Introducing the digital tool—CE marking platform

Supporting certification in accordance with EU health, safety, and environmental protection standards. 

Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in obtaining internationally valid certificates is highly important for promoting exports and encouraging businesses to enter the international market. Certification with standards and marks demonstrates that your enterprise adheres to high standards of quality, safety, and performance, making your products and services acceptable in international markets. The CE mark is a guarantee that the product complies with all the essential requirements of the European New Approach Directives that apply to it and that a conformity assessment has been carried out to prove compliance with essential requirements. One CE mark on a product indicates that the product complies with all the essential requirements of all directives applicable to that product. Although it is often believed that the CE mark indicates high-quality products, the CE mark is not a guarantee of quality. The CE mark is not a commercial mark and does not indicate the origin of the product.

The European New Approach Directives encompasses a set of Directives that prescribe the essential requirements that every product must meet. Essential requirements are most easily met through the application of harmonized European standards published in the “Official Journal of the European Union.”

Identifying applicable directives is carried out based on the product’s characteristics, technical specifications and intended use. A product may be subject to one or more directives as all aspects of risk must be covered. For the identified directives, it is necessary to identify the harmonized standards applicable to the product. Based on the requirements of applicable harmonized standards, it is assessed which essential performances the product must meet, and which basic tests need to be carried out on materials, components, and the product. The CE mark must be affixed to all new products covered by at least one European New Approach Directive, produced in the European Union or third countries, used products imported from third countries, and products already on the Single market that have been significantly modified to be considered as new products.

Equipping companies with certificates is of great importance for various reasons, especially in the context of export and competition in the international market. Process of certification is costly and time consuming, specially if company does not have adequate guidance in this process.

To support this process, WB6 CIF with the support of the European Commission within the framework of the project: “EU Support to the WB6 CIF for the Development of a Common Regional Market, 2024/454-229”, has developed the digital tool: CE marking platform. CE marking platform is an online application created to help manufacturers from WB6 economies to identify which European New Approach Directives are potentially applied on their products, using a set of questionnaires. Based on the answers on questionnaires, one consultative report on all potentially applicable European New Approach Directives, as well as Regulation, harmonized standards, notified bodies, etc. important in the realization of process of CE marking, for all WB6 markets, as well as EU market is created. Part of the CE marking platform is also a knowledge base, containing important questions & answers in the field of CE marking and New Approach, as well as detailed instructions for users.

In order to strengthen the role of chambers of commerce as business support providers and to enhance the WB6 CIF and its member chambers’ support services in the CE mark, the training day on the ‘CE Marking Platform’ took place on October 23, 2024, at the premises of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. The event included the participation of 12 representatives from the Western Balkans 6 Chambers of Commerce, WB6 CIF representatives, as well as members of the Thematic Group on Quality Infrastructure.

The training focused on introducing the CE Marking Platform to the participants, providing them with detailed insights into the platform’s functionality and its role in assisting businesses with the certification process. Additionally, the training covered the European New Approach Directives and the significance of CE marking, offering a comprehensive understanding of how these directives apply to various products and why CE certification is critical for market access within the European Single Market.  The agenda was structured to provide participants with both a technical and practical grasp of the platform’s capabilities. This holistic approach empowered them to support SMEs in navigating the complexities of certification and compliance with European standards by offering companies guidance on how to use the platform effectively.

The main advantages of the CE marking platform: CE marking platform is a tool helping manufacturers to identify preliminary applied European New Approach Directives for its product, and to facilitate import and export to European Union and all WB6 markets. The important advantage of the platform is consultative report containing detailed information and links on regulations, harmonized standards, etc., related to applicable New Approach Directives, and important for operational realization of CE marking process.

The platform is available in all WB6 languages. The CE marking platform contains detailed, step-by-step instructions for users, along with questionnaires to identify relevant New Approach Directives, and a knowledge base with important questions and answers.

To ensure the sustainability of the process, the CE marking platform will be integrated into the WB6 CIF Market Access database, and CE marking workshops for local SMEs in each of the 6 chambers of commerce of the Western Balkans economies will be organized to present the platform and facilitate company access.