EU and CE Certification

The European Union was formed by six countries in the 1950s.

European Union (EU) certification is compulsory for manufacturers who want to sell their products in the European Economic Area single market. Products that have successfully passed EU compliance assessments on health, safety and the environment can be affixed with the CE marking.

European Union

The EU consists of 500 million inhabitants. According to the International Monetary Fund, the EU contributed 21 percent of the world's gross domestic product in 2009.

EU Single Market

EU legislation synthesizes product requirements across its 27 member states. Manufacturers and importers need only go through the compliance process once for their product to be traded freely throughout the EU.

CE Marking Rules

Manufacturers with products earmarked for sale in the EU are solely responsible for affixing the CE marking. However, first they must complete a conformity assessment, create a technical file and sign a European Commission declaration of conformity.

CE-Free European Countries

Members of the Central European Free Trade Agreement don't require CE marking. However, official EU membership candidates, the Republic of Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro have adopted many of the EU standards in their legislation.

References

• Eurostat
• CE Marking Online Course
• EU Certification Procedures - Key Elements

Resources

• U.S. Mission to the European Union