The European Commission has published a clear warning about the risks of so-called voluntary or unregulated certificates.
These are documents often issued by certification bodies outside their notified scope, sometimes even with a CE mark, for products that fall under EU harmonisation legislation. Such practices are misleading — and dangerous.
Key points
- Only Notified Bodies may issue certificates of compliance — and only within their specific area of notification.
- Voluntary certificates are not recognised under EU law as proof of compliance. They have no value in case of checks by authorities or customs.
- Exception: where specific legislation allows voluntary certification (with clear requirements).
- Be cautious not to confuse such certificates with legitimate third-party conformity assessment carried out by Notified Bodies within their competence.
Why this matters
- It is a frequent phenomenon in the supply chain.
- It is positive that the EU explicitly addresses this.
- It is unfortunate that the warning was published only under the Radio Equipment Directive (RED). The message is in fact broader and belongs under the Market Surveillance Regulation (2019/1020) or even the New Legislative Framework as a whole.
ProductIP’s message
For everyone active in the non-food consumer goods supply chain for the EU/EEA (and UK): do not be misled by “certificates” that suggest compliance but have no legal basis.
Compliance must follow the procedures set by EU law — nothing less.
With ProductIP you have the market-leading web-based solution (PCMS) to manage compliance together with your supply chain — efficiently, transparently, and in line with EU law.
🔗 Source: European Commission — RED News
