EU directives according to article 95 (so-called “domestic market directives”) define health and safety minimum requirements for numerous products. Products may only be brought onto the market if they meet all essential requirements of all applicable EU directives and if conformity assessment procedures have been followed.

By affixing the CE mark, the manufacturer assures that the item is subject to all harmonized EU directives. The CE mark is therefore often called the “passport” for the European domestic market. CE is an abbreviation which stands for Communauté Européenne or Conformité Européenne (French for “European Conformity”).