The presence of the logo CE (from French, “conformité européenne” meaning “European conformity”) on commercial products indicates that the manufacturer or importer affirms the goods’ conformity with European health, safety, and environmental protection standards. It is not a quality indicator or a certification mark. The CE marking is required for goods sold in the European Economic Area (EEA); goods sold elsewhere may also carry the mark. It is a criminal offence to affix a CЄ mark to a product that is not compliant or offer it for sale.
For example, most electrical products must comply with the Low Voltage Directive and the EMC Directive, among others; toys must comply with the Toy Safety Directive. (The Low Voltage Directive is about electrical safety; EMC or Electromagnetic Compatibility means the device will work as intended without interfering with, or being affected by, the use or function of any other device.) The CЄ mark indicates compliance with as many norms (directives and regulations) as apply at the time of the declaration of compliance. In the case of electrical products, several later norms such as the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) are relevant in addition to the Low Voltage Directive and EMC Directive. The exact significance of the CЄ mark therefore depends on when it was applied to a specific unit.
Example of the CЄ mark followed by the registration number of a notified body.
The CE mark must be always accompanied by the EU Certificate of Conformity, bearing the same identification numbers.