Certification Introduction
CE certification is the core mandatory market access requirement for electronic and electrical products entering the EU market, covering the entire European Economic Area (EEA). After Brexit, England, Scotland and Wales currently recognize CE marks indefinitely, and UKCA certification is also an optional alternative, while special rules apply to Northern Ireland. CE certification is a conformity certificate proving that products meet the EU's basic requirements for safety, health and environmental protection, and is a necessary prerequisite for the free circulation of electronic and electrical products in the EU. Germany's GS certification is a voluntary certification for the high-end market, which can improve consumer trust in products.
Laws and Regulations
The core applicable current regulations are as follows:
- Low Voltage Directive (LVD 2014/35/EU), applies to electrical equipment with rated voltage of 50-1000V AC and 75-1500V DC
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC 2014/30/EU), regulates electromagnetic interference and immunity performance
- RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU), specifically restricts the use of hazardous substances in electronic and electrical products
- Products with wireless communication functions must additionally comply with the Radio Equipment Directive (RED 2014/53/EU)
- All products must comply with REACH regulation, which controls the content of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). New requirements such as cybersecurity for connected products and digital product passports have been added in recent years, so the latest updates from EU official authorities shall be checked.
Technical Requirements
Technical requirements take EU harmonized EN standards as the core basis:
- Electrical safety: Generally need to comply with EN 62368 standard to prevent risks of electric shock, overheating and fire, and key safety components must meet compliance requirements
- Electromagnetic compatibility: Radiated emission must comply with the limits specified in EN 55032, and immunity must meet the requirements of EN 61000 series standards
- Hazardous substances: RoHS restricts 10 hazardous substances including lead, mercury and cadmium, and their content must meet the specified limits
- Energy-related products must meet the energy efficiency index requirements corresponding to the ErP Directive. The complete set of technical documents must be retained for at least 10 years.
Certification Process
First, confirm the applicable EU directives and corresponding harmonized standards according to product characteristics; second, select the conformity assessment path based on product risk level: low-risk products can adopt manufacturer's self-declaration, while high-risk products require intervention and assessment by an EU notified body; next, complete sample testing as required and compile a complete technical document package; then sign the legally binding EU Declaration of Conformity; finally, affix the CE mark clearly and firmly on the product body and retain the technical documents for inspection. As a professional technical service organization,
WANVE, as a professional technical service organization, provides one-stop full compliance support for enterprise export.