What is CE marking?
The
CE
mark is a mandatory European marking for
certain product groups to indicate conformity with
the essential health and safety requirements set out
in European Directives. The letters 'CE' are an
abbreviation of Conformité Européenne, French for
European conformity. The CE mark must be affixed to
a product if it falls under the scope of the approx.
20 so called 'New Approach' Directives. Without the
CE marking, and thus without complying with the
provisions of the Directives, the product may not be
placed in the market or put into service in the
fifteen member states of the European Union and
Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. However, if the
product meets the provisions of the applicable
European Directives, and the CE mark is affixed to a
product, these countries may not prohibit, restrict
or impede the placing in the market or putting into
service of the product. Thus, CE marking can be
regarded as the products trade passport for Europe.
The CE mark is not a quality-mark. First, it refers
to the safety rather than to the quality of a
product. Second, most quality markings are voluntary
opposite to the CE marking, which is mandatory for
the products it applies to. CE indicates conformity
with mandatory European safety requirements.
European conformity is certified by following clear
and understandable procedures, the so-called
‘conformity assessment procedures’.
Why CE marking?
The European CE certification procedure has been
mainly set up to:
1.Harmonize all varying national regulations for
consumer and industrial products in European Member
States, so that the Single Market is encouraged;
2.Bring about cost savings for producers;
3.Enhance the safety of products;
4.Supply public bodies with a uniform procedure that
can be checked.
Formerly, product requirements and test procedures
were set by the Member States of the EU. This meant
that, for example, companies that wanted to sell
their products on the European market sometimes had
to deal with more than ten different technical
requirements or procedures for just one product. The
existence of all the different national legislation
was contrary to the aim of the European Union in
realizing one Single Market, in which there would be
a free circulation of goods (as well as a free
circulation of persons, services and capital).
All the different product requirements brought many
costs for the producers. With the help of the CE
Directives or 'New Approach' Directives, the
measures have been optimized by setting up European
(European-wide) requirements, the harmonization of
national legislation and directives, standards and
mutual recognition of the technical standards, tests
methods (compliance tests) and test laboratories, so
that producers no longer need to adapt their
products to the different markets.
During the process of harmonization the safety level
of all products was attuned and raised. In most
European countries, safety and health had already
been the subject of directives for many years but
the safety level was not always satisfactory.
With the help of the conformity assessment
procedures, the authorities can ascertain that the
products that are placed on the market comply with
the requirements as stated in the regulations of the
directives. The CE marking is consequently largely
for the benefit of the authorities. However, safe
products are also necessary for the end user in the
work or consumer environment.
The steps of the CE marking and CE
certification procedure
Before the CE marking may be affixed to a product,
the essential requirements of the applicable
European Directive must be met. Moreover, the
conformity of the product must be proved by
following a testing and/or certification procedure.
Besides some administrative steps this can mean that
a risk analyses must be performed or that the
compliance must be tested in a laboratory.
Products the CE marking applies to
The CE mark is applicable to: medical devices,
machinery, industrial installations, toys,
electrical equipment, electronics, domestic
appliances, pressure equipment, personal protective
equipment, recreational craft, refrigerators,
measuring equipment etc.
The CE marking does not apply to: cosmetics,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs.
Requirements with regard to the affixing of the CE
marking logo
The CE marking must be affixed to the product, to
its data plate or, where this is not possible or not
warranted due to the nature of the product, to its
packaging, if any, and to the accompanying documents
by the manufacturer, the authorized representative
in the Community or, in exceptional cases, by those
responsible for placing the product on the market.
The CE marking must be affixed visibly, legibly and
indelibly. Where special provisions do not impose
specific dimensions, it must have a height of at
least 5 millimeters.
CEMarking.Net: the CE marking and CE certification
website
Please visit CEmarking (www.cemarking.net
) where you will be informed about:
- CE marking and certification
procedure: What is CE marking? How can the CE
marking be obtained? Where can I have my product
tested?
- European 'New Approach'
Directives applicable to your product
- How to meet the requirements
of the European Directives and the conformity
assessment procedures
- Testing and certification
- European standards related to
CE marking
And offer you the following CE marking services:
- CE Marking Help Desk
- Directive Wizard: Which
European Directives apply to a certain product?
- On-line Quote Form: receiving
a quotation for CE certification was never this
easy!
- On-line Inquiry Form
- Books and software: visit our
Library for a special selection of practical
books and software about CE marking, European
Directives and European product regulations
- Document Delivery Service:
order your Directives and standards on-line!
- Authorized representative
FCC Logo
(United States)
All commercial electronic devices (unintentional radio-frequency
radiators) sold in the United States are regulated
by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) if
they:
- employ clocks or oscillators
- operate at a frequency of greater than 9
kHz, and
- use digital techniques
This includes almost every product that employs a
microprocessor. If an unintentional radiator is not
controlled through proper design of grounding and
shielding, the result may be high levels of energy
radiated or conducted from the equipment causing
unwanted effects upon another device.
Specific requirements have been set up by the FCC
under Rules and Regulations, Title 47, Part 15
Subpart B. The FCC has broken down Part 15 into two
categories, Class A and Class B.
Class A Device: A device marketed for use in an
industrial or business environment and not intended
for use in the home or a residential area.
Class B Device: A device marketed for use in the
home or a residential area. Examples of such devices
include, but are not limited to, personal computers,
calculators, printers, modems, many electronic
games, and similar devices that are marketed to the
general public.
It is illegal to sell or advertise products
regulated under Part 15, Subpart B until their
radiated and conducted emissions have been measured
and found to be in compliance. The radiated
and conducted EMI test procedures are defined in
ANSI Standard C63.4. FCC Rules and Regulations, Part
15, only regulates radio frequency emissions.
Currently there are no FCC regulations regulating
product immunity to electromagnetic fields.
Percept specializes in obtaining
the FCC Marks. We handle everything needed to make
sure your product complies to the FCC Declaration of
Conformity (DOC) procedure, including:
- Testing your product in our accredited EMC
testing laboratory.
- Preparing the proper technical file.
- Permanently affixing the FCC label to your
product in compliance with Part 15, Subpart B,
Section 15-19, Labeling Requirements.
- Preparing and signing a Declaration of
Conformity.
Our IonPro is CE certified
The CE mark is not a quality-mark. First, it refers
to the safety rather than to the quality of a
product. Second, most quality markings are voluntary
opposite to the CE marking, which is mandatory for
the products it applies to. CE indicates conformity
with mandatory European safety requirements.
European conformity is certified by following clear
and understandable procedures, the so-called
‘conformity assessment procedures’.
Our IonDuo and IonInfra and (IonPro
is CE certified) are CE & FCC certified for 220v and the 120v.
CE
indicates conformity with mandatory European safety
requirements. Please read more on this page
about CE and FCC.
