As an electronics manufacturer, the process of getting CE certification for your device can easily come across as overwhelming.
The European Union has several key regulatory directives that apply to electronics, and getting the CE mark requires demonstrating compliance with all of the directives that apply to your type and class of device.
The good news is that getting CE certification — or, more accurately, getting the CE conformity mark — isn’t as challenging as it may seem. Most devices need to pass a series of lab tests to demonstrate compliance, after which you can add the CE mark to your device.
As an ANSI-accredited EMC testing lab, we specialize in helping device manufacturers get the CE mark and gain access to the European market. You can contact us online or call us directly at 866-540-5287 to ask our engineers a question or request a free quote for your device.
You can also read below to learn more about how to get CE certification for your device, from how the process works to a basic step-by-step process that you can follow to verify that you’re compliant and eligible to use the CE marking.
How CE Certification Works for Electronics
In the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA), electronic devices need to comply with certain directives in order to enter the market. These directives set clear limits on emissions and establish standards for safety and environmental protection.
By demonstrating compliance with these standards, you can legally affix the CE mark to your device and market it within the European Economic Area.
Common EU directives for electronic devices include:
- Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive. This directive concerns a device’s electromagnetic compatibility, or its ability to operate normally in an environment with other devices without causing excessive emissions or functioning improperly.
- Radio Equipment Directive (RED). This directive focuses on radio emissions, safety and electromagnetic compatibility for electronic devices that use the radio spectrum to communicate, such as phones and Wi-Fi devices.
- Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive. This directive governs the use of hazardous materials in electronic devices and sets limits for chemicals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and other potentially harmful substances.
- Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. This directive limits electronic waste. If your device is subject to the WEEE Directive, you’ll need to have a clearly defined process to verify that your device has a limited environmental impact.
Our guide to CE electrical certification requirements goes into more detail about the directives listed above and the impact they can have on compliance. The specific directives that apply to your device will depend on its design, its purpose and its intended user/customer audience.
Not all devices are subject to these directives. If you’re not sure which directives apply to your device, you can contact our engineering and compliance team to discuss the standards you’ll need to meet and learn more about the CE compliance process.
How to Get CE Certification for Your Device
- Identify the appropriate EU directives. First, you’ll need to identify the directives that apply to your device. EU directives are harmonized with several international standards, meaning you can prepare a testing plan based on the appropriate standards. Our team can assist you in identifying the applicable directives and preparing to test your device for compliance.
- Complete testing for your device. To demonstrate compliance, you’ll need to test your device in an electronics testing laboratory. As an ANSI-accredited lab, we can complete testing for your device to help you verify that your device meets all required standards.
- Compile technical documentation. Following testing, you’ll need to compile technical documentation for your device. This documentation, referred to as a technical file, must contain your device’s description, design information, standards and test reports. Our team can help you in preparing and compiling test reports and other documents for your device.
- Prepare an EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC). Following lab testing and technical documentation preparation, you’ll formally state that your device is compliant through a Declaration of Conformity. This legal document confirms that your device meets the requirements of any relevant European Union directives, allowing it to enter the European market.
- Add the CE mark to your device. Finally, you can affix the CE mark to your product, packaging and accompanying documentation. The EU has specific requirements that must be followed regarding the CE marking, including its size and visibility.
After completing testing, preparing your Declaration of Conformity and adding the CE mark to your product and/or its packaging, you can legally market your electronic device inside the EU and European Economic Area.
Contact Us About Getting CE Certification for Your Device
The process of getting CE certification for your electronic device can easily feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve never marketed a product in the European Economic Area before.
As specialists in lab testing and regulatory compliance for electronic devices, we can help you with every step of the process, from pre-compliance testing to helping you compile documents and prepare your Declaration of Conformity.
To ask our team a question about the CE compliance process, or to request a quote for testing and compliance for your device, contact us online or call us at 866-540-5287.
