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Which Products Need CE Marking? | IES

Written by Admin | Apr 28, 2015 7:07:00 AM

Before you can sell or supply certain products, equipment and machinery in the European Economic Area, you must certify that they comply with CE marking regulations.

Here’s which products are covered under CE marking.

What is CE marking?

CE marking is the European Union’s required certification for products, equipment and machinery supplied to European Economic Area (EEA) markets, and is recognised by the UK Government for certain products sold in GB markets.

It confirms that products have been fully assessed and meet EU safety, health and environmental protection requirements.

Want to learn more? Download our free UKCA and CE Marking Guide here. 

Which countries does CE marking apply to?

CE marking is required for products, equipment and machinery sold on the market in 30 countries that make up the European Economic Area (EEA), including European Union member states, as well as other countries such as Switzerland and Turkey.

Even if a product has been manufactured outside the EEA, affixing the CE mark is mandatory if it is being sold in the EEA and comes under the scope of a directive requiring CE marking.

Can you use CE marking for products sold on GB markets?

The UKCA mark was introduced on January 1st 2021 to replace the CE mark as the required certification for products supplied to GB markets. However, the UK Government will continue to recognise the CE mark indefinitely for most products.

That means you may continue to use the CE mark in GB markets without penalty for 21 product categories. These include the 18 regulations that fall under the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), as well as a further three regulations that cover ecodesign, civil explosives and hazardous substances in electrical equipment.

Which product categories require CE marking?

Not all products, equipment and machinery require CE marking. It generally only applies to product categories that are subject to specific legislation.

The marking is mandatory for products that are covered by at least one of the New Approach Directives. 

These include:

  • Electromagnetic compatibility
  • Low voltage
  • Machinery
  • Active implantable medical devices
  • Appliances burning gaseous fuels
  • Cableway installations designed to carry persons
  • Ecodesign of energy-related products
  • Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
  • Explosives for civil uses
  • Hot water boilers
  • Household refrigerators and freezers
  • In vitro diagnostic medical devices
  • Lifts
  • Measuring instruments
  • Medical devices
  • Noise emission in the environment
  • Non-automatic weighing instruments
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Pressure equipment
  • Pyrotechnics
  • Radio and telecommunications terminal equipment
  • Recreational craft
  • Safety of toys
  • Simple pressure vessels

In the European market, there are some product categories to which CE marking does not apply:

  • Chemicals
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Cosmetics
  • Foodstuffs

See our UKCA and CE Marking Guide for information on how to obtain and use the CE mark.

Which directives apply to your product?

There are numerous directives set out by the European Commission which apply to products that require CE marking. One or several of these directives may apply to your product.

  • Electromagnetic Compatibility - Directive 2014/30/EU
  • Low Voltage - Directive 2014/35/EU
  • Machinery - Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (replacing Directive 2006/42/EC that entered into force before the NLF, still applicable until 20/1/2027)
  • Toy Safety - Directive 2009/48/EU
  • Transportable pressure equipment - Directive 2010/35/EU
  • Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment - Directive 2011/65/EU
  • Construction products - Regulation (EU) No 305/2011
  • Pyrotechnic Articles - Directive 2013/29/EU
  • Recreational craft and personal watercraft - Directive 2013/53/EU
  • Civil Explosives - Directive 2014/28/EU
  • Simple Pressure Vessels - Directive 2014/29/EU
  • Non-automatic Weighing Instruments - Directive 2014/31/EU 
  • Measuring Instruments - Directive 2014/32/EU
  • Lifts - Directive 2014/33/EU
  • ATEX - Directive 2014/34/EU 
  • Radio equipment - Directive 2014/53/EU
  • Pressure equipment - Directive 2014/68/EU
  • Marine Equipment - Directive 2014/90/EU
  • Cableway installations - Regulation (EU) 2016/424
  • Personal protective equipment - Regulation (EU) 2016/425
  • Gas appliances - Regulation (EU) 2016/426
  • Medical devices - Regulation (EU) 2017/745
  • In vitro diagnostic medical devices - Regulation (EU) 2017/746
  • EU fertilising products – Regulation (EU) 2019/1009
  • Drones - Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 on unmanned aircraft systems and on third-country operators of unmanned aircraft systems
  • Batteries - Regulation (EU) 2023/1542
  • Ecodesign requirements for sustainable products - Regulation (EU) 2024/1781
  • Artificial Intelligence Act - Regulation (EU) 2024/1689
  • Cyber Resilience Act - Regulation (EU) 2024/2847

If you are preparing a product for sale on the market in the EU, you’ll need a conformity assessment procedure to ensure that it’s compliant and can be CE marked.

At IES, we can support with testing for the following:

Achieve CE certification with total confidence

Our start-to-finish CE marking service covers every step of the compliance process. 

From assessing and testing high-technology equipment against Electromagnetic Compatibility, Low Voltage and Machinery directives to providing a Declaration of Conformity.

See our website here to learn more about our CE Marking service.