CE marking is mandatory for certain groups of products in the European Economic Area (EEA), made up of the 27 EU Member States and the EFTA countries Iceland, Norway and Liechenstein (Switzerland, the remaining EFTA country, refused to join the EEA by referendum). It is also mandatory for all products manufactured in third countries and sold in the EEA. In this case, the importer must ensure that the non-EU manufacturer has followed the necessary steps to provide the product with the CE marking.

The manufacturer of a product itself adds the CE marking to a product, but must comply with certain steps before its product can carry it. You must carry out a product conformity assessment, establish a technical file and sign a CE declaration of conformity. This documentation must be available to the authorities that request it.

Importers of products must verify that the non-EU manufacturer has carried out the necessary steps and that documentation is available upon request. Importers must also ensure that contact with the manufacturer is always possible.

Distributors must be able to demonstrate to national authorities that they have taken due care and must have confirmation from the manufacturer or importer that the necessary measures have been taken.

If the importer or distributor puts their own name on the product, then they must assume the responsibilities of the manufacturer. In this case, you must have sufficient information about the design and production of the product since by adding the CE marking you will be assuming the legal responsibilities that it entails.

The procedure for adding the CE marking is based on certain standards:

• - Products that are subject to any CE directive must add the CE marking before going on the market.

• - Manufacturers must check, under their own responsibility, which CE directive they need to apply to their products.

• - The product may only go on sale if it complies with the provisions of the directives in force and if the conformity evaluation process has been carried out correctly.

• - The manufacturer must prepare a CE declaration of conformity and add the CE marking to its product.

• - If the directive (directives) stipulates, a third party (Notified Body) must take part in the evaluation process.

• - If the CE marking is added to a product, it may only add more marks under the condition that they have a different meaning and that they do not confuse or hinder the legibility and visibility of the CE marking.

• - The CE marking must be added by the manufacturer (or its authorized representative in the European Community) in accordance with the format provided by law, in a visible, legible and indelible manner on the product.

• - The size of the CE marking must be at least 5mm, if enlarged the proportions must be maintained.

• - If the appearance and manufacturing of a product do not allow the CE marking to be added to it, this must be placed on the packaging and documents accompanying the product.

• - If a directive requires the participation of a Notified Body in the conformity assessment process, its identification number must be placed behind the CE marking. This is done under the responsibility of the Notified Body.

There are mechanisms to control that the CE marking is correctly added to products. The control of products with CE marking corresponds to the public authorities of the Member States in collaboration with the European Commission. Citizens can contact national market surveillance authorities if they suspect misuse of the CE marking or if the safety of a product is questioned.

The processes, measures and sanctions applicable in case of falsification of the CE marking may vary according to the national administrations and criminal laws of each Member State. Depending on the seriousness of the crime, economic agents may be punished with a fine or, on some occasions, with prison sentences. However, if the product does not pose an imminent safety hazard, the manufacturer may be given a second opportunity to certify that the product complies with current legislation before being forced to remove the product from the market.

• - Construction products.

• - Gas appliances.

• - Elevators.

• - Hot water boilers.

• - Pressure equipment.

• - Transportable pressure equipment.

• - Personal protective equipment (PPE).

• - Marine equipment.

• - Facilities for transporting people by cables.

• - Machines.

• - Equipment for radio and telecommunications terminals.

• - Protective equipment and systems for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

• - Pleasure boats.

• - Explosives for civil use.

• - Electronic measuring instruments.

• - Non-automatic weighing instruments.

• - Toys.

• - Pyrotechnic articles.

• - Medical products.

• - Active implantable health products.

• - In vitro diagnostic medical products.

• - Domestic refrigerators and freezers.

• - Low voltage.

• - Electromagnetic compatibility.

• - Ecological design of energy-related products.

• - Acoustic emissions in the environment.

In July 2018, the European document CWA 17316") Smart CE marking for construction products was published,[3]​ which defines an XML format for the exchange of CE marking information and the Declaration of Performance for construction products. This document has been developed in the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), which created the CEN/WS group Smart marking") in 2017.

In September 2020, the Spanish Standardization Association published Standard UNE 41316") Digital declaration of performance for construction products,[4]​ which adopts the European CWA"). This standard includes criteria and requirements to include additional information to that included in the declaration of benefits.

It is a seal very similar to the CE marking and has been spreading as China Export") because some Chinese manufacturers apply this seal on their products.[5]​.

However, the European Commission says this is a misinterpretation. This fact was brought to the European Parliament in 2008.[6]​.

The Commission responded that this was an inconsistency of the Chinese Export mark - and therefore an incorrect application of the CE marking - and that this was due to the incorrect interpretation of the symbol. Although both practices have their protocols.

This is a logo trade-making process and is being discussed with the Chinese government to ensure that the CE marking is used correctly with the established standards for products that pass the established tests and requirements.

Observe how the CE marking is recognized to avoid confusing it with the Chinese Export brand.[7]​.

• - Technical sheet.

• - [1] European Commission - CE marking.

• - [2] New Approach Standardization in the Internal Market (in English).

• - [3] Frequently asked questions about the CE Marking. Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism. Government of Spain.

• - [4] European harmonization legislation. European Commission.

• - [5] AENOR - Smart CE, towards digital CE marking for construction products.

• - [6] Ready and capable to help China export and international trade. (in English).

CE marking is mandatory for certain groups of products in the European Economic Area (EEA), made up of the 27 EU Member States and the EFTA countries Iceland, Norway and Liechenstein (Switzerland, the remaining EFTA country, refused to join the EEA by referendum). It is also mandatory for all products manufactured in third countries and sold in the EEA. In this case, the importer must ensure that the non-EU manufacturer has followed the necessary steps to provide the product with the CE marking.

The manufacturer of a product itself adds the CE marking to a product, but must comply with certain steps before its product can carry it. You must carry out a product conformity assessment, establish a technical file and sign a CE declaration of conformity. This documentation must be available to the authorities that request it.

Importers of products must verify that the non-EU manufacturer has carried out the necessary steps and that documentation is available upon request. Importers must also ensure that contact with the manufacturer is always possible.

Distributors must be able to demonstrate to national authorities that they have taken due care and must have confirmation from the manufacturer or importer that the necessary measures have been taken.

If the importer or distributor puts their own name on the product, then they must assume the responsibilities of the manufacturer. In this case, you must have sufficient information about the design and production of the product since by adding the CE marking you will be assuming the legal responsibilities that it entails.

The procedure for adding the CE marking is based on certain standards:

• - Products that are subject to any CE directive must add the CE marking before going on the market.

• - Manufacturers must check, under their own responsibility, which CE directive they need to apply to their products.

• - The product may only go on sale if it complies with the provisions of the directives in force and if the conformity evaluation process has been carried out correctly.

• - The manufacturer must prepare a CE declaration of conformity and add the CE marking to its product.

• - If the directive (directives) stipulates, a third party (Notified Body) must take part in the evaluation process.

• - If the CE marking is added to a product, it may only add more marks under the condition that they have a different meaning and that they do not confuse or hinder the legibility and visibility of the CE marking.

• - The CE marking must be added by the manufacturer (or its authorized representative in the European Community) in accordance with the format provided by law, in a visible, legible and indelible manner on the product.

• - The size of the CE marking must be at least 5mm, if enlarged the proportions must be maintained.

• - If the appearance and manufacturing of a product do not allow the CE marking to be added to it, this must be placed on the packaging and documents accompanying the product.

• - If a directive requires the participation of a Notified Body in the conformity assessment process, its identification number must be placed behind the CE marking. This is done under the responsibility of the Notified Body.

There are mechanisms to control that the CE marking is correctly added to products. The control of products with CE marking corresponds to the public authorities of the Member States in collaboration with the European Commission. Citizens can contact national market surveillance authorities if they suspect misuse of the CE marking or if the safety of a product is questioned.

The processes, measures and sanctions applicable in case of falsification of the CE marking may vary according to the national administrations and criminal laws of each Member State. Depending on the seriousness of the crime, economic agents may be punished with a fine or, on some occasions, with prison sentences. However, if the product does not pose an imminent safety hazard, the manufacturer may be given a second opportunity to certify that the product complies with current legislation before being forced to remove the product from the market.

• - Construction products.

• - Gas appliances.

• - Elevators.

• - Hot water boilers.

• - Pressure equipment.

• - Transportable pressure equipment.

• - Personal protective equipment (PPE).

• - Marine equipment.

• - Facilities for transporting people by cables.

• - Machines.

• - Equipment for radio and telecommunications terminals.

• - Protective equipment and systems for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

• - Pleasure boats.

• - Explosives for civil use.

• - Electronic measuring instruments.

• - Non-automatic weighing instruments.

• - Toys.

• - Pyrotechnic articles.

• - Medical products.

• - Active implantable health products.

• - In vitro diagnostic medical products.

• - Domestic refrigerators and freezers.

• - Low voltage.

• - Electromagnetic compatibility.

• - Ecological design of energy-related products.

• - Acoustic emissions in the environment.

In July 2018, the European document CWA 17316") Smart CE marking for construction products was published,[3]​ which defines an XML format for the exchange of CE marking information and the Declaration of Performance for construction products. This document has been developed in the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), which created the CEN/WS group Smart marking") in 2017.

In September 2020, the Spanish Standardization Association published Standard UNE 41316") Digital declaration of performance for construction products,[4]​ which adopts the European CWA"). This standard includes criteria and requirements to include additional information to that included in the declaration of benefits.

It is a seal very similar to the CE marking and has been spreading as China Export") because some Chinese manufacturers apply this seal on their products.[5]​.

However, the European Commission says this is a misinterpretation. This fact was brought to the European Parliament in 2008.[6]​.

The Commission responded that this was an inconsistency of the Chinese Export mark - and therefore an incorrect application of the CE marking - and that this was due to the incorrect interpretation of the symbol. Although both practices have their protocols.

This is a logo trade-making process and is being discussed with the Chinese government to ensure that the CE marking is used correctly with the established standards for products that pass the established tests and requirements.

Observe how the CE marking is recognized to avoid confusing it with the Chinese Export brand.[7]​.

• - Technical sheet.

• - [1] European Commission - CE marking.

• - [2] New Approach Standardization in the Internal Market (in English).

• - [3] Frequently asked questions about the CE Marking. Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism. Government of Spain.

• - [4] European harmonization legislation. European Commission.

• - [5] AENOR - Smart CE, towards digital CE marking for construction products.

• - [6] Ready and capable to help China export and international trade. (in English).