The CE mark denotes that the product carrying it observes essential requirements of all EC directives valid for the relevant product.
The mark is provided for the use of authorities for control purposes and not for instruction to the end-user. The mark will not be granted by any authority or test institute but has to be affixed, fully in his own responsibility, by the manufacturer or his representative placing the product on the market.
What does the CE mark mean?
The EC-conformity mark is composed of the abbreviation CE (Communaute Europeenne). The affixing of the CE mark on the products is the tangible sign of their conformity to Community rules.
The CE mark indicates that the product complies with the essential requirements and that the manufacturer (importer) or third party have carried out the relevant conformity assessment operations so that the product may be placed on the market.
Responsibilities of the
manufacturer
The manufacturer does not have to apply for the CE marking. He is the one who puts the mark on the product or on the packing.
But as the CE mark is the symbol for the participation of the product in the EEC market, this mark can only be used if the products fulfill all requirements of the EEC directives.
This means in other words that the manufacturer, when he uses the mark, confirms that his products are manufactured in accordance with all relevant regulations applicable in the EEC.
The manufacturer is free to arrange all necessary requirements on his own without using any third party, especially any approved body such as an accredited laboratory or test centre to certify the safety of the product or for the assessment of the quality assurance system of the manufacturers' production facilities.
However, the directives do not leave the protection of the consumer and the market to the free decision of the manufacturers. Compared with the former situation in the different EEC member states, the situation has been remarkably changed into a much stronger consumer protection, requesting on the one side detailed information from the manufacturers and on the other providing much stronger powers for the governments of the EEC states to ensure compliance.
Every manufacturer has to prove, in detail with supporting documents, for every single product that the product as such (prototype) is designed in full accordance with the EEC regulations and that the production ensures safety of this product in praxis (quality assurance according to ISO 9000 standards).
Manufacturers, especially the smaller and medium size ones, may face problems in arranging all these supporting documents without the assistance of a professional service.
The governments of the EEC member states have full authority to prohibit the import and distribution of any product within the EEC which does not fulfill the legal requirements of the EEC. Therefore, if the manufacturer is not situated within the EEC, this documentation must be kept by a representative of the manufacturer domiciled in the EEC or by the distributor of the merchandise in the EEC.
Therefore, the governmental authorities can request any additional information they deem necessary, especially sampling and new testing of the product. The government can also take any other measure to prevent the merchandise from entering the market.
All these pose quite a big risk for those manufacturers and distributors who do not fulfill completely these compulsory responsibilities.
Requirements for
manufacturers (exporters)
The tests to be carried out will be more or less the same as to be done for the different TUV mark, such as the GS mark, the TUV Type approval and the TUV mark. These services correspond with the needs of the manufactures and aim especially to assist the smaller and medium size companies in their specific situation.
As the EC Type examination corresponds in many cases with the same test procedures as the GS mark, it is strongly recommended to apply - at least for the German market - at the same time for the GS mark to make use of the marketing advantages of the mark. Additional, but reasonable expenses, will occur only if additional tests and works have to be carried out.
Another important part of the documentation is the proof that the product is safely manufactured and has all those elements and specifications which are defined for the prototype.
The quality assurance during the production process is the most crucial and delicate work because it has to be documented that the products are coming safely out of the specific production process. The internationally-recognised standards of ISO 9000/EN 29000s, fully accepted and adopted by the EEC, are to be applied.
