CE Mark – European Conformity
CE Marking is the symbol shown on the top of this page. The letters CE are the abbreviation of the French phrase Conformité Européenne, which literally means European Conformity. The term initially used was EC Mark and it was officially replaced by CE Marking in Directive 93/68/EEC in 1993. CE Marking is now used in all EU official documents.
CE Mark is also in use, but it is not the official term. For instance, in Directive 2007/47/EC of 5 September 2007, amending Directives 90/385/EEC, 93/42/EEC and 98/8/EC, the term CE Marking appears 9 times whereas CE Mark appears nowhere in the entire 35-page document.
What CE Marking means
Manufacturer's declaration
CE Marking on a product is a manufacturer's declaration that the product complies with the essential requirements of the relevant European health, safety and environmental protection legislation, in practice by many of the so-called Product Directives.
Legal market access
CE Marking on a product indicates to governmental officials that the product may be legally placed on the market in their country.
Free movement
CE Marking on a product ensures the free movement of the product within the EFTA and European Union (EU) single market (a total of 28 countries).
Enforcement
CE Marking on a product permits the withdrawal of non-conforming products by customs and enforcement/vigilance authorities.
Product Directives and Harmonized Standards
Product Directives contain the essential requirements and/or performance levels and the Harmonized Standards to which the products must conform. Harmonized Standards are the technical specifications (European Standards or Harmonization Documents) established by several European standards agencies such as CEN and CENELEC.
CEN
European Committee for Standardization.
CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization.
Why it matters for exporters
As more directives become effective, more and more products are required to bear the CE Marking to gain access to the EFTA and European Union market. However, many non-EU exporters are still unaware of or unsure about this fact and its impact on their business.
How it works
TOV America Process
TOV has a unique approach to certification which complies with the requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems.
Enquiry & quote
Tell us about your organisation, scope and sites. We send a clear, fixed quotation.
Application review
We confirm scope, competence and audit time, then agree the audit programme with you.
Stage 1 audit
Documentation review and readiness check of your management system.
Stage 2 audit
On-site audit of how the system is implemented and how effective it is.
Certification decision
An independent reviewer decides on certification and your certificate is issued.
Surveillance audits
Annual audits confirm the system is maintained and keeps improving.
Recertification
A full re-audit in year three renews the certificate for another cycle.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is CE Mark the official term?+
No. The official term is CE Marking. CE Mark is widely used but does not appear in official EU legislation.
Do non-EU manufacturers need CE Marking?+
Yes. Any product covered by a relevant Product Directive must bear the CE Marking before it can be placed on the EFTA or EU market, wherever it is made.
How long is the certificate valid?+
A management-system certificate is valid for three years, with annual surveillance audits to keep it active and a recertification audit before it expires.
How long does certification take?+
It depends on size and readiness. Once your system is implemented, the Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits and the certification decision typically take a few weeks.
Can several standards be audited together?+
Yes. Standards built on the common Annex SL structure, such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, can be audited together in an integrated audit.
How can my customers verify my certificate?+
Anyone can confirm a certificate with our online certificate search using the company name or certificate number.
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