For many types of consumer products and industrial machinery, CE certification is a prerequisite for entering the European Union (EU) common market. Obtaining the CE Mark means the product can be sold in all EU member countries, as well as other countries that have adopted the CE standards or accept the CE as an equivalent certification to their own compliance framework.
Many manufacturers are already familiar with the product safety requirements of the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) and the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards involved in the CE Mark — but the CE framework also includes several other types of product requirements.
Depending on a product’s function and core
materials, it must meet some or all of the following criteria (in addition to
LVD and EMC) to obtain the CE Mark:
●
The Radio Equipment Directive (RED) applies to devices that have
wireless connectivity aka WiFi, Bluetooth, LTE, 5G, or GPS capability.
Smartphones, smart watches, RFID devices, radio receivers, connected TVs, GPS transceivers,
radar equipment, and smart home devices that use WiFi all fall under this
category.
●
The Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic
Equipment (RoHS) rules limit the use of hazardous materials in consumer
products. All products with an electronic or electrical function—smartphones,
microwaves, computers, etc.—must meet RoHS standards to meet CE standards
unless clearly excluded. Specifically, RoHS restricts the use of lead, cadmium,
mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated
diphenyl ethers (PBDE), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl
phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP).
●
The Energy-related Products (ErP) Directive sets limits for a product’s
energy consumption, encouraging the production of energy-efficient products.
These standards cover products that actively use energy, such as refrigerators,
microwaves, computers, and washing machines; ErP also covers products that are
energy-related but do not directly use energy, such as water-efficient
showerheads and faucets. The ErP Directive encourages energy efficiency in the
final use of the product, as well as energy efficiency throughout the supply
chain.
● Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) rules require the manufacturers of electrical equipment and electronics to set up systems to collect electrical and electronic waste from consumers. Electrical and electronic equipment waste, known as WEEE or e-waste, is a fast-growing source of waste, and CE requirements seek to encourage its collection and recycling. Refrigerators, smartphones, computers, speakers, CD players, fax machines, circuit boards, calculators, printers—when they reach the end of their use, there are complex pieces of machinery and potentially hazardous chemicals that must be disposed of safely.
It’s important to know what category your
product falls within, and which specific rules and Directives apply to the
product. This knowledge helps to avoid unnecessary tests for regulations that
are not applicable and avoid missing any necessary tests—both of which slow
down the E Mark process.
Learn More About the CE Mark From G&M Compliance
The compliance professionals at G&M Compliance can help you determine if your product needs CE certification, and if so, which specific standards apply to your product. G&M Compliance can support the entire process, from the strategy for harmonized international standards to the logistics of product testing, and get your product to market.
Contact G&M Compliance today to get a
quote or learn more about the requirements of the CE Mark.