CE mark
CE mark
The manufacturer declares the product meets the EU rules that apply to it.
What it looks like
The letters CE in a distinctive geometric form, the C and E drawn as arcs of the same circle.
What it means
It is a self-declaration, not a test result and not a quality mark. For most consumer electronics the manufacturer assesses conformity itself, writes a Declaration of Conformity, and applies the mark; only for higher-risk categories does an independent notified body get involved, and then its four-digit number appears beside the mark. The long-running story that a narrow-spaced CE means "China Export" is a myth — no such mark is registered anywhere. Badly drawn CE marks certainly exist, but they indicate a manufacturer that did not follow the specified geometry, not a second scheme.
Defined by Regulation (EC) No 765/2008. Where a symbol differs between standards, the difference is described above rather than resolved — both versions are in circulation on real labels.
Other electrical and appliance symbols
| Symbol | Means |
|---|---|
| UKCA mark | The manufacturer declares the product meets Great Britain's rules — the British counterpart to CE. |
| UL Listed | A complete product tested by Underwriters Laboratories against its safety standard. |
| UL Recognized Component | A component certified for use inside a larger product — not a certification of the finished item. |
| FCC mark | The device meets US limits on radio-frequency interference. |
| RoHS compliant | The product restricts ten hazardous substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium and four phthalates. |
| Crossed-out wheelie bin (WEEE) | Do not put this in household waste — take it to a separate collection for electrical items or batteries. |
| Crossed-out bin with Pb, Cd or Hg | A battery for separate collection which also contains lead, cadmium or mercury above the reporting threshold. |
| Double insulated (Class II) | The appliance is protected by two layers of insulation and needs no earth connection. |
| Protective earth (ground) | This terminal must be connected to the protective earth conductor. |
| IP rating (IP67, IPX4) | How well the enclosure keeps out solids and water. First digit solids 0–6, second digit water 0–9. |
| EU energy label (A to G) | How efficient the appliance is, on a scale from A to G, alongside consumption figures. |
| EnergyGuide label (US) | The estimated annual energy cost of this appliance in the US, and how it compares with the range for its class. |
| Alternating current (AC) | Alternating current. On a power supply it marks the mains input side. |
| Direct current (DC) | Direct current. On a power supply it marks the output side. |
| Barrel jack polarity (centre positive or centre negative) | Which conductor of a barrel plug is positive: the inner pin or the outer sleeve. |
Common questions
- What does the ce mark symbol mean?
- The manufacturer declares the product meets the EU rules that apply to it.
- What does it look like?
- The letters CE in a distinctive geometric form, the C and E drawn as arcs of the same circle.
Related pages
- UKCA mark The manufacturer declares the product meets Great Britain's rules — the British counterpart to CE.
- RoHS compliant The product restricts ten hazardous substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium and four phthalates.
- UL Listed A complete product tested by Underwriters Laboratories against its safety standard.
- GS mark (Geprüfte Sicherheit) Tested safety — a German voluntary mark requiring independent testing and factory surveillance.
- UKCA mark The manufacturer declares the product meets Great Britain's rules — the British counterpart to CE.
- UL Listed A complete product tested by Underwriters Laboratories against its safety standard.
- UL Recognized Component A component certified for use inside a larger product — not a certification of the finished item.
- FCC mark The device meets US limits on radio-frequency interference.
- RoHS compliant The product restricts ten hazardous substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium and four phthalates.
- Crossed-out wheelie bin (WEEE) Do not put this in household waste — take it to a separate collection for electrical items or batteries.
- Crossed-out bin with Pb, Cd or Hg A battery for separate collection which also contains lead, cadmium or mercury above the reporting threshold.
- Double insulated (Class II) The appliance is protected by two layers of insulation and needs no earth connection.
- Protective earth (ground) This terminal must be connected to the protective earth conductor.
- IP rating (IP67, IPX4) How well the enclosure keeps out solids and water. First digit solids 0–6, second digit water 0–9.
Sources
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place