What is the CE Marking (CE Mark)? DO YOUR PRODUCTS NEED CE MARKING?

CE marking is a certification mark that indicates conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA). The CE marking is also found on products sold outside the EEA that are manufactured in, or designed to be sold in, the EEA. This makes the CE marking recognizable worldwide even to people who are not familiar with the European Economic Area. It is in that sense similar to the FCC Declaration of Conformity used on certain electronic devices sold in the United States.

  General principles of the CE Marking Certification Services

The CE marking shall be affixed only by the manufacturer or his authorized representative.

The CE marking Certification shall be affixed only to products to which it's affixing is provided for by specific Community harmonization legislation, and shall not be affixed to any other product.

By affixing or having appendant the CE marking, the manufacturer indicates that he takes responsibility for the conformity of the merchandise with all applicable necessities started within the relevant

Community harmonization legislation providing for its affixing.

The CE marking shall be the only marking that attests to the conformity of the merchandise with the applicable requirements of the relevant Community harmonization legislation providing for its affixing.

The affixing to a product of markings, signs or inscriptions that square measure doubtless to mislead third parties regarding the meaning or type of the CE marking shall be prohibited.

Any other marking may be affixed to the merchandise provided that the visibility, legibility, and which means of the CE marking Certification don't seem to be thereby impaired.

Member States shall make sure the correct implementation of the regime governing the CE marking and take applicable action within the event of improper use of the marking. The Member States shall also provide for penalties for infringements, which may include criminal sanctions for serious infringements. Those penalties shall be proportionate to the seriousness of the offense and constitute an effective deterrent against improper use.

  

The European Economic Area (EEA):

The EEA includes EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. It allows them to be part of the EEA single market.

Switzerland is a member of EFTA, however neither Associate in Nursing EU nor EEA member.

It, however, remains a part of the one market

Along with additional directives' becoming effective, more and more products are required to bear the CE Marking for gaining access to the EFTA & European Union market.

However, several non-EU exporters are still unaware of or unsure regarding this fact and its impact on their business.

Comparison of correct/real and misuse/fake CE Conformity Marking

DO YOUR PRODUCTS NEED CE MARKING?

Ø Unfortunately, the method of determining whether the CE marking applies to a product is quite advanced.

Ø The European legislator doesn't give product lists or nomenclatures that indicate the appropriate CE marking directives.

Ø The CE marking Certification applies to merchandise placed within the market or put into service in the European Economic space, and only for certain product groups or product aspects.

Ø Thus to answer the question of whether a product has to be CE certified, one has to determine first in which countries the merchandise is going to be

Ø placed within the market or used. Secondly, for every single directive, it must be determined whether the products or some of its aspects, fall within its scope.

Step 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 twenty-eight Member States of the European Union (EU)…:

Austria (became a member in 1995), Belgium (Founder Member in 1957), Bulgaria (2007), Croatia (2013), Cyprus (2004), Czech Republic (2004), Denmark (1973), Estonia (2004), Finland (1995), France (FM 1957), Germany (FM 1957), Greece (1981), Hungary (2004), Ireland (1973), Italy, (FM 1957), Latvia (2004), Lithuania (2004), Luxembourg (FM 1957), Malta (2004), The Netherlands (FM 1957), Poland (2004), Portugal (1986), Romania (2007), Slovakia (2004), Slovenia (2004), Spain (1986), Sweden (1995), United Kingdom (Great Britain) (1973) …as well as 3 members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA): * Iceland * Norway * Liechtenstein Although Switzerland is a member of the EFTA, it does not take part in the EEA.

PLEASE NOTE: Turkey is neither a member of the EU nor is considered a part of the EEA. However, Turkey has implemented several of the European CE marking directives.

This means that for several products they conjointly need CE Marking.

If the merchandise is to be placed or put into service in the aforementioned markets, the CE mark could apply if the merchandise is covered by one or more of the European CE marking directives.

Step 2. The CE marking is required only for products for which a CE marking directive or regulation has been adopted. There are directives/regulations for the following types of merchandise (please note that one or more directive/regulation will apply to one product):

Toys ,Machinery Electrical equipment ,Electronic equipment ,Personal protective equipment, Pressure equipment, Medical devices, Active implantable medical devices ,In vitro diagnostic Radio and Telecommunications terminal equipment, Simple pressure vessels Gas appliances Lifts Recreational craft Equipment and protective systems for use in explosive environments Non-automatic weighing instruments Cableways Construction products Explosives for civil use New hot water boilers Measuring Equipment

The following products do not require CE marking

·        Chemicals

·        Pharmaceuticals

·        Cosmetics

·        Foodstuffs

Products that don't seem to be covered by the European CE marking directives could fall inside the scope of other European or national legislation.

If there is no specific legislation, the General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC) could apply.

This European Directive needs that products are safe, however, it doesn't need any marking.

We are CE Marking Certification Provider, hence we've developed a 6-Step CE Marking Framework that helps companies to do CE self-certification. We offer this Framework as an On-Line Workshop, as a Coaching Program, and as a Done-For-You service. The first step of this Framework is dedicated to determining which directives and standards apply to your products, and how you can do the CE marking efficiently and in a cost-effective way. We now offer this “Step 1” of our framework as a separate service. That means you can get a report with an overview of the applicable requirements and recommendations with the steps you need to take, without investing in the full-service package.

Contact us for more information about Product Certification in Philippines and the role we can play in your efforts to achieve certification to it, feel free to contact us. To get started with the certification process, you can also request a quote.