There are two commonly used markings on equipment that are very similar in appearance but mean different things.
The CE marking is a European compliance marking and indicates compliance to all applicable European CE marking Directives (like the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and the EMC Directive 2014/30/EU). This marking is placed on equipment by the manufacturer prior to placing in service in Europe. It does not refer specifically to export, instead it refers to the compliance of the equipment to applicable European laws. The CE marking is specified for all CE marking Directives in the EU’s NLF framework regulation, 765/2008/EC, Annex II, and is below.
Some Chinese products, manufactured in and exported from China, are designated with a similar marking. At first glance it looks identical, please see below.
This appears to be a CE marking. It’s not. Some research into this matter has uncovered that not only is it not a CE marking but it is also not a “China Export” mark. There is no official “China Export” mark, It is fake, applied by unaccountable factories in China and is meant to put products on the market that have not had any type of safety evaluation, risk assessment, or testing. It is illegal.
See below both markings side-by-side for comparison.
The European Parliament made a statement regarding this in 2008 and it is linked here.
Keep in mind that if you are building products for export to the EU it is you who will be responsible for the product’s compliance. That includes sub-assemblies and components with a false CE marking. A constructional review involving EN 60204-1, EN 61010-1, etc. will uncover these issues… before you build your products for sale.
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