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Importing electrical appliances into the EU
Updated 2026-10-18 · European Union
"Do you have CE?" is the wrong question. CE is not a document a Chinese factory can hand over like a test report: it is the manufacturer's declaration of conformity, backed by a technical file, and it is affixed by the party that takes legal responsibility for the product. Since 13 December 2024 the General Product Safety Regulation adds another layer — a responsible person established in the EU for products sold to consumers. Importers who buy "CE" as a paper product discover the gap when a market-surveillance authority asks for the file.
In short
- CE is a self-declaration, not an authority approval. The manufacturer carries out the conformity assessment, prepares the technical file and signs the EU Declaration of Conformity.
- Four directives usually apply to one appliance: Low Voltage (LVD), EMC, RoHS and WEEE — plus ecodesign and energy labelling for listed categories.
- The importer has its own legal duties. It must verify the manufacturer's steps, hold the DoC and technical documentation, and be able to contact the manufacturer.
- GPSR (from 13 Dec 2024) requires an EU-based responsible person for consumer products. If you sell into the EU without one, the product is not compliant regardless of CE.
- Branding changes who the manufacturer is. If the importer puts its own name on the product, it takes over the manufacturer's obligations.
What CE actually is
The European Commission is explicit: CE marking is the manufacturer's declaration that the product meets the legal requirements for CE marking. It is not an approval by the EU or by any authority, and it does not indicate origin. For most household appliances there is no notified body involved — the manufacturer self-assesses against the applicable directives and keeps the evidence.
The evidence is the technical file. It has to be available to authorities on request, and it has to support every claim in the declaration. A test report alone is one item in that file, not the file.
Only products covered by the relevant harmonisation legislation may bear CE. Putting CE on a product outside that scope is itself a violation.
Which rules usually apply to one appliance
| Instrument | What it covers | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU | Electrical safety | Equipment in the 50–1000 V AC range — most household appliances |
| EMC Directive 2014/30/EU | Electromagnetic compatibility | Equipment that may generate or be affected by electromagnetic disturbance — essentially all appliances with electronics or motors |
| RoHS 2011/65/EU | Restriction of hazardous substances | Electrical and electronic equipment |
| WEEE 2012/19/EU | Waste electrical and electronic equipment | Producer registration and take-back obligations in each member state |
| Ecodesign 2009/125/EC + Energy labelling 2017/1369 | Energy performance and label | Listed product groups (e.g. some appliances); check the current list |
| REACH | Chemical substances | Articles placed on the EU market, including appliance parts |
"Which directives apply" is a question for the product and the current consolidated texts, not for a supplier's brochure. The European Commission's CE marking pages and the Blue Guide are the reference points.
Who signs what
| Role | Obligation |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer (including a non-EU manufacturer) | Carry out conformity assessment, prepare technical file, issue EU Declaration of Conformity, affix CE |
| Importer | Verify the manufacturer did the above; keep DoC and technical documentation available; ensure contact with the manufacturer is possible; identify itself on the product or packaging |
| Distributor | Handle the product without affecting compliance; be able to show authorities that the necessary measures were taken |
| EU responsible person (GPSR) | Act as the contact point for authorities and consumers for products sold to consumers; required for non-EU sellers |
If the importer sells under its own name or trademark, it takes over the manufacturer's responsibilities — including the technical file and the CE declaration.
The importer checklist
- EU Declaration of Conformity, signed, listing the directives and the standards used.
- Technical file: design and manufacturing information, risk assessment, test reports, list of standards, instructions and labelling.
- Evidence that the product matches the file: model references, ratings, variants covered.
- EU responsible person identified (GPSR).
- WEEE producer registration where required in the member state of sale.
- Traceability: batch or serial numbers, and the importer's identification on the product or packaging.
- Labelling and instructions in the language(s) required by the destination member state.
Where the file breaks
- Test report ≠ technical file. A report from a lab is evidence, not the complete file the authority will ask for.
- DoC signed by the wrong party. The declaration has to come from the manufacturer; an importer that is not the manufacturer cannot simply sign one.
- Directive list out of date. The DoC lists standards that have been superseded, or omits a directive that applies.
- Model scope mismatch. The file covers a variant that is not the product being imported.
- No EU responsible person. A GPSR gap that market surveillance can act on directly.
- WEEE/registration missed. An obligation that sits with the producer in each member state, not with the factory.
- Language of instructions. National requirements differ; English-only is not automatically sufficient.
What we check, and what we do not do
We do not issue CE declarations and we are not the EU responsible person. What we can do is make the factory's evidence consistent and complete, and tell you early which obligations sit with the importer or the EU representative rather than the factory.
- Confirm which directives apply to the exact appliance and which standards the DoC should cite.
- Check that the technical file actually covers the model and variants being shipped.
- Keep model references, ratings and labelling consistent across the file, the product and the invoice.
- Flag the importer-side items — responsible person, WEEE registration, language requirements — before the order, not after.
Categories this applies to
Electric oven · Stand fan · Air fryer & multi-cooker · Induction cooker · Household vacuum cleaners · Electric hair dryers
Buyer questions
Is CE a certificate issued by an EU authority?
No. CE marking is the manufacturer's declaration that the product meets the applicable EU requirements. It is not an approval by the EU or any authority. The evidence behind it is the technical file and the EU Declaration of Conformity.
Can our Chinese factory issue the CE declaration for us?
The declaration is issued by the manufacturer — which may be the Chinese factory if it is the manufacturer placing the product on the EU market. If you put your own brand on the product, you may take over the manufacturer's obligations, including the technical file.
What is the EU responsible person under GPSR?
Since 13 December 2024, the General Product Safety Regulation requires an economic operator established in the EU to act as the contact point for products sold to consumers. A non-EU seller without one is not compliant, even if the product carries CE.
Do we need a notified body for a household appliance?
For most household appliances the directives allow self-assessment, so no notified body is involved. That makes the technical file more important, not less: there is no third-party certificate to hide behind.
Is a CB report enough for the EU?
A CB report can be part of the evidence, but the file still has to demonstrate conformity with the applicable EU directives and the standards cited in the declaration. It is evidence, not a substitute for the declaration and the file.
Does an air fryer need an energy label in the EU?
Energy labelling applies to product groups listed in the regulation; check whether your category is covered. It is a separate obligation from LVD/EMC/RoHS and is administered through the ecodesign and energy labelling framework.
Primary sources
Checked 2026-10-18. Rules change; verify with the authority before you ship.
- European Commission — CE marking
- European Commission — importers and distributors under CE marking
- Blue Guide on the implementation of EU product rules
- General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988
- Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU
- EMC Directive 2014/30/EU
Ask about your product
Not sure whether this applies to what you are buying? Send the specification and we will tell you what has to be in whose name — request a quote, or email sales@xinhuichuan.com.