The CE mark is a mandatory European marking for machinery to indicate conformity with the essential health and safety requirements set out in European Directives. To permit the use of a CE mark on a machine, proof that the item meets the relevant requirements must be documented. For most machinery manufacturers, this is usually achieved by a company-internal self-certification process. The manufacturer of the machinery has to issue a EC-Declaration of Conformity (EC-DoC) indicating his identity (location, etc.), the list of European Directives he declares compliance with, a list of standards the product complies with, and a legally binding signature on behalf of the organization. The EC-DoC underlines the sole responsibility of the manufacturer.
The CE mark (officially CE marking) is a mandatory safety mark on many products placed on the single market in the European Economic Area (EEA). By affixing the CE marking, the manufacturer, or its representative, or the importer assures that the machinery meets all the essential requirements of all applicable EU directives. There are about 25 Directives requiring CE marking. For machinery manufacturers, the applicable directives typically are:
· The Machinery Directive 98/37/EC
· The Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC
· The Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC) 89/336/EEC
Note: Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC will replace 98/37/EC on December 29, 2009
Directives providing the requirements for the CE mark are created by the European Union (EU), but the markings are required throughout the European Economic Area (EEA), which also includes the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, and in Turkey. Switzerland is the only nation that is part of the EFTA (or the EU), but not the EEA. The CE Mark is not compulsory in Switzerland except for products for export to the European Union.
