Directives / CE Marking

New Approach Directives
Directives requiring CE marking of products are also known as new approach directives. Associated with these directives are Harmonised Standards, which are standards ratified by the European Union and published in the Official Journal of the EU. Harmonised Standards have their identification prefixed by the letters EN.

EU Product Directives
Shown below is a list of some of the more commonly known directives requiring the CE Mark to be applied. The Directive numbers can be found on our page of EU Directives and the detailed text can be found on the CE website by clicking here.

List of Directives requiring the CE Mark
The following is a list of some of the more commonly known directives requiring the CE Mark to be applied:

Electromagnetic compatibility
Low voltage equipment
Machinery safety
Medical devices: General
Medical devices: Active implantable
Medical devices: In vitro diagnostic
Pressure equipment
Equipment and protective systems in potentially explosive atmospheres
Appliances burning gaseous fuels
Cableway installations designed to carry persons
Construction products
Explosives for civil uses
Lifts
Measuring instruments
New hot-water boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fluids (efficiency requirements)
Non-automatic weighing instruments
Personal protective equipment
Radio and telecommunications terminal equipment
Recreational craft
Simple pressure vessels
Toys safety

Some Directives based on the principles of the New Approach or the Global Approach, but which do not provide for CE marking.

Packaging and packaging waste
Marine equipment

Directives based on some principles of the New Approach and the Global Approach

Energy efficiency requirements for household electric refrigerators, freezers and combinations thereof
Transportable pressure equipment
Noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors
Energy efficiency requirements for ballasts for fluorescent lighting

Other standards-receptive directives

Airborne noise emitted by household appliances
General product safety
Community postal services
Restrictions on marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations
Energy labelling of household appliances
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)

EU Directives and Sheenglen
The hyperlinks above will lead you to each of the full texts of the Directives.

There are also a large number of other European directives applying to various applications. SAMS is able to assist organisations to interpret the requirements of many European Directives, both New Approach and others.

CE Marking - What are the implications for manufacturers and importers?

CE Marking - Needed for Sales in the EU
EU Directives require that many products carry the CE mark in order for them to be legally sold in the EU, including the UK, even if they have been manufactured in the UK.

The most well known of these EU Directives are the EMC Directive (Electromagnetic Compatibility), the Low Voltage Directive, the Machinery Directive, the Pressure Equipment Directive, the Medical Devices Directive and the Construction Products Directive.

Be aware that practically all products which include electronics or electrics or have moving parts are covered by one of the "New Approach" European Directives, which have now been adopted into EU and UK law - requiring the CE Mark to be applied by the manufacturer or his representative before distribution anywhere in the European Union.

Below are links to a summary of the steps a company needs to take to enable them to CE Mark their products and to some typical EU Directives that may be applicable.

An Overview of the Compliance Process

The Directives

EU Directives Requiring CE Marking

Assistance with EU Directives compliance
If you are in any doubt about the process or need help/advice with any of the steps, then SAMS is able to assist you to interpret the requirements of many European Directives, including CE Marking.