What is CE Marking (CE Mark)?

CE Marking is the symbol CE. The letters "CE" are the abbreviation of French phrase "Conformité Européene" which literaturely means "European Conformity". The term initially used was "EC Mark" and it was officially replaced by "CE Marking" in the Directive 93/68/EEC in 1993. "CE Marking" is now used in all EU official documents. "CE Mark" is also in use, but it is NOT the official term.
  1. CE Marking on a product is a manufacturer's declaration that the product complies with the essential requirements of the relevant European health, safety and environmental protection legislations, in practice by many of the so-called Product Directives.*
    *Product Directives contains the "essential requirements" and/or "performance levels" and "Harmonized Standards" to which the products must conform. Harmonized Standards are the technical specifications (European Standards or Harmonization Documents) which are established by several European standards agencies (CEN, CENELEC, etc).
    CEN stands for European Committee for Standardization.
    CENELEC stands for European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization.
  2. CE Marking on a product indicates to governmental officials that the product may be legally placed on the market in their country.
  3. CE Marking on a product ensures the free movement of the product within the EFTA & European Union (EU) single market (total 28 countries), and
  4. CE Marking on a product permits the withdrawal of the non-conforming products by customs and enforcement/vigilance authorities.

Along with more directives' becoming effective, more and more products are required to bear the CE Marking for gaining access to the EFTA & European Union market. However, many non-EU exporters are still unaware of or unsure about this fact and its impact on their business.
information supplied by www.ce-marking.org