CE Approved; What it Stands for and Its Meaning

This is probably not the first time you are hearing about the CE mark. With the change in time and technology evolving, it is important to make sure that all the products you are using or producing are safe to use and comply with the European health and safety protection standard.

This is not just for the protection of consumers but also for the protection of the surrounding environment. It is also an indication that your products are safe to use or be distributed for use. CE marking is a requirement every manufacturer should adhere to. In this article, you are going to learn everything there is to learn about CE marking. Let’s get started with what it means;

What is CE Marking

In simple terms, CE marking is the process and proof by manufacturers that all their products meet the appropriate provision and relevant implementation of the European directives. CE mark is important for manufacturers to have easy access to the European market. The initial CE doesn’t stand for any specific words. However, the mark acts as proof that the products meet and adhere to all the requirements of the European. Here is the process of CE marking;

• The very first step of the CE marking process is understanding your products. This is going to help in the entire process, especially help you identify the European directives associated with your products, and what steps you are supposed to take.  

• Now that you understand your products and the categories they fall into, the next step is to find out all the directives associated with your products. If you are going to have the CE mark, you want to make sure it is for your specific products and most especially the correct one that is applicable to your products. 

• The conformity assessment process is the next step you want to check out. Make sure to identify the CE marking procedure for your products and of course all the directives involved. You want to make sure you follow the exact implementation.

• The next thing is to set the dates and times for the procedure to take place. Usually, this is nothing to stress over. In most cases, the procedure doesn’t take a lot of your time. But since there are multiple different products, they all can’t take the same time. Some will take less time while others will take more. 

• The next step you want to take is to identify if there are other harmonized standard regulations your products should adhere to. Make sure you are always checking with the European Standards Applications and all the other regulations they consist of. 

• Test the products to ensure they are all compliant with all the essentials required by the directives. 

• Find out if the individual assessment of your products and conformity is needed by any other notified body. If your conformity needs to be assessed by multiple different bodies or go through different processes and procedures, make sure they do. 

• Make sure you have all the documents you are going to need for all the procedures. Maintain all of those needed by the directives.

• During the process, make sure to also prepare the Declaration of Conformity and the needed proof and supporting evidence.

• Where you are planning to sell your product, make sure that you follow all the requirements. Check to see that there are no other national requirements and directives you have skipped. Affix the CE mark on the packaging, or your product, wherever convenient. 

Directives and Notified Body Defined

A notified body refers to an organization, which has been chosen by a member government and the European Commission. The process of nominating a Notified Body is based on resources, knowledge, independence, and experience to carry out the conformity assessment tasks.Directives, just like the name suggests referring to a series of measurements provided by any Notified Body, make it easy for goods to move from one state to another, in this case throughout the European Union, and the European Free Trade Area. Some of these directives are also called New Approach Directives. They provide control on product designs and most importantly the harness products’ safety requirements throughout Europe.