CE marking

What it means

CE marking is the mark by which a manufacturer declares that a product meets all applicable harmonised EU requirements, particularly on safety, health and environmental protection. Without it, products covered by these rules cannot be placed on the EU market. It is neither a quality mark nor a certificate of origin.

CE is required only for categories governed by specific directives and regulations, such as electrical equipment, radio equipment, machinery, toys, personal protective equipment, construction products or medical devices. Products outside these categories carry no CE mark; their safety is governed by the general GPSR regulation. Putting CE on a product that does not require it is a mistake.

Before affixing the mark, the manufacturer must carry out a conformity assessment, prepare technical documentation and issue an EU declaration of conformity. For some products self-assessment is enough; for riskier ones a notified body must be involved, and its number then appears next to the mark. The manufacturer, not the seller, is responsible for the CE marking being correct.

How it works in practice

For a company that imports products from outside the EU, it matters that the importer takes on part of the manufacturer's duties. It must check that the product has CE marking, a declaration of conformity and technical documentation, put its own name and address on the product and keep the documentation for ten years. If it sells the product under its own brand, it becomes the manufacturer with all the obligations.

A distributor or online shop must check before sale that the product has CE marking, instructions and safety information in Slovak, and details of the manufacturer and importer. They need not assess conformity themselves, but may not sell a product they know or should know is non-compliant. For online sales this information is also shown in the listing.

When working with Asian suppliers we recommend requesting the declaration of conformity and test reports before ordering and checking that they relate to exactly that model. Product liability insurance is also advisable, as the importer is liable for damage caused by a defective product much like the manufacturer.

What to watch out for

A mark resembling CE appears on the market that some interpret as China Export. The difference lies in the spacing of the letters and it has no legal meaning. Besides, the mark on its own proves nothing; the documents are what count. If a supplier cannot provide a declaration of conformity, treat the product as non-compliant.

Market surveillance authorities can withdraw a non-compliant product, order its recall from consumers and impose a fine. The cost of recalling and destroying goods is usually higher than the saving from a cheaper supplier. Compliance with CE rules is therefore part of managing purchasing risk, not a formality.