CE Marking (CE)

CE marking (from the French "Conformité Européenne") is a mandatory certification mark for products sold in the European Economic Area. It indicates that the product complies with all applicable EU directives and regulations for its product category. Unlike UL, which is a third-party certification, CE marking is primarily a self-declaration by the manufacturer or importer -- though certain product categories require third-party assessment by a "Notified Body."

The CE marking process involves: identifying which EU directives apply to your product (a toy might fall under the Toy Safety Directive, EMC Directive, and RoHS Directive simultaneously), ensuring the product meets all requirements of each applicable directive, preparing technical documentation, performing or commissioning any required testing, drafting a Declaration of Conformity (DoC), and affixing the CE mark to the product. For most consumer products, you can self-declare conformity based on test results from a competent laboratory.

For DTC founders planning to sell in Europe (directly or through Amazon EU), CE marking is non-negotiable. Products without CE marking can be seized at EU borders and you can face significant fines. Your factory may offer to handle CE marking, but as the importer of record in the EU, the legal responsibility for compliance falls on you. Always verify the factory's CE documentation independently rather than simply trusting their claims.