Is CE Marking the Same as GPSR Compliance?

No. CE marking and GPSR compliance are two different things, and meeting one does not automatically satisfy the other. This is a common source of confusion, so it is worth being precise.

What CE marking means

CE marking shows that a product conforms with specific EU product legislation that applies to it, for example the rules on toy safety, on electrical equipment and electromagnetic compatibility, or on machinery. Each of those laws sets its own requirements and its own conformity procedure. Where CE marking is required, you assess the product against the relevant legislation, compile a technical file, and only then apply the mark. If a product does not fall under any of those specific laws, it does not carry CE marking at all.

What the GPSR requires

The General Product Safety Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2023/988, has applied since 13 December 2024. It is a general safety backstop for consumer products. It requires that the product is safe, that you have carried out a risk analysis, and that you hold technical documentation demonstrating conformity, which a responsible person keeps available for market-surveillance authorities. The GPSR applies to consumer products whether or not they need CE marking.

How they fit together

Think of CE marking as proof against a particular rulebook, and the GPSR as the floor of general safety beneath all consumer products. A CE-marked electrical item still sits within the broader expectation that consumer products are safe. A product that needs no CE marking, such as many everyday household goods, still needs a risk analysis and documentation under the GPSR.

• CE marking: conformity with specific EU legislation, applied only where that legislation requires it.
• GPSR: general product safety, with a risk analysis and documentation, for consumer products across the board.

So do not treat a CE mark as a GPSR shortcut, and do not assume a non-CE product escapes safety duties. Both can apply at once.

For more, see our complete GPSR guide, the background on the GPSR, and the glossary entry on CE marking.

This article is educational and does not constitute legal advice.