I. The Gateway to the EU Market
CE Marking: The CE mark (an acronym for the French "Conformité Européenne") is an EU-issued certification that attests to a product's conformity with European internal market regulations, which ensures safety, quality, and environmental standards. It is a mandatory legal condition for entry into the European Economic Area (EEA) market, demonstrating adherence to the European Union's (EU) New Approach to Technical Harmonization and Standards concerning safety, health, environment, and consumer protection. An EC Attestation of Conformity can be issued by an EU notified body, while a Certificate of Compliance can be issued by a third-party laboratory. Products with CE marking are deemed compliant with European laws and regulations and can be freely traded and sold throughout the EU. The marks are as follows:
—Related EU Regulations, Directives, and Harmonized Standards
REACH Regulation: An acronym for "Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals," its core aim is to safeguard human health and the environment by ensuring all chemicals entering the EU market undergo comprehensive registration and evaluation to prevent unacceptable hazards. It applies broadly to manufacturers, importers, and downstream users, mandating compliance for any chemical substance sold within the EU market. (See image below)
RoHS Directive: An acronym for "The Restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment," it is a mandatory EU standard primarily that regulates materials and process standards for electrical and electronic products, promoting human health and environmental protection. It mainly restricts six hazardous substances: lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), hexavalent chromium (Cr6+), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The EU RoHS directive does not specify a separate marking standard. (See image below)
ErP Directive: The abbreviation for "Energy-related Products Directive," it aims to enhance energy efficiency and reduce the environmental footprint of energy-related products. ErP certification, a mandatory component of the EU CE marking system, evolved from Directive 2005/32/EC (EuP Directive) and has been enforced under Directive 2009/125/EC since 2013. Its scope covers all electrical and electronic products and their standalone components that impact energy consumption and are placed on the EU market, including household appliances, lighting, and industrial equipment. As an integral part of CE marking regulations, ErP certification must be implemented together with safety and electromagnetic compatibility requirements. Products entering the European market are mandated to display the CE mark and the energy efficiency labelas follows:
EN 71 Standard: Short for "European Norm 71," it serves as the mandatory regulatory framework for toys sold in the EU market. Developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), it directly incorporates and expands upon the requirements of the EU Toy Safety Directive (TSD, 2009/48/EC). Its primary objective is to mitigate or eliminate potential hazards to children posed by toys through comprehensive technical specifications. This standard is compulsory for all products or materials designed or intended for use by children under 14 years of age. As a specific subcategory of CE marking, EN 71 certification validates a toy's safety. Essentially, any toy destined for sale in the European market must comply with EN 71 stipulations and display the CE mark, signifying conformity with relevant EU health, safety, and environmental benchmarks. (See image below)
II. Global "Passports" for Mutual Recognition
CB Scheme: Known as the "IECEE CB Scheme for Testing and Certification of Electrical Products, "CB Scheme is an international system established by the IEC System for Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electro technical Equipment and Components (IECEE). "CB" stands for "Certification Bodies."This scheme aims to facilitate the mutual acceptance of electrical product safety test results among participating member countries. Currently, certification bodies from more than 50 nations are part of the CB Scheme, which offers a "one test, one certificate" conformity assessment model, significantly lowering technical trade barriers between members. The mark is as follows:
III. Your Gateways to Europe's Premium Market
GS Certification:"Geprüfte Sicherheit" (Safety Tested) certification is a voluntary safety mark rooted in Germany's Equipment and Product Safety Act (GPSG). This high-standard, manufacturer-initiated certification is issued by independent, third-party testing bodies—such as TÜV and VDE—under the authorization of the German Ministry of Labor. GS certification mandates adherence not only to fundamental EU regulatory requirements but also to more stringent German safety standards, significantly aiding businesses in accessing the EU'spremium consumer sector. The mark is as follows:
VDE Certification: Awarded by the German Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (Verband der Elektrotechnik, Elektronik, Informationstechnik e.V.), VDE certification applies to electrical, electronic, and information technology products. It is one of Europe's and the world's most respected certification bodies, also functioning as a product testing laboratory and technical research center directly involved in developing German national standards. The VDE mark holds significant international reputation in the electrical and electronic industry.
TÜV Certification: Issued by Germany's Technische Überwachungs-Vereine (Technical Inspection Associations), TÜV certification is a highly respected safety mark across European and international markets. It encompasses product testing, inspection, and system certification, involving areas such as electrical and mechanical safety. Products bearing this mark can leverage CB certificates to secure multi-country certification and are exempt from redundant testing in full-product assessments. The "TÜV" trademark is currently co-owned by seven independent entities, including TÜV SÜD, TÜV Rheinland, TÜV Nord, etc. (See image below)
IV. Alternative to CE Marking for the UK Market
UKCA Marking: Standing for "UK Conformity Assessed," this new marking system was introduced following the UK's departure from the European Union. As per the implementation guidance on UKCA marking published by the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy on September 1, 2020, products exported to the UK ceased to be subject to CE marking after December 31, 2020. Consequently, from January 1, 2021, the UKCA mark became the mandatory product marking for goods placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland), but notably, it does not apply to Northern Ireland. The UKCA mark covers the majority of goods that previously required CE marking. The underlying technical requirements ("essential requirements"), as well as the conformity assessment procedures and standards used to demonstrate compliance, are broadly aligned with those for CE marking. Furthermore, the use of self-declaration of conformity for UKCA marking mirrors the circumstances under which it is permissible for CE marking. The mark is as follows:
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Huangpu Customs 12360. The Huangpu Customs 12360 version shall prevail.
