# CE marking for electrical products: LVD, EMC, RoHS and the radio rules

> Which EU directives apply to chargers, lamps, small appliances and wireless gadgets, what testing and documents you need, and the cybersecurity rules for connected devices since August 2025.

Canonical: https://ohdock.com/en/eu-compliance/guides/ce-marking-electrical/  
Updated: 2026-10-27

Most electrical and electronic products sold in the EU need the **CE mark**. The CE mark is your declaration that the product meets every EU law that applies to it — there is no single "CE certificate". For electrical products, four laws do most of the work.

## Which laws apply

| Law | What it covers | Typical products |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Low Voltage Directive (LVD)**, 2014/35/EU | Electrical safety of equipment rated 50–1000 V AC or 75–1500 V DC | Mains chargers, lamps, kitchen appliances |
| **EMC Directive**, 2014/30/EU | Electromagnetic emissions and immunity | Almost anything with electronics |
| **RoHS**, 2011/65/EU | Limits on lead, mercury, cadmium and other hazardous substances | All electrical and electronic equipment |
| **Radio Equipment Directive (RED)**, 2014/53/EU | Safety, EMC and radio performance of anything that sends or receives radio signals | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS devices |

If a product has a radio function, the **RED replaces the LVD and EMC Directive** for that product: its safety and EMC requirements are assessed under the RED, with no lower voltage limit. RoHS still applies alongside it.

Other laws can apply too, for example ecodesign and energy labelling for lamps and some appliances, the Toy Safety rules for electronic toys, and the Batteries Regulation for anything with a battery.

## Cybersecurity for connected devices (since 1 August 2025)

Under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30, radio equipment that can connect to the internet, processes personal data, or handles money must meet cybersecurity requirements: protect the network, protect users’ personal data and privacy, and protect against fraud. The harmonised standards are the **EN 18031** series. Typical gaps are default passwords, unencrypted data and no way to update firmware.

## The steps

1. **Identify** every law and the harmonised standards that apply (for example EN 62368-1 for audio/video and IT equipment, EN 60335 for household appliances).
2. **Test** the product against them, usually at an accredited lab. Most products can be self-assessed; some radio products need a notified body if harmonised standards are not fully applied.
3. **Prepare the technical documentation**: description, drawings, test reports, risk assessment, component lists. Keep it for **10 years**.
4. **Sign the EU declaration of conformity**, listing the laws and standards.
5. **Affix the CE mark**, and add the manufacturer’s name, postal address and a type or serial number to the product.

If the manufacturer is outside the EU, an EU-based economic operator must be responsible for the product and its details must appear on it — see our guide to the [EU responsible person](../eu-responsible-person/).

## Common mistakes

- Using a test report for a different model or an outdated standard.
- A CE mark that is too small or the wrong shape (minimum 5 mm high, proportions fixed).
- Forgetting RoHS evidence, such as material declarations from suppliers.
- No cybersecurity assessment for a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth product sold after August 2025.

Electrical products also need WEEE registration in each country: see our [WEEE guide](../weee-registration/). To check everything that applies to your product, run the [free compliance check](/en/eu-compliance/), or [find a testing provider](/en/eu-compliance/find-a-provider/?kind=eu-ce-testing).

## Sources

- [Directive 2014/35/EU (Low Voltage Directive)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/35/oj)
- [Directive 2014/30/EU (Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/30/oj)
- [Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/65/oj)
- [Directive 2014/53/EU (Radio Equipment Directive)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/53/oj)
- [Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 (cybersecurity for radio equipment)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2022/30/oj)