Do Your Products Need CE Marking?


Unfortunately, the process of determining whether the CE marking applies to a product is rather complex. The European legislator does not provide product lists or nomenclatures which indicate the appropriate CE marking directives.

The CE marking applies to products placed in the market or put into service in the European Economic Area, and only for certain product groups or product aspects. Thus in order to answer the question whether a product needs to be CE certified, one has to determine first in which countries the products are going to be placed in the market or used. Secondly, for each single directive it must be determined whether the products, or some of its aspects, falls within its scope.

Step 1.The CE Marking Is Required Only in the Countries of the European Economic Area (EEA):

The European Economic Area (EEA) is formed by the twenty-seven Member States of the European Union (EU)...:

  1. Austria (became member in 1995)
  2. Belgium (Founder Member in 1957)
  3. Bulgaria (2007)
  4. Czech Republic (2004)
  5. Cyprus (2004)
  6. Denmark (1973)
  7. Estonia (2004)
  8. Finland (1995)
  9. France (FM 1957)
  10. Germany (FM 1957)
  11. Greece (1981)
  12. Hungary (2004)
  13. Ireland (1973)
  14. Italy, (FM 1957)
  15. Latvia (2004)
  16. Lithuania (2004)
  17. Luxembourg (FM 1957)
  18. Malta (2004)
  19. The Netherlands (FM 1957)
  20. Poland (2004)
  21. Portugal (1986)
  22. Romania (2007)
  23. Slovakia (2004)
  24. Slovenia (2004)
  25. Spain (1986)
  26. Sweden (1995)
  27. United Kingdom (Great Britain) (1973)

...as well as three members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA):
  • Iceland
  • Norway
  • Liechtenstein

Although Switzerland is member of the EFTA, it does not take part in the EEA.

PLEASE NOTE: Turkey is neither member of the EU, nor is considered a part of the EEA. However, Turkey has fully implemented many of the European CE marking directives. This means that for many products they also require CE Marking.

If the product is to be placed or put into service in the aforementioned markets, the CE mark may apply if the product is covered by one or more of the European CE marking directives.


2.The CE Marking Is Required Only for the Following Types of Products:

-Toys
-Machinery
-Electrical equipment
-Electronic equipment
-Personal protective equipment
-Pressure equipment
-Medical devices
-Active implantable medical devices
-In vitro diagnostica
-Radio and Telecommunications terminal equipment
-Simple pressure vessels
-Gas appliances
-Lifts
-Recreational craft
-Equipment and protective systems for use in explosive atmospheres
-Non-automatic weighing instruments
-Cableways
-Construction products
-Explosives for civil use
-New hot water boilers
-Measuring Equipment


The CE marking is NOT required for the following products:

-Chemicals
-Pharmaceuticals
-Cosmetics
-Foodstuffs


Products that are not covered by the European CE marking directives may fall within the scope of other European or national legislation. If there is no specific legislation, the General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC) may apply. This European Directives requires that products are safe, but is does not require any marking.


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