Test
Safety testing to the relevant standard, plus EMC and RoHS where they apply.
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The Low Voltage Directive covers the electrical safety of most mains-powered equipment sold in the EU. It is a self-certification directive: no Notified Body is ever required.
The LVD applies to electrical equipment designed for use with a voltage rating between 50 and 1000 V for alternating current and between 75 and 1500 V for direct current. The voltage limits refer to the input or output rating, not to voltages inside the equipment.
Excluded (Annex II): equipment for explosive atmospheres, radiology and medical equipment, electrical parts for goods and passenger lifts, electricity meters, plugs and socket outlets for domestic use, electric fence controllers, radio-electrical interference, specialised equipment for ships, aircraft or railways, and custom-built evaluation kits for professionals used solely at R&D facilities.
Battery-powered products below 50 V AC / 75 V DC are outside the LVD; their safety falls under the General Product Safety Regulation, or under the RED if they contain a radio.
| Product type | Standard |
|---|---|
| Household and similar appliances | EN 60335-1 plus the relevant Part 2 |
| Audio/video, IT and communication equipment | EN IEC 62368-1 |
| Luminaires | EN IEC 60598-1 plus Part 2 |
| Laboratory, measurement and control equipment | EN IEC 61010-1 |
Check the current list of harmonised standards in the Official Journal: only listed editions give a presumption of conformity.
Safety testing to the relevant standard, plus EMC and RoHS where they apply.
Risk assessment and technical file.
An EU Declaration of Conformity listing every applicable act.
CE mark, type/batch/serial number, manufacturer and importer details, safety information in local languages.
No. Conformity is always assessed by the manufacturer under internal production control (Module A).
Not to the 12 V product itself. If it comes with a mains power supply, the power supply is covered by the LVD.
No. Radio equipment is covered by the Radio Equipment Directive, which includes the LVD safety objectives without the lower voltage limit.
Usually applies alongside the LVD.
For products with radio functions.
LVD, EMC and RED test plans.
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.