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Created: 16-3-01
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Update: 25-5-02
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EMC
Directive: CE Certification Procedure |
THE
CE-CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE
Before the CE Marking may be
affixed, the compliance of the product with the applicable
requirements must be certified.
The CE-certification
procedure of the EMC Directive consists of certain steps that will
be presented here.
Please be informed that CEMarking.net can
provide advice and assistance in all stages of the certification
process.
STEP 1: DETERMINE WHICH CE DIRECTIVE(S) APPLY TO THE
PRODUCT
The first step in the certification process is to
determine which (other) European CE Directives apply to the product.
It is possible that one product falls under the scope of more than
one CE Directive.
STEP 2: READ THE TEXTS OF THE APPLICABLE
DIRECTIVE(S)
Read the text of the EMC Directive and possible
other applicable CE Directives. The essential requirements for the
product can be found in the text.
STEP 3: APPLYING THE
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS OR HARMONIZED STANDARDS
The essential
requirements that apply to the product are set out in the Directive.
They define the results to be attained, or the risks to be dealt
with, but do not specify the manufacturing specifications or
technical solutions for reaching that result.
The
manufacturer is free to choose any technical solution as long as the
final product meets the result as defined in the essential
requirements.
Technical solutions for meeting the essential
requirements can be found in European harmonized standards (EN
standards). However, please note that the application of EN
standards is not mandatory.
The great advantage of using
publicized EN standards is that it leads to a 'presumption of
conformity' with the essential requirements of the applicable
European Directives.
The European harmonized standards are
adopted by European standards organizations (CEN, CENELEC or ETSI)
upon a mandate issued by the European Commission.
STEP 4:
CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
The fourth steps in the CE
certification procedure relate to the actual assessment of the
conformity of the product with the essential requirements.
For the EMC Directive conformity assessment means that the
product is tested on compliance with the applicable limits for the
emission of and immunity for electromagnetic
disturbances.
STEP 5: INSTRUCTION
The goal of the
European CE Directives is to minimize the health and safety risks of
the product for the user. From this perspective it is necessary to
provide an instruction about the safe installation, use, maintenance
and reparation of the product. The importance of information of the
user is also recognized in the European Directive on General Product
Safety (92/59/EEC).
Because it is essential that the user is
able to understand the (safety) instructions, it is obligatory to
provide a translation of the manual in the official language(s) of
the country where the product is being placed on the
market.
STEP 6: EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
The EMC
Directive imposes an obligation for the manufacturer, his authorized
representative established within the Community or the importer, to
draw up an 'EC Declaration of Conformity' when the product is placed
on the market. This is basically a legal statement ensuring that the
product satisfies the essential requirements of the applicable
directives.
The EC Declaration of Conformity must be kept
for at least ten years from the last date of manufacture of the
product, and must be made available to the surveillance authority
immediately upon request.
STEP 7: THE AFFIXING OF THE CE
MARKING
The CE certification process is concluded with the
affixing of the CE Marking to the product. The CE Marking indicates
that the product conforms with the relevant essential requirements,
and other applicable provisions, and that the product has been
subject to the appropriate conformity assessment procedure(s).
Hence, Member States are not allowed to restrict the placing on the
market and putting into service of CE marked products, unless such
measures can be justified on the basis of evidence of the
non-compliance of the product.
The CE Marking must consist of
the initials 'CE'.
If the CE Marking is reduced or enlarged
the proportions must be respected.
The logo must have a
height of at least 5-mm.
The CE Marking must be affixed
visibly, legibly and indelibly.
The CE Marking must be
affixed to the product or to its data plate. However, where this is
not possible or not warranted on account of the nature of the
product, it must be affixed to the packaging, if any, and to the
accompanying documents, where the directive concerned provides for
such documents.
The affixing of markings on the product which
are likely to deceive third parties as to the meaning and form of
the CE Marking is not allowed. Any other marking may only be affixed
to the product, the packaging or a label provided that the
visibility and legibility of the CE Marking is not thereby
reduced.
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Directive 89/336/EEC | |
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