CE stands for Conformité Européenne, the French phrase for European Conformity. It is a standard that applies to a wide range of objects created and sold in the nation belonging to the European Union. CE certification is also very important to companies outside the EU who wish to export goods into any of the applicable countries. The CE mark applies to products only, not services, and is shown on products by the required CE logo. There are many companies and services that offer training in the process of CE certification.
Purpose
CE certification is designed to protect EU consumers by regulating products to reduce possible dangers to people and the environment. Products that pose toxic hazards to people, products that may have a hazardous effect on the environment or affect pollution levels, and products that may produce unwanted magnetic fields that can damage computer parts are all banned or reduced by CE certification. The CE regulation date back decades, but are constantly revised based on changes in technology, governments, and the international market.
Features
Obtaining CE certification, which allows manufacturers to place the CE mark on their products, is often essential and very desirable when marketing to EU countries. While CE regulations are decided on by the entire EU, it is up to individual governments to pass products and enforce laws when products violate the standards. Manufacturers trying to sell products will find that CE certification significantly reduces the amount of red tape they need to go through, and allows them to transport CE goods between EU countries much more easily.
The CE Mark
The CE mark is the required symbol that is place somewhere on a product to notify consumers and officials that it has been given CE certification. There are strict guidelines as to what the mark must look like: it is made of the letters C and E, black against a pure white background. Each letter is an arc in shape and fits perfectly into two tangent circles that intersect in the middle so that they share a common point. This design can be graphed out and must adhere to these standards for it to qualify as the CE mark.
Self-Declaration
CE certification does not require third party investigation. If a manufacturer is producing a low-risk item, which has similarities to other items already sold in the EU and does not pose any significant danger, the manufacturer can self-declare, or issue a statement showing how the product complies with CE standards. This is typically all that is required of many products.
High Risk Products and Notified Bodies
Certain products --- the EU has a detailed list --- fall under the heading of high-risk products, and must be subjected to further examination before receiving their CE certification. This means that a third party must investigate the product. This third party needs to be a Notified Body, or an entity that the EU has licensed to provide CE certification for questionable products.
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