🇪🇺 Europe · European Union

EU CE / RED Certification Guide

The CE marking system covers 27 member states + EEA. Wireless RED directive · safety LVD directive · RoHS/REACH/WEEE · ERP energy efficiency.

Certification Overview

CE is a self-declaration system, but wireless products usually require a Notified Body (NB). After Brexit, the UK runs its own UKCA scheme but accepts the CE marking indefinitely.

Certification	Regulator	Scope	Mandatory
CE-RED	National market surveillance authorities	Products with wireless transmitters	Mandatory
CE-LVD	National market surveillance authorities	Mains-powered / battery powered (50-1000V AC / 75-1500V DC)	Mandatory
CE-EMC	National market surveillance authorities	All electronic devices	Mandatory
RoHS	National enforcing bodies	All electrical and electronic products	Mandatory
REACH	ECHA	All products	Mandatory (SVHC >0.1% requires notification)
WEEE	National registration bodies	All electrical and electronic products	Mandatory (requires registration)
ERP	European Commission	External power supplies, chargers, home appliances, etc.	Mandatory

CE-RED Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU)

Applicable Standards

ETSI EN 300 328 (2.4GHz Bluetooth/WiFi/Zigbee), ETSI EN 301 893 (5GHz RLAN), ETSI EN 300 440 (short-range devices), ETSI EN 300 330 (NFC/RFID)

Test Items

RF output power, frequency range and occupied bandwidth, spurious emissions, receiver performance, 5GHz adaptive frequency control, SAR (body-worn use)

Key Information

Sample quantity	1-2 units
Certification timeline	3-4 weeks
Certificate validity	Long-term (re-assessment when standards are updated)
EU authorised representative	Required (EC Authorised Representative)
NB involvement	Self-declaration is possible when using harmonised standard frequency bands, no NB needed

When is an NB needed? Most Bluetooth and WiFi products use standard frequency bands and modulation schemes, so self-declaration after testing to harmonised standards is sufficient. An NB-issued EU-Type Examination Certificate is only required if you use non-standard modulation or non-harmonised frequency bands.

CE-LVD Safety & CE-EMC

CE-LVD Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU)

Applicable standards: EN 62368-1 (audio/video/IT/telecom equipment), EN 60335 series (home appliances), EN 62133 (lithium batteries)

Test items: electrical strength, insulation resistance, touch current, temperature rise, abnormal conditions, mechanical protection, fire safety

Samples: 2-3 units | Timeline: 2-3 weeks | Most consumer electronics can self-declare

CE-EMC Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (2014/30/EU)

Applicable standards: EN 55032 (emissions), EN 55035 (immunity), EN 61000-3-2 (harmonics), EN 61000-3-3 (voltage fluctuations)

Test items: radiated emissions, conducted emissions, electrostatic discharge, radiated immunity, harmonic current

Samples: 1 unit | Timeline: 2-3 weeks

Environmental Requirements

Regulation	Restricted substances / requirement	Scope	Key points
RoHS 2011/65/EU	Lead/mercury/cadmium/hexavalent chromium/PBBs/PBDEs + 4 phthalates	All EEE products	Mandatory, technical documentation must be kept on file
REACH (EC) No 1907/2006	SVHC candidate substances (240+, continuously updated)	All products	SVHC >0.1% (w/w) requires consumer notification; >0.1% with annual import >1 ton requires ECHA notification
WEEE 2012/19/EU	Electronic waste recycling	All EEE products	Registration in each country, WEEE bin symbol required
POPs Regulation	Persistent organic pollutants	Plastics / electronic components	Enforcement has tightened in recent years

The REACH SVHC candidate list is updated every six months (June and December) — stay informed.

Other Key Requirements

CE marking requirements

The CE mark must be affixed to the product, its packaging and the instruction manual, with a height of at least 5mm and proportions that must not be arbitrarily scaled.

EU authorised representative

Non-EU manufacturers must appoint an authorised representative within the EU; their details must be printed on the product or packaging.

DoC Declaration of Conformity

The Declaration of Conformity must accompany the product and is signed by the manufacturer. Technical documentation (TCF) must be kept for at least 10 years.

Manual language

The manual must include the official language of each country of sale, at minimum in English. For multi-country sales, a combined multi-language manual can be used.

ERP energy efficiency

The efficiency level of external power adapters (equivalent to DOE Level VI+) has been mandatory since April 2020. Standby power <0.5W.

Plug standard

Continental Europe uses CEE 7 (Schuko/Type F) at 230V/50Hz. Plugs vary by country (France Type E, Italy Type L, etc.).

Certification Process

Determine Directives

Confirm the applicable directives and harmonised standards

Prepare Samples

Prepare samples and technical documentation

Testing

Carry out EMC/LVD/RED testing

Compile TCF

Compile the technical documentation

Sign DoC

Sign the declaration of conformity + affix the CE mark

✓

Complete

EU rep registration + WEEE registration → ready to export

FAQs

Can I do CE certification myself?

Theoretically CE is a self-declaration system, but in practice clients and e-commerce platforms usually require third-party test reports. For wireless products, we recommend obtaining a third-party report to withstand market surveillance spot checks.

Can CE still be used after Brexit?

The UK has accepted the CE marking indefinitely (for most product categories), but for new projects we recommend doing UKCA directly, or CE + UKCA together (the standards and test items are essentially the same).

Do Bluetooth/WiFi products need an NB-issued CE-RED certificate?

Most products that use harmonised standard bands do not. But if non-standard modulation or non-harmonised frequency bands are used, an NB certificate is mandatory.

What is the difference between RoHS and REACH?

RoHS limits 10 hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products. REACH covers all products and controls Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC, 240+); substances >0.1% must be notified to consumers, and >0.1% with annual import >1 ton requires ECHA notification.

What is special about German WEEE?

The German WEEE registration fee is relatively high and is not a one-off — you must report sales and recycling volumes monthly. Selling without registration will result in fines.

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