Guide
What does CE marking mean?
Turn over almost any phone, toy or charger sold in Europe and you will find two letters: CE. They do not mean that the EU tested the product, and they say nothing about where it was made.
In short. By putting the CE mark on a product, the manufacturer declares that it meets all the EU requirements that apply to it, so that it can be sold throughout the European Economic Area. The manufacturer carries out the conformity assessment, keeps a technical file and signs an EU declaration of conformity; for some products, the law requires an independent notified body to take part. The mark belongs only on products covered by EU rules that require it, it is not an approval by the EU, and it does not show where a product was made.
A declaration by the maker
The European Commission puts it plainly: by affixing the CE marking, a manufacturer declares that the product meets all the legal requirements for CE marking and can be sold throughout the EEA, wherever in the world it was made. The manufacturer is responsible for the conformity assessment, the technical file, the EU declaration of conformity and the mark itself. Under the EU’s rules, you count as the manufacturer if you make a product, or have it made for you and sell it under your own name or brand.
You will find the mark on a new phone, a teddy bear or a TV bought in the EEA, among many other products.
What it does not mean
- Not an EU approval. According to the Commission, a CE marking does not mean that the EU or any other authority has approved the product.
- Not a mark of origin. It says nothing about where the product was made.
- Not for everything. It is required only for products covered by EU rules that call for it, and putting it on other products is forbidden.
- Not a promise about later changes. It states that the product met EU requirements when it was placed on the market. If someone modifies it after sale, that may no longer hold.
Who checks
For many products, the law lets the manufacturer assess conformity itself. For others it requires a notified body: an independent organisation authorised by an EU country to assess products. When one is involved, its four-digit identification number appears next to the CE mark. Either way, the manufacturer must keep the declaration of conformity and the technical documentation up to date for at least ten years after the product is placed on the market, and show them to the national authorities on request. Importers and distributors, for their part, must know the legal requirements and make sure the products they import or distribute meet them.
The EU’s own guidance also warns businesses about “voluntary certificates” offered by some organisations: they are not valid for CE marking.
Why our pages say “not yet CE marked”
Lychnos Ring, Alkyon and their dock are in development. They are not yet CE marked, and they cannot be sold or put into service in the EU until they comply with EU law. Before anything ships, we, as their manufacturer, have to assess each device against the EU rules that apply to it, including the rules for radio equipment, and sign its declaration of conformity. That is why our pre-orders, once they open, will be a refundable deposit, not the purchase of a product: the pre-order terms.
Sources, read 4 November 2026: European Commission, CE marking; Your Europe, CE marking. General information, not legal advice.
Questions
What does the CE mark mean?
It is the manufacturer’s declaration that the product meets the EU requirements that apply to it, so that it can be sold throughout the European Economic Area. It is not an approval by the EU and not a mark of origin.
Does CE marking mean the EU tested the product?
No. The European Commission says a CE marking does not mean the product was approved by the EU or by any other authority. For many products the manufacturer assesses conformity itself; for some, EU law requires an independent notified body.