CE Marking – Frequently Asked Questions

CE Marking – Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a CE Certificate?

The CE Certificate is a general term used for the document obtained by manufacturers to gain the right to affix the CE marking before placing their products on the market. In fact, there is no single official document called a “CE certificate.”
What really matters is that the product has the right to carry the CE marking. The documents granting this right vary depending on the EU directives and regulations that apply to the product.

2. What is the CE Mark?

The CE mark is a symbol that shows a product meets certain health, safety, and environmental protection requirements in order to be sold in the European Union (EU).
The term comes from “Conformité Européenne,” meaning “European Conformity.” The CE marking indicates that a product has been manufactured in compliance with EU directives and meets essential requirements.
Products with the CE mark can move freely within EU member states and Turkey.

3. How to Obtain a CE Certificate?

The general steps manufacturers must follow to use the CE marking are:

1. Determine Which EU Directives Apply
   Each product type may fall under a different directive (e.g., construction products, machinery, medical devices, toys, etc.).
2. Identify Essential Requirements and Standards
   The health, safety, and environmental requirements are defined in the relevant EU directives and harmonized standards.
3. Prepare the Technical Documentation
   To prove product compliance, a technical file must be created. This file includes:
   • Product description
   • Design drawings
   • Components used
   • Applied standards
   • Risk analysis
   • Test reports
   • User instructions
4. Conformity Assessment
   Depending on the product group, the manufacturer’s own declaration may be sufficient, or an assessment by a Notified Body may be required.
5. EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
   The manufacturer issues an official declaration stating that the product complies with the relevant directives.
6. Affixing the CE Marking
   The CE mark is placed on the product, its label, or accompanying documents in the correct format.

4. What is the Cost of a CE Certificate?

The cost of CE certification depends on:

• The regulation applicable to the product,
• The risk level of the product,
• The required testing and assessment procedures.

There is no fixed cost. The process and cost vary for each product.

5. How Long Does It Take to Obtain a CE Certificate?

The duration of the CE marking process depends on the directive and conformity assessment method:

• For low-risk products, self-declaration by the manufacturer can take only a few weeks.
• For more complex regulations (e.g., medical devices), the process may take 1–3 years.

6. Can Products Be Sold Without a CE Certificate?

In the EU and Turkey, products covered by CE regulations cannot be placed on the market without the CE marking.
The European Commission has issued nearly 30 product-specific regulations, which also apply in Turkey due to the Customs Union.

Therefore, for all products falling within the scope of these regulations, the CE marking is mandatory.