--- title: "Which language must the declaration of conformity be in?" description: "The EU product acts do not fix one language for the EU declaration of conformity. The low voltage, EMC, radio and PPE acts require it to be translated into the language or languages required by the Member State where the product is placed or made available. Keep one master version, translate it for each country of sale, and treat the technical file and the instructions as separate language questions." type: "problem" url: "https://www.conphora.com/solutions/problem/doc-in-which-language/" markdown: "https://www.conphora.com/solutions/problem/doc-in-which-language.md" locale: "en" language: "en" updated: "2026-10-04" author: "Conphora compliance team" publisher: "Conphora" source: "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02014L0035-20260530" tags: ["LVD", "RED", "EMC", "PPE", "TSD", "documentation"] license: "Free to quote with attribution and a link to the page" --- # Which language must the declaration of conformity be in? The EU product acts do not fix one language for the EU declaration of conformity. The low voltage, EMC, radio and PPE acts require it to be translated into the language or languages required by the Member State where the product is placed or made available. Keep one master version, translate it for each country of sale, and treat the technical file and the instructions as separate language questions. ## Why this happens The EU acts do not name a language for the declaration of conformity. They hand the choice to the Member State. Under the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU the declaration follows the model in Annex IV, is continuously updated, and "shall be translated into the language or languages required by the Member State in which the electrical equipment is placed or made available on the market" (Article 15(2)). The EMC Directive 2014/30/EU uses the same words in its Article 15(2). [1] The rule comes from the common framework. Article R10(2) of Decision No 768/2008/EC sets the model structure, the duty to update and the translation duty that the sector acts copy. [6] The PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 repeats it for protective equipment (Article 15(2)). [5] For radio equipment the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU adds a second document: the simplified declaration of Annex VII. Each item must ship with a copy of the full declaration or with the simplified one, which gives the exact internet address of the full text. Both are translated, and the full text at that address must be available in the language the Member State requires (Articles 10(9) and 18(2)). [2] The technical documentation follows different rules. The toy directive requires it to be drawn up in one of the official languages of the Community (now the Union), and a translation of the relevant parts into the language of the Member State on the authority's reasoned request; the authority may fix a deadline for receipt, which is 30 days unless a serious and immediate risk justifies a shorter one (Directive 2009/48/EC Article 21(2) and (3)). [3] The Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 repeals the directive and applies from 1 August 2030 (Articles 56 and 59). It keeps the same language rule for the file (Article 27(2) and (3)) and replaces the toy declaration of conformity with a digital product passport (Article 19). [7] For radio equipment, the file and correspondence for an EU-type examination are in a language of the notified body's Member State or one acceptable to that body (Directive 2014/53/EU Article 21(3)). [2] When an authority asks, language matters again. The manufacturer under the low voltage directive provides documentation in paper or electronic form in a language which can be easily understood by that authority (Article 6(9)). [1] For products under the acts listed in Article 4(5) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020, the EU-based operator has the same duty (Article 4(3)(b)). A declaration that is missing in the required language is a formal non-compliance the authority can order corrected (Article 16(3)(a)). [4] ## How to solve it 1. **Keep one master declaration** Draw up the declaration once, in the language your team works in, with its number, the product model and the acts and standards it covers. Every translation is a copy of that master. When the master changes, each translation changes with it, because the declaration must be continuously updated. 2. **List the countries where the product is placed or made available** The language rule is set per Member State, so the list of countries decides the list of languages. Include countries reached through distributors and online sales, not only the countries you ship to yourself. 3. **Look up each country's language requirement for the declaration** The directives leave the choice of language to the Member State concerned. Check each country's national rule and record the source. Some countries accept more than one language; write down which ones. 4. **Translate and check the fixed elements** Translate the statements, not the identifiers. The model number, the publication references of the acts, the standard numbers with their dates and the signature block stay exactly as in the master. Have someone who knows the product check the translated object description. 5. **Decide what goes in the box and what goes online** Radio equipment must be accompanied by a copy of the declaration or by a simplified declaration with the exact internet address of the full text. The full text at that address must be in the language the Member State requires. For other products, keep each translation ready to send on request. ## What you need to show - **The master EU declaration of conformity, numbered and signed** — The manufacturer (Directive 2014/35/EU Article 15 and Annex IV; Directive 2014/53/EU Article 18 and Annex VI) - **One translation per required language, with the same number and date as the master** — The manufacturer, or the importer when the manufacturer is outside the EU (Directive 2014/35/EU Article 15(2); Directive 2014/30/EU Article 15(2); Regulation (EU) 2016/425 Article 15(2)) - **A language matrix: country, required languages, source of the rule** — Your own research of national rules (Directive 2014/53/EU Article 18(2)) ## If you do nothing - **The declaration does not meet the act** — Each act ties the translation duty to the declaration itself: it shall be translated into the language or languages required by the Member State where the product is placed or made available (Directive 2014/35/EU Article 15(2); Directive 2014/53/EU Article 18(2)). - **The authority orders the formal gap corrected** — Authorities can require the operator to bring the product into compliance, including by rectifying formal non-compliance, and ensure withdrawal, recall or a prohibition where the operator does not act (Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 Article 16(3)(a) and (5)). - **Requests come in the authority's language** — The EU-based operator must give a market surveillance authority all information and documentation needed to demonstrate conformity in a language which can be easily understood by that authority (Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 Article 4(3)(b)). ## Questions ### Is an English declaration enough everywhere in the EU? Not by default. The declaration must be translated into the language or languages required by the Member State where the product is placed or made available (Directive 2014/35/EU Article 15(2)). Whether a country accepts English is a national rule you need to check. ### Does the technical documentation have to be translated too? Not in advance under most acts. The toy directive requires the file in one of the official EU languages and a translation of relevant parts on the authority's reasoned request (Directive 2009/48/EC Article 21(2)–(3)); the Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 keeps this from 1 August 2030 (Article 27(2)–(3)). Under the low voltage directive, documentation given to an authority must be in a language it easily understands (Article 6(9)). ### Can the radio declaration be online only? Each item must be accompanied by a copy of the declaration or by a simplified declaration giving the exact internet address of the full text. The full text at that address must be in the language the Member State requires (Directive 2014/53/EU Articles 10(9) and 18(2)). ### Who pays for and makes the translations? The acts place the declaration on the manufacturer, who draws it up and assumes responsibility for it (Directive 2014/35/EU Articles 6(2) and 15(4)). An importer must ensure the product is accompanied by the required documents (Article 8(2)). The acts do not say who pays for translations; that is settled by contract. ### Is the instruction language rule the same? It is a separate rule. Instructions and safety information must be in a language easily understood by consumers and other end-users, as determined by the Member State concerned (Directive 2014/35/EU Article 6(7)). The declaration follows the language required by that Member State (Article 15(2)). ## Regulations involved LVD, RED, EMC, PPE, TSD ## Sources 1. [Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (consolidated text of 30 May 2026)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02014L0035-20260530) — EUR-Lex, 2026-10-04 2. [Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment (consolidated text of 30 May 2026)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02014L0053-20260530) — EUR-Lex, 2026-10-04 3. [Directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of toys (consolidated text of 29 August 2026)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02009L0048-20260829) — EUR-Lex, 2026-10-04 4. [Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on market surveillance and compliance of products (consolidated text of 12 August 2026)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02019R1020-20260812) — EUR-Lex, 2026-10-04 5. [Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment (consolidated text of 29 May 2026)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02016R0425-20260529) — EUR-Lex, 2026-10-04 6. [Decision No 768/2008/EC on a common framework for the marketing of products](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32008D0768) — EUR-Lex, 2026-10-04 7. [Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 on the safety of toys](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32025R2509) — EUR-Lex, 2026-10-04