CE Mark, or CE Marking as it is officially named, is an OBLIGATORY product mark for the European market, which indicates compliance “CERTIFICATION” according to the requirements formulated in the approximately 22 European “CE Marking Directives” and subsequent European standards. Therefore, the CE mark is important for manufacturers and exporters placing products in the European market. Products complying with CE marking are now accepted and presumed to be safe in 28 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. This is a market of 455 million people with a GNP over $9 trillion. CE Marking is accelerating as a globally accepted system for ensuring product safety and environmental requirements are met.

The CE Mark MUST BE AFFIXED to (in order of preference) the product, its instruction manual or to its packaging. Recent guidance from the European Commission indicates that the mark must appear on the product itself unless there are good technical reasons why it cannot. It must be at least 5 mm high. It is not intended to be a mark of quality - rather it is intended to indicate to the authorities responsible for enforcing the Directives that the product's manufacturer claims compliance with the directives which apply to the product. The act of fixing the mark to the product, and signing the Declaration of Conformity, constitutes a declaration by the manufacturer that the product meets the requirements of all the Directives which apply to it. The onus is very much on the manufacturer to take responsibility for this actually being true. Marking a product which is not fully in accordance with the requirements of the applicable directives is an offence in its own right, and would also contravene related consumer safety and trades descriptions legislation.

CE Marking on a product is a manufacturer's declaration that the product complies with the ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS of the relevant European health, safety and environmental protection legislations, in practice by many of the so-called PRODUCT DIRECTIVES. Product Directives contains the "essential requirements" and/or "performance levels" and "Harmonized Standards" to which the products must conform. Harmonized Standards are the technical specifications (European Standards or Harmonization Documents) which are established by several European standards agencies.
CE Marking on a product indicates to governmental officials that the product may be LEGALLY PLACED ON THE MARKET in their country.

CE Marking on a product ensures the FREE MOVEMENT OF THE PRODUCT within the EFTA & European Union (EU) single market (total 28 countries).