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Vital CE links

On this page we have included the most important legislative links for the CE marking process.

1. Shortlist - Machine CE Legislation​

Below are the most frequently used legal directives / regulations in machinery-related CE evaluations and direct links to their orginal documents in EUR-LEX.

This list is not exhaustive but represents the most commonly used legislation when conducting a CE machine evaluation.

* The Machinery Directive (MD) is being superceeded by the Maschinery Regulation (MR) on Jan 20th 2027. After that date, the Machinery Regulation (MR) is mandatory.

This is your primary legal source .

🔗 European Union Homepage

🔗 EUR-Lex – Official EU Law Portal

You will find:

  • Regulations (directly applicable)
  • Directives (require national transposition)
  • Consolidated versions
  • Amendments
  • Official Journal publications

Tip: Always use the "latest consolidated version" for evaluation.

3. Harmonized Standards​

🔗 EU Harmonized Standards Link

"A harmonised standard is a European standard developed by a recognised European Standards Organisation: CEN, CENELEC, or ETSI. It is created following a request from the European Commission to one of these organisations.

Manufacturers, other economic operators, or conformity assessment bodies can use harmonised standards to demonstrate that products, services, or processes comply with relevant EU legislation."

The references of harmonised standards must be published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).

See the next block for the link.

4. Official Journal of the EU (Harmonised Standards)​

🔗 Official Journal of the European Union

This website provides access to the latest lists of references of harmonised standards and other European standards published in the OJEU.

Why this is critical:

Only standards published in the Official Journal (OJEU) provide presumption of conformity .

  • You must verify:

    • Exact standard title
    • Amendment version
    • Date of publication
    • Withdrawal dates

5. CE Marking Portal - EU​

🔗 European Commission CE Marking Page

Contains:

  • Overview of CE marking framework
  • Links to applicable legislation
  • Guidance documents
  • Blue Guide access

6. The Blue Guide​

Blue Guide on the implementation of EU product rules for the Machinery Directive

🔗 Instructions - Blue Guide Link Edition 2.3 / English - Download

🔗 Official Blue Guide

Why it is essential:

  • Explains economic operators (manufacturer, importer, distributor)
  • Clarifies CE marking responsibilities
  • Explains modules (A, B, C, etc.)
  • Covers technical documentation requirements
  • Explains conformity assessment procedures

For professionals, this is the interpretation backbone .

7. NANDO Database (Notified Bodies)​

🔗 NANDO – Notified and Designated Organisations

Use it to:

  • Verify notified body numbers
  • Check scope of designation
  • Confirm accreditation under specific directives/regulations

Critical when:

  • Module B (EU-type examination)
  • Quality assurance modules
  • Pressure equipment, ATEX, MDR, etc.

8. RAPEX / Safety Gate (Market Surveillance)​

🔗 Safety Gate (RAPEX)

RAPEX stands for the Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food Consumer Products .

Useful to:

  • Check recurring safety issues
  • Identify typical non-compliances
  • Benchmark risk assessments

9. Harmonised Standardisation Bodies - Additional links​

Even though harmonised standards are officially valid only via OJEU publication, you often research through:

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