Check scope
Identify every applicable act, not just the one the lab tested for.
Your EU partner for CE marking, certification & compliance
Many CE-marked products sold in the EU are made in China, and Chinese laboratories test a large share of them. What often fails is the paperwork around the product: the EU contact, the Declaration of Conformity and certificates that do not mean what sellers think.
For products under most CE marking legislation - including the Low Voltage, EMC and Radio Equipment Directives, machinery, toys, PPE and RoHS - Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 requires an economic operator established in the EU: an EU manufacturer, an importer, an authorised representative with a written mandate, or - only where none of these exists - a fulfilment service provider. Its name and contact details must be on the product, its packaging, the parcel or an accompanying document.
A Chinese seller shipping directly to EU customers through a marketplace usually has no EU importer, so it appoints an authorised representative.
| Document | What it actually is |
|---|---|
| "CE certificate" from a testing laboratory | A voluntary statement by the lab. It is not a Notified Body certificate and does not replace the manufacturer's DoC. |
| Test report | Useful evidence for the technical file, if it covers the product as sold and current standards. |
| CCC certificate | Chinese compulsory certification. It has no effect in the EU. |
| EU Declaration of Conformity | The legal document. Signed by the manufacturer. |
| Notified Body certificate | Valid only if the body appears in NANDO for that legislation and procedure. |
Identify every applicable act, not just the one the lab tested for.
Test reports for the exact model, risk assessment, drawings - see the checklist.
Correct legal references, model numbers, manufacturer and EU operator details.
An importer or authorised representative who can answer authorities.
Yes. The manufacturer signs the DoC wherever it is based. What a non-EU manufacturer cannot do is act as the EU economic operator required by Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020.
Usually not. Amazon and authorities ask for the EU Declaration of Conformity and supporting evidence. A lab's certificate is not a substitute for the DoC.
There is no rule against them. What matters is that the tests cover the product as sold, against the right harmonised standards, and are credible.
The full process.
How to check a certificate.
Amazon and EU marketplaces.
Note: This guide provides general information about EU product legislation, not legal advice. Check the current legal texts on EUR-Lex for your product. Last reviewed 5 October 2026.
Tell us where your company is based, your product sector and how far your documentation is. Before any engagement, we send you a proposed compliance route.