Sourcing glossary
CE marking
Also known as: CE mark, Conformité Européenne
A mark the manufacturer places on products covered by specific EU legislation, such as toys, electronics, machinery and PPE, to declare that the product meets all applicable EU requirements.
CE marking is a self-declaration backed by technical documentation and an EU declaration of conformity; for some products a notified body must also be involved, and its four-digit number appears next to the mark. It is only allowed on products covered by CE legislation. Importers must check that the marking and documents exist before selling in the EU, and Great Britain continues to recognise CE for most product types alongside UKCA.
A one-page "CE certificate" from a Chinese lab is usually a voluntary test summary, not proof of compliance. See CE, UKCA, FCC and CPC product certifications.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
Compliance
CE, UKCA, FCC and CPC: Product Certifications for Imports from China
What CE, UKCA, FCC and the US Children's Product Certificate mean, which products need them, who is responsible, and how to check a supplier's certificate.
Updated 2026-09-22 · 7 min read
Yiwu
Yiwu Sourcing Agent Fees: How Agents Charge and What to Compare
How Yiwu buying agents charge: commission ranges, flat and per-container fees, what is included, hidden markups, red flags and how to compare quotes fairly.
Updated 2026-09-19 · 5 min read
Yiwu
How to Buy from the Yiwu Market Without Visiting
How overseas buyers source from Yiwu remotely: agents, video-call booth tours, the Chinagoods platform, consolidation warehouses, payment, QC and the main risks.
Updated 2026-09-10 · 6 min read
Part of Tariffs & Compliance.