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The CE mark

What is the CE mark?

Certain types of products sold in the EU must comply with specific safety regulations and must have a CE mark. These include:

  • Toys
  • Domestic electrical, electronic and gas appliances
  • Personal protective equipment used by consumers for example, bicycle helmets, sunglasses, swimming armbands

The CE mark looks like this:

The CE Mark logo
Did you know?

The letters CE are an abbreviation of the French term ‘Conformité Européenne’ which means European Conformity.

The CE mark is a manufacturer’s declaration that the product complies with the safety regulations and the safety standards that exist in the EU to protect consumers. It should appear on the product, in the instruction manual or on the packaging and must be easy to read.

There are some products that don’t require a CE mark, however they must comply with General Product Safety Regulations to ensure that they are safe. These include childcare items, such as cots or babies’ soothers/dummies and other items like candles, cigarette lighters and Christmas decorations.

Get more information about the CE mark and standards.

Top tips
  • Always look for the CE mark when shopping for these products and if you can’t see it, don’t buy it.
  • Make sure that the CE mark is real. The CE mark is very distinctive and some manufacturers might forge the symbol on their packaging to give the impression they have met safety standards when, in fact, they haven’t.
  • Report unsafe products to the CCPC. If you come across a toy or product that seems unsafe or looks like it has a fake CE mark, don’t buy it and contact us.

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