What CE marking is and why it matters
CE marking indicates that a product complies with the applicable European Union health, safety and environmental protection requirements, and may be placed on the market in the European Economic Area. For a huge range of products — from machinery and electronics to medical devices and toys — CE marking is a legal prerequisite for selling into Europe.
Crucially, CE marking is a regulatory conformity marking, not an ISO-style certificate. For many products the manufacturer assesses conformity and declares it themselves; for higher-risk products, a Notified Body must be involved in the conformity assessment. Either way, the manufacturer remains responsible for the product’s compliance and for the technical file behind it.
How ABS supports it
ABS provides advisory and conformity support to help manufacturers reach CE marking correctly:
- Identifying the applicable EU directives or regulations for the product
- Determining the conformity-assessment route — including whether a Notified Body is required
- Technical documentation and the declaration of conformity
- Gap assessment against the relevant requirements
The aim is to help manufacturers place products on the European market with confidence that the requirements have been properly met.
Timeline & process
CE marking support is scoped per product, depending on the product category, the applicable requirements and the conformity-assessment route. We begin with a fixed-price scoping call and a proposal within 24 hours.
Common questions
Is CE marking a certification?
Not in the usual sense. It is a manufacturer’s declaration that a product conforms to the applicable EU requirements. Many products are self-assessed and declared; higher-risk products require a Notified Body in the conformity assessment. It is a regulatory marking, not an ISO-style certificate.
How does ABS help with CE marking?
ABS provides advisory and conformity support — identifying which EU directives or regulations apply, the correct conformity-assessment route, and the technical documentation and declaration of conformity required. It is especially relevant to manufacturers exporting to Europe.
Which products need CE marking?
Products covered by EU product legislation that requires it, such as machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, radio equipment, toys, construction products and medical devices, when they are placed on the market in the European Economic Area.
How long does CE marking support take?
CE marking support is scoped per product, depending on the product category, the applicable requirements and the conformity-assessment route. We begin with a fixed-price scoping call and a proposal within 24 hours.
Does CE marking expire?
The marking itself does not expire. It declares that the product met the applicable requirements when it was placed on the market, so the declaration of conformity and the technical file must be kept up to date when the product or the rules change. Where a Notified Body is involved, its certificate has its own validity period.
Which rules and standards apply to our product?
It depends on the product. Each product category has its own EU directive or regulation, and the harmonised standards used to show conformity are updated over time, so we check which versions apply to your product at the time you place it on the market.
