CE Mark Compliance & EMC Certification Testing
The CE Mark or CE Certification is a mandatory conformance mark that certifies that a product has met EU consumer safety, health, or environmental requirements. CE originally stood for “Communauté Européenne” or “Conformité Européenne”. Ready to get started? Request a quote to find out why hundreds of manufacturers trust Keystone with their CE EMC/EMI certification testing needs.
What is CE Mark Testing?
The CE Marking is mandatory for certain product groups in the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The CE Marking is also obligatory for all products made in third countries (non-member states) that are sold in the EEA.
In that case, the importer has to make sure that the manufacturer outside the EU has taken the necessary steps that allow him to affix the CE Marking. We have put together a list of countries that require the CE mark.
In addition to meeting international compliance standards, manufacturers often pursue FCC testing to ensure their products meet U.S. regulatory requirements. For more information on getting your product certified for the U.S. market, please visit: FCC Certification Testing.
Why is a CE Mark Certification Important?
The CE Mark is a key indicator of a product’s EMC compliance with EU legislation and enables the free movement of products within the European market.
By adding the CE Marking on a product, a manufacturer is declaring, on its sole responsibility, conformity with all of the legal requirements to achieve CE compliance. Therefore, it ensures validity for that product to be sold throughout the European Economic Area.
Lastly, for more information on CE Mark EMC Testing, see our list of CE Mark Frequently Asked Questions.
What are the Main CE Mark Responsibilities for Companies?
The CE Mark impacts manufacturers, importers, and distributors as detailed below:
Manufacturers
Must complete a conformity assessment including EMC compliance testing, set up a technical file, and sign a CE declaration of conformity before affixing a CE Mark to its product. Products may only be placed on the market if they comply with the provisions of all applicable directives and if the conformity assessment procedure has been carried out accordingly.
Importers
Must verify that the manufacturer outside the EU has completed the required steps to affix a CE Mark to the product. Importers must also confirm that the CE Mark documentation is available upon request.
Distributors
Must produce sufficient documentation confirming that the manufacturer and importer have completed all steps necessary to affix a CE Mark to a product.
The EU and UN established a certification requirement for motor vehicles. The E-Mark for Motor Vehicles is also known as UN Resolution 10/UNECE 10. Keystone works with companies to ensure compliance with this standard.
Keystone Compliance: Your Partner in CE Mark Certification Testing
We understand that CE Mark EMC requirements might appear overwhelming. Keystone Compliance has streamlined the process, serving manufacturers as a full-service third-party test and product compliance test laboratory. The steps to receiving your CE Mark include:
- Keystone learns about the product, its characteristics, its applications, and its geographical market territory. During this conversation, the manufacturer also learns about the CE Mark process and information on the directive(s) that the product is required to meet.
- Following the initial conversation and determination, Keystone Compliance schedules laboratory test time to determine that the manufacturer’s device complies with all of the EMC requirements of the directives that it is required to meet.
- Keystone Compliance’s engineers provide valuable feedback and guidance during the test process, offering engineering suggestions when needed. This value engineering significantly reduces test time and exponentially increases the likelihood of meeting the CE compliance test requirements.
- Upon compliance with the CE Mark directive EMC requirements, Keystone provides a Declaration of Conformity, in draft form, and instructions on the CE Marking. The CE Mark post certification process requires manufacturers to follow standards on each product and shipment.
Keystone Compliance’s CE Mark Directives Support
Keystone Compliance can assist manufacturers with the following CE Mark Directives:
- CE Mark Low Voltage Directive
- CE Mark Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive
- CE Mark Machinery Directive
- CE Mark Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment and the Mutual Recognition of their Conformity
- CE Mark Medical Device Directive
Our expert and professional engineers assist manufacturers with CE Mark compliance and getting their product to market. In some cases, manufacturers are capable of CE Mark Self Certification. Keystone can provide guidance throughout this process. Unlike other testing laboratories, we assist within the troubleshooting process throughout the entire testing program.
Please contact us or request a quote for more information on how Keystone can assist you with identifying and fulfilling your CE Mark needs.
For more information on CE certification testing, please visit the following links: