The CE marking is defined in Article 2(20) of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 as a marking by which the manufacturer indicates that the product is in conformity with the applicable requirements set out in the EU harmonisation legislation that provides for its affixing. Article 30 of the same regulation lays down the general principles: the marking may be affixed only by the manufacturer or its authorised representative, only to products for which specific EU legislation provides for it, and by affixing it the manufacturer takes responsibility for the conformity of the product with all applicable requirements. Markings that could mislead third parties about the meaning or form of the CE marking are prohibited.
The marking is not a quality label and, as the Commission points out, it does not mean that a product has been approved as safe by the EU or any authority. It is the visible result of a process the manufacturer must complete first: identifying the applicable legislation, carrying out the conformity assessment procedure (with a notified body where the legislation requires it), compiling the technical documentation and drawing up the EU declaration of conformity.
For an importer or distributor, the CE marking is one of the items to verify before a product is made available. Directives and regulations such as the Low Voltage Directive, the Radio Equipment Directive, RoHS and the Toy Safety Regulation all require it. In Denmark CE-marked electrical products and toys are checked, as part of market surveillance, by the Danish Business Authority (Erhvervsstyrelsen), which took over the tasks of the Danish Safety Technology Authority (Sikkerhedsstyrelsen) on 1 January 2026.