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Click here to return to this month's Article Index The Cutting Edge™October 2004Research & EngineeringCE Certification News for WMMA® Members CE marking is a mandatory European product marking and certification system. When affixed to a product and product packaging, CE marking indicates that a particular product complies with all applicable European product safety, health and environmental requirements within the CE marking system. CE marking covers approximately half of all U.S. products exported to Europe. The CE marking system promotes free trade to and within Europe by providing a single set of safety and environmental requirements a product must meet. Before the CE marking system was developed, manufacturers and exporters to and within Europe had to comply with multiple, and sometimes conflicting sets of national regulatory requirements. Products complying with CE marking are now accepted and presumed to be safe in 28 European countries. This is a market of 455 million people with a GNP over $9 trillion. CE marking is accelerating as a globally accepted system for ensuring product safety and environmental requirements are met. Possible extension to other areas of the world is being negotiated at this time. European Union countries requiring CE:
The directives (regulations) contain the general requirements with which products must comply. However the standards are used to demonstrate compliance with the specific requirements listed in each of the directives. Manufacturers are recommended to use European harmonized product standards (EN standards) to demonstrate compliance. CEN, CENELEC and ETSI are the three European standards organizations from which European standards originate. European norm "EN standards" are standards in which a broad consensus has been reached among all European member states. These states have recognized that these standards give products a "presumption of conformity", meaning your products will be presumed to be in conformity with the essential requirements set forth in the directives. Sometimes, in CE marking, a manufacturer may self-certify compliance with the appropriate directive(s). (Although a product may be "self-certified," it still may require laboratory testing to demonstrate product compliance). However, many woodworking machines require an EC- type examination (third party certification), which is conducted by a "notified body", a private agency that has been appointed by a national government as the review expert for a particular directive. When quoting equipment for export to Europe, do not forget to include the time & costs associated with complying with & obtaining CE Certification. Advance planning is crucial for navigating "uncharted waters"! The CE marking Process Steps to Certification for Woodworking Machinery
CE Directives Relevant for Woodworking Machines:
Machinery Requiring an EC-type Examination: Machinery Safety Directive (98/37/EC) - Annex IV
An excellent resource for obtaining CE Certification is the Center for International Regulatory Assistance (CITRA), which is part of Duquesne University and located in Pittsburgh, PA. It offers assistance, products and services for CE marking for machinery and other products sold to and within Europe. CITRA was created in 1999 with partial funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Trade Development Division. Since then, CITRA has assisted over 500 companies with their CE marking efforts. Clients range from small companies to large multinational conglomerates. Products and services include consulting, public and private training seminars, guidance publications and software. CITRA is also an official distributor of European product standards, which can be used to facilitate compliance with CE marking. CITRA maybe contacted by phone, 412-396-6233 or email citra@duq.edu, website www.citra.duq.edu Table of Contents
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