CE Marking: What Products Do and Don't Require The Mark?

When you sell a product, it is important to show that it complies with all the relevant safety requirements in order for it to be in line with the law and to give the customer peace of mind when they are buying. The CE mark has become the standard that we are used to seeing across Europe for many years, but what does it actually mean and does every product need it?

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit our website.

In this article, we take a look at the purposes of the CE mark. Typically, people expect that almost every product should carry it, but this is not necessarily the case, so we will examine what items need it, which ones do not and how you know which CE directives apply to you.

Which products need CE marks?

CE marking is mandatory for products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA) that fall under specific EU directives. The primary point of the directives is to ensure compliance with health, safety and environmental requirements.

Examples of products that require CE marking include toys, machinery, electrical equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical devices.

There are around 20 categories of products which require a CE mark, including:

• Active implantable medical devices
• Appliances burning gaseous fuels
• Cableway installations designed to carry persons
• Eco-design of energy related products
• Electromagnetic compatibility
• 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
• Low voltage
• Machinery
• 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
• Toys
• Simple pressure vessels

Toys refer to any products intended for children under the age of 14 to be used in play; the directive will look at things such as the mechanical and physical properties, flammability, and the specification for the migration of certain elements. It can apply to wooden, electronic, plastic, and educational toys.

Most electronic devices will fall under a number of different directives, so you need to be clear about the details of each one. Many of the regulations centre around hazardous substances, low voltages, electromagnetic interference, and radio equipment. This includes products such as Bluetooth speakers, digital cameras, games consoles, printers, laptops, and many, many more.

Energy-related products will also cover a range of categories and can include anything from LED light strips and ventilation units to televisions and tumble driers.

Machinery is classed as either (a) a grouping of linked pieces or components with at least one moving part that contains or aims to include a drive system or (b) a group of connected items that are attached and move with the goal of lifting something with the use of applied human force. These could be industrial pieces of equipment, such as drill presses and ready-mix concrete trucks, or more domestic items like treadmills and rowing machines.

It is important to note that if you intend to sell in a country where CE marking applies and your products are not CE marked, they cannot be sold until they are tested, approved, certified and stamped.

Which products do not need CE marks?

The following products do not require a CE mark and are exempt from any directives:

• Chemicals
• Pharmaceuticals
• Cosmetics
• Food & drink

Whilst these items do not require a CE mark, it is worth remembering that they are still likely to be subject to other types of national or EU legislation and you should make sure that you are aware of what these are.

In late December , the General Product Safety Regulation came into force and this legislation covers the safety of all products. Whilst products may not require CE marking, they will be required to comply with the General Product Safety Regulations.

If no CE directive applies to your product, then the General Product Safety Directive might still be necessary, which does not display a mark but still requires products to be safe.

The world of CE marking can be a complicated one and will require research to find all the requirements that you need to satisfy to demonstrate that your product is compliant. You may find that it falls under one directive or even several and you will need to ensure that it complies with all the applicable regulations. There can be a lot of work involved in this, but it is worth it, not only to satisfy the law, but to show your customers that what you offer is both safe for them to use and is legally compliant.

Do handmade items require a CE mark?

If you produce handmade products, your products will still need to be CE marked and certified to ensure they are safe to be placed on the market. CE marking can be daunting and confusing, however, with the support of an Authorised Representative, this process can be stress-free and straightforward to ensure your products obtain the required CE mark.

What is a CE mark?

The CE Mark is a symbol used to show a products compliance with the latest legislation. The marking must be applied to products in order to be sold within the European market.

CE stands for ‘Conformite Europeene’ which is French for European Conformity. The mark was first introduced in and has been effective since across the European Union.

The CE mark is mandatory for products that fall under one of the European directives and means that the manufacturer takes responsibility for the products compliance with all European health, safety, environmental and performance standards.

The CE mark applies to products which are sold or put into service in the EU, the European Economic Area, and the European Free Trade Organisation, with the latter two including Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein, in total there are 27 member states which CE marking applies to. Since the UK has opted to leave the EU, it still recognises the CE mark but also has it’s own conformity mark, the UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) as an alternative. On Tuesday 1st August it was confirmed that the CE mark has been extended indefinitely and will still be accepted after its originally expiry date where UKCA would come into full force.

There are a number of different directives which set out the product categories to which the CE mark applies. You will need to establish whether your product falls under any of these banners and then check the individual requirements of these directives as a result.

For some categories, an Authorised Representative will need to be involved in conformity assessment and testing to make sure that your product is in line with the regulations and standards that have been set out whilst, in other cases, you can perform the product assessment yourself. In both cases, you must have and retain all the necessary evidence that you are compliant.

How is the CE mark affixed to products?

The CE mark can normally be found somewhere on a product or its packaging to show that it is compliant with EU safety regulations, and it can apply to everything from toys to chargers. There are many products for which it is a legal requirement, and such items cannot be sold without it.

When applying the CE mark on your products, it must be visible, legible and indelible. The mark must consist of the initials ‘CE’ and both letters should have the same vertical dimension and also be no smaller than 5mm, unless previously specified. If you enlarge the CE mark on your product, the letters must remain in proportion to each other. Additionally, the CE mark must be visible whether placed on the product or packaging, if it is not visible then your product does not comply with the legislation.

When you place the CE marking on your product, you are declaring that your product meets all legal requirements, so it should not be taken lightly. Authorities can check that products are using the CE mark correctly and each member state will enforce this in different ways. You will need to present any certificates and technical documentation to relevant authorities when requested to do so.

With competitive price and timely delivery, Colvoke sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

If the CE mark cannot be affixed to the product itself then you can affix it to the product’s packaging or any accompanying documentation such as instructions and user guides.

In the UK, bodies such as Trading Standards Services, the Health and Safety Executive, the Medicines and Healthcare product Regulatory Agency and the National Measurement Office are all responsible for CE and UKCA marking enforcement.

If it is found that your product does not meet the CE marking requirements, then you will usually be given an opportunity to bring your product up to compliance. However, you could be asked to remove your product from sale, be liable for hefty fines and even, in some cases, suffer a prison sentence.

When does CE Marking become mandatory?

CE Marking is only mandatory for products for which EU specifications exist and require the affixing of the CE mark on the product, this is to show its conformity with the regulations.

Certain products are subject to several EU requirements at the same time as it can cover multiple directives. You must ensure that your product complies with all relevant directives before affixing the CE mark. It is forbidden and punishable to affix the CE mark without meeting the specific EU regulations.

In the UK, the UKCA mark had been planned to replace the CE mark. However, in August this was reversed. It was confirmed that the CE mark would be accepted indefinitely in the UK, with the UKCA mark becoming optional. Products can still be affixed with both the CE and UKCA mark.

Does CE marking have a validity period?

Currently, there is no period of validity for the CE mark. However the declaration of conformity that is required for the CE mark must be kept up to date as this can become invalid.

For imported products, the importer must ensure that the product is accompanied by the declaration of conformity and this document must be held for 10 years after the product was initially placed on the market.

What are the European directives?

The following directives require CE marking to be affixed on all products:

• Machinery Directive (/42/EC)
• Low Voltage Directive (/35/EU)
• EMC Directive (/30/EU)
• Pressure Equipment Directive (/68/EU)
• Cableway Installations Regulation (EU /424)
• Personal Protective Equipment Regulation (EU /425)
• Medical Devices Directive (93/42/EEC)
• REACH – Regulation (Regulation No /)
• Construction Products Regulation (Regulation No 305/)
• Gas Appliances Regulation (EU /426)
• RoHS Directive (/65/EU)
• Measuring Instruments Directive (/32/EU)
• Toy Safety Directive (/48/EU)
• Lifts Directive (/33/EU)

Who are the 27 European member states?

The 27 EU member states are as follows:

• Austria – Member since 1 January
• Belgium – Member since 1 January
• Bulgaria – Member since 1 January
• Croatia – Member since 1 July
• Cyprus – Member since 1 May
• Czech Republic – Member since 1 May
• Denmark – Member since 1 January
• Estonia – Member since 1 May
• Finland – Member since 1 January
• France – Member since 1 January
• Germany – Member since 1 January
• Greece – Member since 1 January
• Hungary – Member since 1 May
• Ireland – Member since 1 January
• Italy – Member since 1 January
• Latvia – Member since 1 May
• Lithuania – Member since 1 May
• Luxembourg – Member since 1 January
• Malta – Member since 1 May
• Netherlands – Member since 1 January
• Poland – Member since 1 May
• Portugal – Member since 1 January
• Romania – Member since 1 January
• Slovakia – Member since 1 May
• Slovenia – Member since 1 May
• Spain – Member since 1 January
• Sweden – Member since 1 January

There are also four members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

• Iceland – Member since 1 January
• Liechtenstein – Member since 1 September
• Norway – Member since 3 May
• Switzerland – Member since 3 May

Contact our team

In the guide

• What is a gas cooking appliance?
• What are the safety requirements?
• How do I know whether the cooker meets the safety requirements?
• Who can install an appliance?
• Trading Standards
• In this update
• Key legislation

This guidance is for England, Scotland and Wales

Under the General Product Safety Regulations , it is an offence to supply (which includes hiring out) a used gas cooking appliance unless it complies with certain safety requirements. For example, the gas-carrying component must prevent leaks of gas, the gas shut-off devices must work properly and safely, and surface temperatures must not be too high.

Only someone who is Gas Safe-registered can install a gas appliance.

What is a gas cooking appliance?

A gas cooking appliance is any equipment designed, or suitable, for domestic use in the home (including a ship or caravan) and is designed for cooking by the burning of gas, including LPG (liquefied petroleum gas).

Equipment is covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations even if it has additional functions. It is covered no matter where it is designed to be used:

• floor, table or wall mounting
• resting on a raised surface
• fixed to any upright structure
• supported by any other equipment

Second-hand equipment designed to be used outdoors or in a tent is also covered by these Regulations.

Back to top

What are the safety requirements?

The main safety requirements for a gas appliance when in normal use are as follows:

• all gas carrying components must be sufficiently sound to prevent leaks of gas or poisonous fumes
• oven door seals must be effective
• burner ignition devices must work to ensure prompt ignition of the burner
• when a burner is lit by automatic or manual devices, all of the flame ports must ignite
• after a period of one minute following ignition, any flame must be stable enough so that it does not move away, either in whole or in part, from the burner port and the flame does not return inside the body of the burner
• the quantity of carbon monoxide in the products of combustion is not such as to give rise to the likelihood of death or personal injury
• gas shut-off devices must work promptly and safely
• any tap handle must be designed so that it cannot be switched on by accident and the closed / open positions must be clearly marked and identifiable
• shut-down lids with automatic devices to cut off gas must work, and interrupt the gas supplied to the hot plate burners when the lid is moved 45 degrees
• it must not be possible for a shut-down lid to fall accidently from its fully raised position
• surface temperatures, apart from working surfaces, must not be so high as to cause possible injury or fire
• any glass (such as doors, lids and splashbacks) must be of a type to prevent death or injury due to the glass breaking
• all accessible parts must be free from sharp edges
• it must not be possible for burner bodies to be displaced accidently, but they must removable so as to be easily cleaned
• flames from grills should not extend beyond the length of the grill
• any free-standing appliance, when subjected to certain tests, must be stable and any pan supports must ensure the stability of any cooking vessels placed upon them
• information that is necessary for the safe installation, adjustment, maintenance and operation must be marked on the appliance or, if not practicable, in accompanying documentation. It must be in English

Back to top

How do I know whether the cooker meets the safety requirements?

Cookers that state that they comply with the Standard BS EN 30: Domestic cooking appliances burning gas, or bear the UKCA / CE mark, will probably have complied when they were manufactured. However, that does not guarantee that they will comply after they have been used. Therefore, it will be necessary for a skilled and competent person (see below) to examine the appliance to ensure that it complies with the safety requirements.

Back to top

Who can install an appliance?

Only someone who is competent to do so under the terms of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations ; in other words, a person registered by Gas Safe.

Back to top

Trading Standards

For more information on the work of Trading Standards services - and the possible consequences of not abiding by the law - please see 'Trading Standards: powers, enforcement and penalties'.

Back to top

In this update

No major changes.

Last reviewed / updated: September

Back to top

Key legislation

• Health and Safety at Work etc Act
• Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations
• General Product Safety Regulations

Please note

This information is intended for guidance; only the courts can give an authoritative interpretation of the law.

The guide's 'Key legislation' links may only show the original version of the legislation, although some amending legislation is linked to separately where it is directly related to the content of a guide. Information on changes to legislation can be found by following the above links and clicking on the 'More Resources' tab.

For more information, please visit Ce Certified Gas Stove.