CE marking
Also known as: CE mark, Conformité Européenne
Mandatory marking for personal protective equipment and other regulated products in the EEA — confirms conformity with all applicable EU directives and regulations.
Description
The CE marking (Conformité Européenne) is a conformity mark affixed by the manufacturer or importer to declare that a product complies with all applicable EU requirements on safety, health and environmental protection. It is not a quality label but a condition of market access: only with CE marking may the product be placed on the market in the EEA (EU plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein).
For clothing, the CE marking is particularly relevant for personal protective equipment (PPE). Since 21 April 2018, Regulation (EU) 2016/425 applies (previously Directive 89/686/EEC). It divides PPE into three categories: Cat. I (low risk, e.g. gardening gloves – manufacturer self-declaration), Cat. II (medium risk, e.g. hi-vis vests – EU type-examination by a notified body), Cat. III (potentially fatal risk, e.g. chemical protection suits, fall arrest, firefighter turnout – type-examination + annual production control). The CE mark must be permanently, visibly and legibly affixed to the product or its label, and Cat. III also requires the 4-digit ID number of the notified body. Missing CE marking triggers sales bans, recalls and fines.
- Legal basis PPE: Regulation (EU) 2016/425
- Categories: I (self-declaration), II (type-examination), III (+ annual production control)
- Notified-body ID number for Cat. III (4 digits)
- Mandatory for market access in the EEA
Properties
| PPE legal basis | Regulation (EU) 2016/425 |
|---|---|
| Categories | I, II, III (risk classes) |
| Notified body | Cat. II & III (4-digit ID) |
| Scope | EEA (EU + NO/IS/LI) |
| Placement | permanent, visible on product/label |
| Consequence if missing | sales ban, recall, fine |
Related product categories
Sources & references
1- Wikipedia: CE marking Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CE_marking
