Conformité Européenne - CE mark EMC compliance for Europe
CE Product Compliance Testing for the European market
Description of CE compliance testing, approval & certification
Expansion: Conformité Européenne
Effective region: European Economic Area
Regulator: European Commission
Legal status: Mandatory
AC Mains supply: 230VAC 50Hz
Countries requiring CE marking
CE marking is mandatory for certain product groups within the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of 28 member states of the EU plus EFTA countries Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein plus Switzerland and Turkey. The manufacturer of products made in the EEA and the importer of goods made in other countries must ensure that CE-marked goods conform.
CE compliance requirements
Electrical and electronic products sold in the European market must be CE marked. The application of the CE mark requires compliance with various European compliance directives. These directives depend on the type of product and construction. As per our CE certification and approvals, video guide applied EU Directives may include the following:
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC)
- Low Voltage Directive (LVD) or electrical safety
- Radio Equipment Directive (RED)
- Machine Directive
- Medical Device Directive
And many more, for more information please see our “Guide to CE Declaration of Conformity“
EMC Testing requirements
Most electrical and electronic equipment sold in the EU must be CE marked. So they need compliance with the EMC Directive “Electromagnetic Compatibility, 2014/30/EU” (replacing 2004/108/EC). This can be achieved by identifying and applying the most relevant product standard. And demonstrating compliance through testing or other means. The accepted EMC standards are listed in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). European EMC testing requires both emissions and immunity testing. If the product has wireless RF radio communications functionality, then additional EMC and Radio compliance could be required. This may include technologies such as RFID, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi.
Wireless Radio testing requirements
Radio and wireless products sold in the European market must be CE marked. The product must comply with the ‘Radio Equipment Directive’ (RED). The ‘RED’ Directive replaced the ‘Radio and Telecommunications’ (R&TTE) Directive. Which either ended or phased out for certain products between 13/07/2016 to the 12/07/2017. The accompanying Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for any Radio Equipment Directive (RED) product will need only the RED directive to listed. Yet the LVD and EMC compliance requirements will still need to be satisfied. The specific transmitter and receiver tests are required. Including transmit power, spurious emissions, bandwidth along with various EMC emissions and immunity testing. Most Radio and wireless standards are available via the ETSI download portal. Please see our link for further European Radio (RED) compliance standards testing information.
Legal implications
CE marking signifies that the product conforms to all applicable directives that apply to it. A products conformity signified by affixing the CE mark to each product. Each product must be able to prove compliance with the applicable directives. This this is usually achieved through testing to the appropriate harmonized standards/directives. For EMC compliance you are required to comply with the relevant product standard(s) or generic standard(s). This is specific to the product primary function and intended environment. Suppliers must complete and sign a standard format single Declaration of Conformity (DoC) Statement. Listing all the applicable directives and harmonized standards that the product complies. For some products and standards, an organization that has been accredited by a member state maybe be needed. Commonly known as a Notified Body. Required to assess and certify whether a product meets certain preordained standards based upon the data from the test report(s).
Watch our CE mark product compliance for Europe video tutorial.
Why use EMC Bayswater for your approvals?
European EMC testing requirements and testing
How do I test my product?
EMC Testing for Europe should be conducted at a test facility with a NATA or similar accreditation in order to perform the measurements. Measurement test site must technically conform to the physical characteristics defined in the relevant test standard references including NSA, 16 point uniform field calibrations and so on.
What are the tests required?
For EMC compliance you are required to test your product with respect to the product emissions and immunity and will include tests such as:
Emissions testing
- Radiated emissions
- Conducted emissions AC mains ports
- Conducted emissions DC mains ports
- Conducted emissions telecommunication port emissions
- Harmonic current emissions
- Voltage fluctuations (flicker)
Emissions testing is the measurement of the energy. Radiated into free space from the entire unit as a whole including cabinet radiation and cable radiation. Or the conducted emissions is the energy radiated via a conductive path (cable) back to the mains network.
Immunity testing
- Radiated RF immunity
- Conducted RF immunity
- Electrical fast transients (EFT)
- Electrostatic discharge (ESD)
- Surge immunity
- Voltage dips and interrupts
- Magnetic immunity
- Vehicular transients
Immunity testing is to ensure that a product operates as intended when subjected to various external influences. These influences are a well-defined set of different types of phenomenon that can occur in the real world.
Product groups: The European compliance directives affect the following product groups:
- Active implantable medical devices (excludes surgical instruments)
- Appliances burning gaseous fuels
- Cableway installations designed to carry persons
- Construction products according to Regulation (EU) No. 305/2011 under specific rules
- Eco-design of energy related products
- Electromagnetic compatibility
- Equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
- Explosives for civil uses
- Hot-water boilers
- In vitro diagnostic medical devices
- Lifts
- Low voltage
- Machinery
- Measuring instruments
- Medical devices
- Noise emission in the environment
- Non-automatic weighing instruments
- Personal protective equipment
- Pressure equipment
- Pyrotechnics
- Radio Equipment
- Recreational craft
- Restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment RoHS 2
- Safety of toys
- Simple pressure vessels
For a complete listing, see the New Approach website. Established by the European Commission and EFTA with the European Standardisation Organisations.
When is a CE mark not CE mark?
The CE mark, or formerly EC mark, is a mandatory conformity marking for certain products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA) since 1985. The CE marking is also found on products sold outside the EEA that are manufactured in, or designed to be sold in, the EEA. This makes the CE marking recognizable worldwide even to people who are not familiar with the European Economic Area. It is in that sense similar to the FCC Declaration of Conformity used on certain electronic devices sold in the United States. It consists of the CE logo and, if applicable, the four digit identification number of the notified body involved in the conformity assessment procedure. The CE marking is the manufacturer’s declaration that the product meets the requirements of the applicable EC directives. The European Commission is aware that CE marking, like any other mark, is misused. CE marking is sometimes affixed to products that do not fulfil the requirements and conditions for its affixing, or is affixed to products for which the affixing is not required. In one case it was reported that “Chinese manufacturers were submitting well-engineered electrical products to obtain conformity testing reports, but then removing non-essential components in production to reduce costs”. A test of 27 electrical chargers found that all the eight legitimately branded with a reputable name met safety standards, but none of those unbranded or with minor names did, despite bearing the CE mark; non-compliant devices were actually potentially unreliable and dangerous, presenting electrical and fire hazards.”There are also cases in which the product complies with the applicable requirements, but the form, dimensions, or proportions of the mark itself are not as specified in the legislation. A very similar CE marking has been alleged to stand for China Export because some Chinese manufacturers apply it to their products. However, the European Commission says that this is a misconception. The matter was raised at the European Parliament in 2008. The Commission responded that it was unaware of the existence of any “Chinese Export” mark and that, in its view, the incorrect application of the CE marking on products was unrelated to incorrect depictions of the symbol, although both practices took place. It had initiated the procedure to register CE marking as a Community collective trademark, and was in discussion with Chinese authorities to ensure compliance with European legislation.”
Information source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CE_marking
Using CE mark test reports for compliance evidence
In some cases, it is possible to use an overseas CE test report in order to prove compliance and conformity to the requirements specified by the ACMA. EMC Bayswater Pty Ltd is able to provide a report assessment service that involves technically assessing the overseas test report to ensure that it conforms and covers the requirements of the ACMA specified applicable standard limits and methods of measurement. A better method of compliance is to ensure that your product on its own does not cause interference and complies with the limits in accordance with the specified ACMA standards and tested at an independent NATA accredited Lab.
How to spot the difference between the CE mark for compliance and the China export logo.
Useful Links
Example of EU declaration of conformity (DoC) adopted by EMC ADCO (pdf)
Directives Harmonised Standards
Official Journal of the European Union OJEU (List of accepted CE EMC Testing Standards)
The ‘Blue Guide’ on the implementation of EU product rules
Guidance document of Q&A on the EMC Directive transition from 2004/108/EC to 2014/30/EU