What Are the Characteristics of CE Marking?

What Are the Characteristics of CE Marking?

Before listing the characteristics, a short definition: CE marking refers to the technical standards applied to products in certain EU-regulated product groups so that they can circulate freely within the European market, and to the certificate that expresses that conformity. For detailed information about CE marking or to obtain CE marking for your product, you can reach out to Sistem Patent Kalite for certification and testing consultancy.

The main characteristics of CE marking are set out below.

• The CE mark is an official conformity mark valid across all EU member states.
• Under the CE marking directives, EU member states must align their national legislation. Existing national rules on the covered subjects lose validity when the harmonised directive enters into force, and member states are required to bring their legislation into line with the directive.
• Affixing the CE mark indicates that the manufacturer has met the requirements set for the product and has completed the required conformity assessment. Products carrying the CE mark must conform to all requirements set out in the relevant directives.
• It is not permitted to apply the mark after satisfying only part of the criteria: conformity with all applicable requirements is mandatory.
• National conformity marks do not indicate the presence of CE marking. For example, a product carrying the Turkish TSE mark in Turkey does not automatically carry the CE mark. For products that require CE marking, however, national legislation must be harmonised accordingly, so CE-marked products offer a defined level of safety assurance for users during their lifetime.
• The directives in this area are issued by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN/CENELEC) based on agreement between EU member states and the European standardization bodies. Adopted directives and related standards enter into force upon publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
• The core principle of CE marking is that the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring and assessing its own product's conformity with the applicable directive, and affixes the CE mark to the product itself. No authority issues the mark. For higher-risk products covered by specific directives, notified bodies carry out the conformity assessment. For products outside that scope, the manufacturer can affix the CE mark itself after completing the required conformity assessment.
• If an accident involving a CE-marked product occurs, or a member state alleges that the requirements have not been fully met, the manufacturer must prove that all required conditions were met and that no fault originated from the manufacturer. For this reason, when the CE mark is affixed, it is essential that every requirement is genuinely met. Affixing the CE mark without meeting the underlying requirements carries significant risks and can expose the manufacturer to heavy penalties.

Another factor to mention is that the market's quality expectations must be met. The conditions underpinning the creation of the EU internal market are:

• Quality products and safety
• Manufacturer competence
• Transparency of procedures
• Convergence of markets
• Competence of third parties (conformity assessment bodies)

For CE marking of products, Sistem Patent Kalite provides consultancy, testing, and inspection services. Our offices across Turkey are available to you for detailed information on CE marking: Izmir, Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa, Adana, Eskisehir, Konya, Antalya, and Kayseri. Our experienced managers and staff are ready to support you.