Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeElectronicsCertificationsThe roles and obligations for CE marking

The roles and obligations for CE marking

4
(2)

CE certification is an indispensable element to the marketing of certain types of products in the European market.

Its function is to assure the consumer that products comply with all European Community regulations in terms of health protection, safety and environmental protection.

As highlighted in European Parliament and Council Decision No. 768/2008/EC, CE marking "is the visible consequence of a whole process that includes conformity assessment in a broad sense."

This process, governed by Decision No 768/2008/EC, has a number of obligations
specific to the different economic operators involved.

To get to the heart of the tasks of the different economic operators, the following figures have been identified: manufacturer, authorized representative, importer and distributor; that is, those involved in the production, placing and distribution of the product on the market.

At a general level, CE certification of products is to be counted among the manufacturer's duties, but there are several implications that personally involve the figures of the importer and distributor.

The manufacturer and its obligations

This is the person, natural or legal, who materially manufactures the product or commissions its design and manufacture, marketing it by affixing his or her trademark or name to it.

This figure has the obligation to draw up, or have drawn up by a competent laboratory, such as, for example, Sicom Testing, the procedure for assessing the conformity of the product, verifying that it is congruent with the requirements of European Community directives.

He or she will be responsible for having the EU Declaration of Conformity drawn up by preparing a technical dossier for CE marking containing the documents attesting to the object's full compliance with current directives.

This technical file should be prepared before the item is placed on the market and kept for 10 years.

It is the manufacturer's obligation to affix the CE mark, which must be visible, legible and indelible, as well as the development of corrective actions where it finds that the product placed on the market does not comply with European Community directives.

The manufacturer's authorized representative

As explained in Decision No. 768/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, the
manufacturer is allowed to appoint, by written mandate, an authorized representative.

This figure is responsible for maintaining relations with the relevant national authorities,
representing the manufacturer in the act of keeping, and making available, the EU Declaration of Conformity and the technical documentation, exposing them promptly following a reasoned request.

The Authorized Representative is in charge of cooperating with the competent national authorities in all actions that go toward resolving the risks of nonconformity of the products included in its representative mandate.

The figure of the importer and his obligations

The European Community has determined that the importer is that person, natural or legal, who
places a product originating from a third country on the Community market.

The importer must verify that the product he imports:

  • Is equipped with a CE Certificate of Conformity;
  • Has the CE mark visible, legible and indelible;
  • Has documentation for traceability;
  • Meet any specific warnings.

When the importer has reason to believe that the product does not conform, he should not put it on the market until it has been conformed.

The importer must ensure that, during the period of time that the product is under his or her
responsibility, it is not modified in a way that would jeopardize its conformity.

The importer is subject to the duty to identify himself, showing his details: name, address, registered trade name or registered trademark, on the object or, where this is not possible, in an accompanying document or on the packaging of the product itself.

Finally, just as in the case of the manufacturer, the importer has an obligation to keep the technical documentation for 10 years after the product is placed on the market and to inform the manufacturer and the supervisory authorities where risk factors potentially affecting product compliance arise.

The distributor and its obligations

It is that natural or legal person, different from the manufacturer and importer, who distributes a product in the market.

Among its obligations we can include making sure, as in the case of the importer, that the products comply with European Community directives, in terms of the presence of the CE mark, traceability indications and warnings, ensuring knowledge of the technical documentation related to the product.

The distributor is also obliged to ensure that, during the time the product is under his responsibility, it is not exposed to hazards that could compromise its compliance.

Finally, it is necessary for the distributor to recognize nonconforming products and to
makes an effort to report inconsistencies.

An important case, which needs to be emphasized, concerns an importer or distributor who markets a product by affixing his or her own name or trademark to it.

In this eventuality, in fact, the individuals in question are considered by the regulations to be on a par with a manufacturer and must respond to all the obligations associated with being a manufacturer.

How to make the placing of products on the market

To make getting products to market simple, fast and safe, one can rely on companies such as Sicom Testing, the testing and certification laboratory for electrical, electronic and radio products that is always close to its customers.

Sicom Testing has organized itself to be close to its customers wherever their locations are, with competitive prices and timing.

Clear offerings that meet customer requirements. In case of problems, we provide product support even remotely, quickly and without price surprises.

Sicom Testing's staff consists of engineers, physicists, and technicians with extensive experience in testing, and is distinguished by its ability to tailor services to customer needs.

The company has continuously expanded its service offerings, which now include testing of many products in the domestic, industrial, railroad, marine, lighting, electrified furniture and more.

For information click here

Original article

How interesting did you find this article?

Average rating 4 / 5. Number of ratings: 2

No ratings yet! Be the first to rate this item.

Register on Elettronica TECHtoo !
Here are the exclusive benefits for registered users:
- FREE Electronic Lab Collection Ed. 1
- FREE subscription to Elettronica AV magazine
- receipt of real-time updates
- ability to review and comment on articles
SIGN UP NOW!

LATEST NEWS

PARTNER

MARKET

SOCIAL

IN EVIDENCE

Register on Elettronica TECHtoo !
Here are the exclusive benefits for registered users:
- FREE Electronic Lab Collection Ed. 1
- FREE subscription to Elettronica AV magazine
- receipt of real-time updates
- ability to review and comment on articles
SIGN UP NOW!