CE mark on a product
CE certification refers to the mark, or CE symbol, on a product or label that confirms it meets essential requirements of the applicable European "New Approach" Directive(s) for products sold in the European Union (EU). The CE stands for Conformite Europeenne, or European Conformity, in French. Certification training is the process by which companies and individuals learn the guidelines for specific products or categories of products.
History
According to Perry Johnson Registrars (PJR), the European Union "adopted these Directives in 1985 and created the CE marking in order to indicate that a product complies with European health, safety and environmental requirements." The CE mark means that member states must accept the product without need of further testing or other requirements. Before the directives were in place, each country had its own laws regarding safety, which made cross-border sales of products problematic.
Significance
The CE certification and mark are significant because they've largely "harmonized" safety requirements throughout European Union member states, PJR says. Additionally, it's now a requirement that member states assess their products according to the directives, so compliance training is imperative not only for countries making products in the EU, but also for companies in countries outside the EU who would like to sell their products there.
Benefits
CE certification can most often be done by the company needing the mark, according to CEmarking.net. "In almost 90 percent of the cases, the CE marking regulations allow products to be self-certified. In other words, if properly trained in certification procedures, you can do the CE marking yourself" and are not required to have the product handled by a third-party certification body. As you are already familiar with your company's products--and how they conform to or will need modification with regard to the directives--training and the resulting CE marking self-certification can save you the time a third-party would take, as well as the fee involved.
Considerations
When choosing a training course or company, assess whether or not it has the expertise in the product area you represent. The directives cover everything from "appliances burning gaseous fuels" to toys, so not every company or inventor is going to need the same level of support or training. One fixed fee regardless of the number of employees taking the course is also a benefit worth considering.
Time Frame
CE certification training typically takes several hours or as long as a day. The duration of the CE certification marking process also varies, according to the CE Solutions website. The type of product, and to what extent it meets the essential requirements of the applicable directive or must be changed, influences the time frame and period required for the certification. For example, an electrical component needing redesign and re-evaluation will take longer than one that already meets the directive.
Tags: European Union, member states, essential requirements, essential requirements applicable, meets essential, meets essential requirements
