The CE marking
CE marking is an obligatory European marking for all the products subject to one or more European Directives. It indicates that the products respect the essential requirements of the directives in particular about safety, public health and consumers' protection. CE marking allows the products to freely circulate in all the European Union.
Procedure of evaluation of conformity:
CE Mark is affixed at the end of a procedure of evaluation of conformity to the essential requirements. According to the dangerosity of the products, the procedure varies:
- Simple certificate of conformity emitted by the manufacturer.
- Checking unit by unit by a recognized organization.
- Implementation of a system of quality assurance controlled by an accredited organization.
There are eight modes of evaluation of conformity:
- CE conformity declaration
- The certificate of CE examination of the type
- The declaration of conformity to the type
- The quality assurance of the production
- The quality assurance of the product
- The test on products or CE checking
- The unit verification
- The complete quality assurance
Each directive notifies, according to the products and the covered risks, the method of evaluation which must be applied.
Certificate of conformity
The manufacturer, or its agent established in one of the countries of the EU, must obtain a certificate of conformity. This certificate can be established with a CE declaration of conformity of the product to the essential requirements of health and safety, along with a technical report.
CE declaration of conformity
"Written document by which a manufacturer engages his responsibility as for conformity for a product to the essential requirements for health and safety with the relative regulation concerned".
This declaration contains:
- Name and address of the manufacturer, the agent or the importer
- Description of the product
- Reference to the harmonized standards or other specifications used
- Name and address of the signatory
Technical Report
A technical report is generally required from the manufacturer in addition of the declaration. The assessment method associated with the product determines the obligation of it. This report does not circulate with the product. Only the authorities entitled to control can obtain it, on request.
Contents of the technical report:
- Information of an administrative nature on the company
- Documents allowing checking the conformity of the product to the technical rules: official report, description of the product and the process, plans, etc.
To affix CE marking:
Surface marking - the mark is affixed preferably on the product or, in the event of technical impossibility, on packing, on the user's manual or the warranty tag.
Graphics - the mark must be visible and readable. The manufacturer has the choice of the color.
Printing - the mark must be indelible. The process of affixing, labeling or engraving is the choice of the manufacturer.
Dimension - Height equal or higher than 5 mm, exceptions may apply.