Press Release: CE marking: 20 years of safe products for Europe – standards and single market made easy

2005 marks 20 years since the launch of the policy ‘New Approach to technical harmonisation and standards’. It revolutionised European product legislation by making EU wide harmonisation possible based on the simple condition that the producer guarantees that its products are safe. This regulatory technique covers very wide industrial sectors such as household appliances, other electrical equipment, medical devices, machinery, electrical and pressure equipment, measuring instruments, toys, personal protection equipment and many others. Together, the trading volume of the products covered only by the major sectors is estimated to exceed €1,500 billion per year. Most products covered by this legislation have to show the CE marking. In June 2006, the Commission will propose a review of the new approach with a view of strengthening its implementation.

European Commission: Speech: SPEECH/05/748 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/748&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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