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Created: 17-3-01
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Update: 25-5-02
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CE Marking: A
Short Introduction |
SUBJECTS:
- What is CE Marking? - Why CE
Marking? - How do you benefit from the CE Marking? - Does your
product require a CE Marking? - What are the requirements
regarding affixing a CE Marking?
WHAT IS CE
MARKING?
The CE Marking is a conformity marking consisting of
the letters "CE". The CE Marking applies to products regulated by
certain European health, safety and environmental protection
legislation. The CE Marking is obligatory for products it applies
to: the manufacturer affixes the marking in order to be allowed to
sell his product in the European market.
CE is an
abbreviation for 'Conformité Européenne', French for 'European
Conformity'. The CE Marking indicates that the product it is affixed
to conforms to all relevant essential requirements and other
applicable provisions that have been imposed upon it by means of
European directives, and that the product has been subject to the
appropriate conformity assessment procedure(s). The essential
requirements refer, among other things, to safety, public health and
consumer protection.
Please note:
1.The CE Marking is
not a quality-mark. First, it refers to the safety rather than to
the quality of a product. Second, CE Marking is mandatory for the
product it applies to, whereas most quality markings are
voluntary.
2. Many people use the term "CE Mark". Initially,
this was the phrase used to indicate this conformity marking.
However, "CE Mark" was officially replaced by the term "CE Marking"
in 1993. Thus, it is better to speak of "CE Marking".
WHY CE
MARKING?
Since the Treaty of Rome was signed in 1946, the
community of European states have continued to pursue the
establishment of an internal market in Europe.
In this
'Single Market' a free movement of goods, persons, capital and
services would have to be realized.
For a long time, the
free movement of goods was frustrated by the fact that the national
member states of the European Community were allowed to set national
safety and health requirements for products. In practice, the many
different technical product requirements and test procedures proved
to cause trade barriers between the member states of the European
Community, and thus were contrary to the goals of this
organization.
Inspired by a series of rulings of the European
Court of Justice, the European Commission and Council tried to break
down the trade barriers by harmonizing the different national
rules.
HOW DO YOU BENEFIT FROM THE CE MARKING?
The CE
Marking is a kind of trade passport for the European marketplace: it
allows the manufacturer to freely circulate their product throughout
the 18 countries of the European Economic Area (EEA).
There
is only one set of requirements and procedures to comply with in
designing and manufacturing a product for the entire EEA. The
various and conflicting national regulations are eliminated. As a
result, the product no longer needs to be adapted to the specific
requirements of the different member states of the EEA.
In
addition, it may be considered a benefit that by implementing the
requirements, the product will be safer for the user and this may
also reduce damage and liability claims.
"DOES MY PRODUCT
REQUIRE A CE MARKING?"
To answer this question one has to
determine where the customers are located and whether the products
can be considered to be part of certain product groups.
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 fifteen Member States of the European Union (EU), viz:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden
and the United Kingdom as well as three members of the European Free
Trade Association (EFTA): Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
Although Switzerland is member of the EFTA, it does not take
part in the EEA.
2.The CE Marking is required only for the
following types of
products:
-Toys -Machinery -Electrical
equipment -Electronic equipment -Personal protective
equipment -Pressure equipment -Medical devices -Active
implantable medical devices -In vitro
diagnostica -Telecommunications terminal equipment -Simple
pressure vessels -Gas appliances -Lifts -Recreational
craft -Equipment and protective systems for use in explosive
atmospheres -Non-automatic weighing
instruments -Cableways -Construction products -Explosives
for civil use -New hot water boilers
The CE Marking is NOT
required for the following
products:
-Chemicals -Pharmaceuticals -Cosmetics -Foodstuffs
WHAT
IS REQUIRED REGARDING THE AFFIXING OF THE CE MARKING?
The CE
Marking must be affixed to the product, to its data plate or, where
this is not possible or not warranted due to the nature of the
product, to its packaging, if any, and to the accompanying documents
by the manufacturer, the authorized representative in the European
Community or, in exceptional cases, by those responsible for placing
the product on the market.
The CE Marking must be affixed
visibly, legibly and indelibly. Where special provisions do not
impose specific dimensions, it must have a height of at least 5
millimeters.
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