Make best use of standards

How to show your products meet EU legal requirements

Guide

Many types of products must satisfy European product directives before you can sell them on the single market in the European Economic Area (EEA). These directives aim to protect the health and safety of product users. They also remove technical barriers to trade.

CE marking

Products subject to the European directives normally have to carry CE marking when on sale in the EEA. Harmonised European standards provide the simplest way of demonstrating that your products comply.

Putting the CE marking on your product acts as your declaration that the item meets the relevant legal requirements. How you go about getting CE marking and putting it on your product depends on the product and EU directive in question.

Important: The UK has left the EU on 31 January 2020 and has entered a transition period. This period will run until the end of 2020 while the UK and EU negotiate additional arrangements. You can continue to use the CE marking if you're placing certain goods on the UK or the EU market until 1 January 2021.

Are EU standards relevant to my products?

Standards can help you comply with EU directives covering a wide range of products, including:

appliances burning gaseous fuels
construction products
electrical and electronic apparatus in terms of their electromagnetic compatibility
equipment and protective systems in potentially explosive atmospheres
gas appliances
household appliances in terms of the noise they emit
lifts
low voltage equipment
machinery, mechanical equipment and safety products
medical devices
new hot water boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fluids
non-automatic weighing instruments
outdoor construction and gardening equipment in terms of the noise they produce
personal protective equipment such as gloves, helmets and protective clothing
pressure equipment such as industrial pipework and pressurised storage containers
radio and telecommunications terminal equipment
recreational craft
toys

Testing and certification for products

Each individual directive generally specifies how you must show your product meets the relevant requirements. You may have to:

produce a self-declaration that your product complies - usually backed up by your own, or independent test results
get your product inspected or tested by an authorised independent testing body

Using a standard helps ensure you comply with the law when manufacturing products for sale in the EU. But standards aren't obligatory - you can use a different way of meeting your legal requirements if you wish.