CE Marking
By Dorette Coetsee
In today's global economy, U.S. manufacturers are increasingly concerned over manufacturing operations moving abroad - particularly to China and Eastern Europe. Buying power, however, remains within the two largest economies - the United States and the European Union (EU).
The European Union participating countries offer a highly sophisticated market of approximately 375 million people with a buying power of approximately $7 trillion. This is the only market in the world that is comparable to the United States in size, prosperity and freedom of trade. The CE market is becoming even larger with expected admission of the following candidate countries over the next few years: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Turkey.
The European Market
The EU is more than just an economic agreement; it is a region-wide collaborative effort to unite countries economically, politically and culturally. Its Member States have gradually transferred specific powers to the European level, so that democratic decisions on questions of truly European importance can be made at the European level.
The European Union is currently made up of 15 countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) committed to working together for peace and prosperity. They form the largest voluntary and peaceful block in the world.
The European Union developed the CE Marking system to cover product safety and environmental concerns in order to reduce technical barriers to trade within Europe. Before the CE Marking system, manufacturers had to comply with multiple, and often inconsistent, national systems of product requirements and standards. Now, once goods are legally brought into a CE Marking participating country, they can travel freely throughout the European Union under one set of documents and requirements. Therefore, if a manufacturer obtains CE Marking for his products, he has access to the whole European Union and does not have to comply with each individual country's rules and regulations regarding product safety and environmental concerns.
Why Do Manufacturers Need CE Marking?
Many other countries outside Europe also are considering using the CE Marking system. CE Marking is rapidly becoming a global product compliance scheme. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, by the year 2004 approximately half of U.S. exporters to the EU will be required to bear CE Marking.
The EU has been one of the United States' largest trading partners, with U.S. exports to the EU-15 totaling $143,748 million in 2002.
What is CE Marking?
The letters "CE" are the abbreviation of the French phrase "Conformité Européene" which literally means "European Conformity."
CE Marking on a product is a manufacturer's declaration that the product complies with the essential requirements of relevant European health, safety and environmental protection legislations in practice by many of the so-called product directives. CE Marking on a product indicates to governmental officials that the product may be legally placed on the market in their country. CE Marking on a product ensures the free movement of the product within the EU single market and permits withdrawal of the non-conforming products by customs and enforcement/vigilance authorities.
Along with expansion of the directives, more and more products are required to bear CE Marking to gain access to the European Union market; however, many non-EU exporters are still unaware of or unsure about this fact and its impact on their businesses.
The EU currently requires imported products critical to consumer safety to bear the CE Mark, which indicates conformity to European standards. A total of 18 product categories are required to have the CE Mark in the EU. Currently, the EU requires CE marking on all aspects of nine product categories and on some aspects of 14 product categories.
* Full CE marking is required for:
1. Construction products
2. Electrical appliances
3. Gas appliances
4. Machinery
5. Medical devices
6. Pressure vessels
7. Protective equipment
8. Recreational craft
9. Toys.
Dorette Coetsee is director of operations for the South Carolina Export Consortium. She can be reached at (803) 777-8870 or dorette@moore.sc.edu.
