made for you and sell it under your own name or brand. As the manufacturer, you are responsible for the compliance of the entire product, including any components or systems supplied by others.
Learn more about manufacturer obligations under EU product rules. If you are not the manufacturer, other roles may carry specific responsibilities, such as importers and authorised representatives.
How to obtain CE marking
There is no central EU body that gives you permission or a certificate allowing you to use the CE mark. However, before you can affix the CE marking to your products you must:
- identify all relevant EU-wide product requirements
- decide if you can assess the conformity your product by yourself or if you have to involve a notified body
- gather evidence to show your product complies with the rules: find out about technical documentation
- draft and sign an EU declaration of conformity
Once your product bears the CE marking, you can make it available on the EU market and the competent national authority may carry out compliance checks. You must provide the competent authority with all the information and supporting technical documentation concerning the compliance of the product upon request.
Do you need an independent assessment?
You must check if your product needs to be assessed by a notified body. A notified body is an independent organisation authorised by an EU country to assess product compliance when required by legislation. They are used for third-party conformity assessment — typically for higher-risk products like medical devices, construction products, or machinery.
To find out if you need one, check the conformity assessment procedure in the applicable EU laws:
- If the law allows self-assessment, you can evaluate your product without involving a conformity assessment body.
- If the law requires third-party testing, you must involve a notified body.
If required, search for notified bodies in the NANDO database:
- search by product category or legislation
- make sure the notified body you choose is authorised to carry out the specific conformity assessment procedure required for your product under EU law
If a notified body is used, its 4-digit ID number must appear next to the CE marking.
Warning
Watch out for voluntary certificates
Some organisations offer “voluntary certificates” that are not valid for CE marking. These are not legally recognised and may:
- be issued without product testing
- be used in areas beyond the body's legal competence
- mislead customers and regulators
You may only affix the CE mark after passing the correct conformity assessment as defined in EU legislation — and only if applicable.
Do you need to pay any fees?
You must bear the costs of the conformity assessment, but affixing the CE marking does not have a fee. The cost depends on the complexity of the product and the applicable assessment procedure.
How do you affix the CE marking?
The CE marking must be visible, legible, and indelible. You must also comply with design and placement requirements.
Design requirements
The CE marking must meet the following design requirements:
- consist of the initials “CE”
- both letters must have the same vertical dimension
- minimum size: 5 mm (unless product rules specify otherwise)
- if resized, proportions of the letters must be preserved
- the mark can appear in different styles (e.g. colour, solid, or hollow), as long as it remains clear
Placement
The CE marking must meet the following placement requirements:
- preferably affixed directly on the product
- if not possible, it can go on the packaging or accompanying documents
- if the product falls under multiple EU rules, the documents must confirm compliance with all of them.
Download the official CE marking image file here.
Does CE marking have a period of validity?
The CE marking refers to the compliance of the product at the moment it was placed on the EU market. By affixing the CE marking you declare that your product was compliant with the relevant EU product rules at that moment. However, the EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC) and the technical documentation that supports it must be
- kept up to date
- retained for at least 10 years after the product is placed on the market
If there are any changes, such as the applicable legislation, the product itself, or in the contact details of the manufacturer or authorised representative - the DoC must be reviewed and updated accordingly. If requested by a competent national authority, the manufacturer must be able to provide the DoC and all supporting compliance documentation.
Warning
CE marking is a statement by the manufacturer that the product met EU requirements at the time it was placed on the market. If someone else (e.g. a consumer or third party) modifies the product after sale, CE compliance may no longer apply, and the manufacturer may not be responsible for the altered product.