The marking is mandatory when a European harmonisation act prescribes it for your product type. There is no general CE obligation for all products. Nor is there a free choice. The answer follows from the legislation applicable to your product. <\/p>\n\n
This effectively turns the question ‘when is it mandatory’ into the question ‘under which legislation does my product fall’. You answer that second question by looking at what the product is and what it does: how it is powered, whether it communicates, who it is intended for, and in what environment it is used. <\/p>\n\n
A product can fall under multiple acts simultaneously. A toy robot with a battery and an app involves toy legislation, radio regulations, the battery regulation, and chemical substance legislation. One marking then covers them all, provided your declaration also lists them all. <\/p>\n\n
The best-known categories are toys, machinery, electrical equipment, radio equipment, personal protective equipment, medical devices, construction products, pressure equipment, and lifts. Each category has its own act with its own requirements and assessment route. The table below lists these acts per category. <\/p>\n\n This list is not exhaustive. Measuring and weighing equipment, pressure equipment, lifts, ATEX equipment, and recreational craft each have their own act. If in doubt, start with the category where the product functionally fits and work back from there. <\/p>\n\n This is the other half of the rule and it is rarely mentioned. The CE marking is only affixed to products for which harmonisation legislation prescribes it and to no other product. A marking on a product that is not covered is therefore a violation in itself. <\/p>\n\n In practice, we see this mainly with webshops that use the marking as a form of reassurance. A wooden cutting board, a bag, or a piece of clothing does not fall under a CE act. If you affix a marking anyway, you mislead the buyer and violate the rules. <\/p>\n\n Such products generally fall under the General Product Safety Regulation. This sets requirements for safety, documentation, and information, but does not involve a marking. No CE, therefore, but still obligations. <\/p>\n The question of whether a marking is required is not the same as whether legislation applies. Products without a CE obligation fall under the GPSR, with requirements for risk assessment, documentation, and the information provided with your online offer. A product without a marking can therefore still be withdrawn from the market. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Briefly describe what the product does. We will contact you regarding which legislation applies to it. <\/p>\n\t\n\t\n <\/p>
Product<\/th> Legislation<\/th> Note<\/th><\/tr> <\/thead> Toy<\/td> Directive 2009\/48\/EC<\/td> Regulation 2025\/2509 follows from August 1, 2030<\/td><\/tr> Machinery<\/td> Directive 2006\/42\/EC<\/td> Regulation 2023\/1230 from January 20, 2027<\/td><\/tr> Electrical equipment<\/td> Directive 2014\/35\/EU<\/td> 50 to 1000 V AC, 75 to 1500 V DC<\/td><\/tr> Radio equipment<\/td> Directive 2014\/53\/EU<\/td> Also covers safety and EMC, so no separate LVD or EMC required<\/td><\/tr> Protective equipment<\/td> Regulation (EU) 2016\/425<\/td> Category determines whether a notified body is required<\/td><\/tr> Construction products<\/td> Regulation (EU) 305\/2011<\/td> New Regulation 2024\/3110 will be applicable in phases<\/td><\/tr> Batteries<\/td> Regulation (EU) 2023\/1542<\/td> CE on batteries since August 18, 2024<\/td><\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table> When the marking is prohibited<\/h2>\n\n
Are you unsure if your product is covered?<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t
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