Short answer
For most products there is no such thing as an official CE certificate: CE marking is a self-declaration by the manufacturer, supported by test reports and technical documentation. A certificate has legal weight only when it is issued by a notified body for a procedure that requires one, and the body's four-digit number and scope can be checked in the European Commission's NANDO database.
Importers and sellers often receive a nicely designed “CE Certificate”, “Certificate of Compliance” or “Verification of Conformity” from their supplier. It has a logo, a stamp, a certificate number and the CE mark. For customs and market surveillance authorities in the EU, it is often worth very little.
Why most “CE certificates” have no legal value
For many products, such as most electrical equipment under the Low Voltage and EMC Directives, or toys tested against harmonised standards, the conformity assessment procedure is internal production control. No third party is required. The manufacturer:
- tests the product, usually in a laboratory;
- prepares the technical documentation;
- signs the EU Declaration of Conformity;
- affixes the CE marking.
A private company that issues a “CE certificate” in this situation is not part of the legal procedure. Its document may summarise test results, but it does not replace the Declaration of Conformity or the technical file.
When a certificate does matter
Some products require a notified body: for example personal protective equipment of categories II and III, radio equipment where harmonised standards are not fully applied, or machinery listed in the annexes of the machinery legislation. In those cases the notified body issues, for example, an EU-type examination certificate.
How to check it:
- the certificate is issued by a body with a four-digit identification number;
- the body appears in NANDO, the European Commission’s database of notified bodies;
- the body is notified for the specific legislation and product type on the certificate;
- the certificate is valid, names the right manufacturer and covers your model.
What really proves conformity
- The EU Declaration of Conformity, signed by the manufacturer, listing all applicable legislation and standards.
- Test reports from a laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 for the standards tested. In China, accreditation is granted by CNAS, whose accreditations are recognised internationally through ILAC.
- The technical file: drawings, risk assessment, instructions, label.
Red flags
- A certificate that covers “CE” without naming any directive or regulation.
- Certificates for products where a notified body is not required, presented as mandatory.
- A test report for a different model, or based on outdated standards.
- A “certificate” that expires after one year but no test report behind it.
How ISOCONSULT helps
Send us what your supplier provided. As part of our technical file review, we tell you which documents are valid, what is missing and whether testing is needed. Request a quote.
This article is general information about EU product legislation and is not legal advice. Requirements depend on the exact product; contact us for an assessment of your case.