CE marking is a self-declaration system. The manufacturer declares that the product meets the applicable EU directives, assembles a technical file and signs an EU Declaration of Conformity. No government body reviews the file before the product is sold.
FCC certification for radio products is a third-party approval. Test results are filed with a Telecommunication Certification Body, which reviews them and issues an FCC ID that must appear on the product label. Products without a transmitter use the lighter SDoC procedure, which is closer in spirit to CE.
| CE (European Union) | FCC (United States) | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | EMC, LVD and RED Directives | FCC rules, 47 CFR Part 15 and others |
| Who issues it | Manufacturer self-declares | TCB issues the FCC ID |
| Radio products | RED, with EN 18031 cybersecurity | FCC ID (Certification) |
| Non-radio products | EMC + LVD, self-declared | SDoC |
| Marking | CE logo on the product | FCC ID or SDoC statement |
| Typical timeline | 3–5 weeks | 1–2 weeks (SDoC) or 3–4 weeks (ID) |
The measurement methods behind EN 55032 and FCC Part 15B emissions are close enough that a single test campaign can produce data for both reports. The differences — limits, reporting format, labelling and documentation — are handled afterwards. The key is to declare both markets before testing begins: retrofitting a second market after the samples have gone home means shipping them back.
If you sell in both the EU and the US, yes — they are independent requirements. The testing can usually be shared, but the documentation and marking are separate.
Not literally: each market needs its own report issued against its own standard. But a single test campaign can generate the data for both, which is where the saving comes from.
No. CE marking is self-declared by the manufacturer based on a technical file. Some product categories require a Notified Body, and some manufacturers use one voluntarily, but for most consumer electronics no authority issues a certificate.
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