CE-marking

A principal rule of the Single Market is that a product can legally be sold in one EU/EEA country should be able to be sold in the other EU/EEA countries. For areas not covered by directives the principal of mutual approval of the legislation in the various countries applies. Thus, a product, which can be sold legally in Britain, cannot be stopped in another country. The majority of the EU s harmonisation is via directives. Individual EU/EEA countries must adapt their rules in accordance therewith. The New Approach Directives are limited to overriding requirements when applicable to health, safety and the environment and certain general requirements. The European standardisation organisations CEN and CENELEC have been assigned the work of specifying these. Using the standards is not compulsory but using harmonised standards facilitates fulfilling the requirements of the directives.

Characteristics of the New Approach Directives are:

1. Fundamental, comprehensive health and safety requirements are stipulated.
2. Voluntary uses of harmonised European standards. Applied standards are presumed to result in embodiments that fulfill the fundamental health and safety requirements.
3. Uniform competence requirements for control bodies permitted to carry out the prescribed tests and controls. The results shall be accepted in all member states.
4. Distinct manufacturer/supplier responsibility entailing requirements for documentation, assurance of compliance and CE marking.