To consider when preparing and testing your products to ensure conformity and compliance

Testing methods

As a supplier, you must ensure both the technical compliance of a product and the related product documentation. Thus, basically all requirements specified in the ecodesign regulations have to be fulfilled by the supplier.

What are standards and harmonised standards? 

A standard is a document that provides requirements, specifications, guidelines or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose (according to the definition by ISO).

Standards are adopted by a recognised standardisation body for repeated or continuous application. They are either international, European or national standards.

The ecodesign and energy Labelling regulations are complemented by so called harmonised standards. A harmonised standard is a European standard developed by a recognised European Standards Organisation, e.g. CEN, CENELEC, or ETSI on the basis of a request by the European Commission for the application of European Union legislation. Manufacturers, other economic operators, or conformity assessment bodies can use harmonised standards to demonstrate that products, services, or processes comply with relevant EU legislation.

Is the use of specific standards required for the proof of conformity?

Where available it is highly recommended to use the applicable harmonised standard(s). This has the advantage, that the procedure of assessing conformity is in line with the procedure taken by MSA's.

However, manufacturers, other economic operators, or conformity assessment bodies are free to choose another standard resp. a specific commonly accepted test procedure to demonstrate compliance with the mandatory legal requirements.

For example, conformity can be substantiated by referring to national standards, non-harmonised European and international standards, or the manufacturer’s own technical specifications. The latter is only recommended if there is no standard available.

In any case you must indicate in the technical documentation, which standards or procedures were applied in product testing and technical design.

As supplier, you have the obligation to prove that your product fulfils all requirements based on the applicable regulations and using (harmonised) standards.

Only when the result of the test report of a product is compliant with the mandatory requirements, you as the supplier can affix the CE marking and sell the product in the EU.

However, your claim of compliance can always be checked by market surveillance.