CE marking checklist for sellers: EU, UK and NI.

Worked example

A seller outside Europe wants to list a Bluetooth speaker for EU buyers. The category is radio equipment, governed by Directive 2014/53/EU, so the checker returns CE marking required with the steps: conformity assessment, technical file, EU declaration of conformity, then the mark, plus the reminder that a manufacturer outside the EEA needs an importer or representative inside it. Choosing Great Britain returns CE or UKCA accepted instead, and choosing a clothing category returns the instruction not to apply a CE mark.

Before you start

The checker asks: Product category; Where will you sell; Where is the manufacturer. Have your supplier paperwork, specification sheet and draft listing copy open, because each answer maps to a specific rule quoted below.

The result gives a verdict, the reasons behind it with the rule text it relied on, and next steps. Where your answers leave a real gap, it says "check" instead of guessing. Nothing you type leaves your browser, so you can try different answers to see how the verdict changes.

What the official source says

• European Commission: CE marking is compulsory for most of the products covered by the New Approach Directives, applying it to products outside those rules is prohibited, and manufacturers must carry out the conformity assessment, set up the technical file, issue the EU declaration of conformity and affix the marking. Source: European Commission – CE marking.
• Great Britain: GOV.UK says the UK continues to recognise the CE marking alongside or in place of UKCA for the Great Britain market where the requirements meet UK needs, and that the UKCA mark may go on a label or accompanying document instead of the product until 31 December 2027. Source: GOV.UK – Using the UKCA marking.
• Sector exceptions: GOV.UK notes some sectors, such as construction products, medical devices, marine equipment and rail, have their own marking rules.
• Not a safety approval: the Commission states the CE mark does not mean an authority approved the product and does not indicate origin.

All sources retrieved October 2026. Not covered: does not list every harmonised standard, decide the conformity assessment module, replace a notified body, or cover the new EU battery, machinery and general product safety dates. Use the legislation that applies to your product. Rules change; the linked page governs.