'CE Marking' is a term commonly used as shorthand for compliance to European product safety or 'New Approach' Directives. A valid CE Marking affixed to a product or system by a manufacturer indicates that it meets the 'essential requirements' of the applicable Directives and may be placed on the market or put into service anywhere within the European Community (EC) or European Economic Area (EEA).

The 'New Approach' Directives resulted from a 1985 agreement between EC Ministers to implement a 'New Approach to Technical Harmonisation and Standards' in order to ease the free movement of goods within Europe. The Directives, which set out the 'essential requirements' in general terms that products must meet, cover a multitude of disciplines. There are currently 21 Directives for which a CE Marking can be affixed.

 

It is the responsibility of manufacturers both within and outside the EC to ensure that their products, where applicable, comply with the relevant Directives before affixing a CE Marking and placing them on the market in Europe. Failure to do so can result in sanctions such as removal of products from sale or use and in some cases prosecution.

Compliance with European Directives is achieved by applying either specific product safety standards or the Directives’ general requirement during the design and manufacturing of a product. Once a product is placed on the market or brought into service the person within Europe responsible for it must be in a position to demonstrate that the correct standards or Directives have been applied successfully. Product standards, many of which are standardised (harmonised) across the EC are published locally within each member state, whilst the methods by which a responsible person can demonstrate compliance are specified within the Directives.

CE Marking Services 

UAR GROUP specialises in providing support to manufacturers of products that fall within the scope of the Directives covering Electrical and Mechanical Safety. The Directives we support include:

• We have the product expertise and full capability to test to a variety of directives, including:

• Low Voltage Directive(2006/95/EC)

• EMC Directive (2004/108/EC)

• Construction Product Directive EU No. 305/2011

• Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC)

• Pressure Equipment Directive (PED and TPED)

• Medical Device Directive (93/42/EEC) 

• ErP Directive (2009/125/EC)

• R&TTE Directive (1999/5/EC)

        RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU)