Lighting CE Certification: European Market Access Pass & GTG’s Professional Solutions

In today’s era of deepening global trade, CE certification has become an indispensable "pass" for lighting products to enter the European market. According to EU customs statistics, over 30% of lighting products are rejected annually due to non-compliance with CE certification requirements.

What Is Lighting CE Certification?

CE (Conformité Européene) certification is a mandatory compliance requirement for products entering the European Economic Area (EEA). For lighting products, CE certification indicates compliance with the basic requirements of relevant EU directives on safety, health, and environmental protection, enabling free circulation in the EU market.

Core Value

• Legal Precondition for Market Access: Statutory requirement for selling lighting products in the EU market.
• Proof of Safety Assurance: Demonstrates product compliance with strict EU safety standards.
• Market Competitiveness: Enhances consumer trust and product competitiveness.
• Trade Facilitation: Free circulation among EU member states without repeated testing.

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Core Requirements & Applicable Standards for Lighting CE Certification

Lighting CE certification mainly covers three core directive areas, each with corresponding technical standards:

1. Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 2014/30/EU

Ensures lighting products do not generate excessive electromagnetic interference and can operate normally without being affected by external electromagnetic interference.

Key Standards:

• EN 55015: Electromagnetic disturbance limits for electrical lighting and similar equipment.
• EN 61547: EMC immunity requirements for lighting equipment.
• EN 61000-3-2/3: Limits for current harmonics and voltage fluctuations.

2. Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU

Applies to lighting products with operating voltages between 50-1000V AC or 75-1500V DC, ensuring electrical safety.

Key Standards:

• EN 60598-1: General safety requirements for luminaires.
• EN 60598-2 Series: Special requirements for specific types of luminaires.
• EN 62471: Photobiological safety requirements (assesses optical radiation hazards).
• EN 62493: Requirements for assessment of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF).

3. Energy Efficiency & Environmental Requirements

• ErP Directive (Eco-design for Energy-Related Products):
  • Luminous efficacy ≥ 120lm/W.
  • Color rendering index Ra ＞ 80.
  • Flicker test (Pst LM ≤ 1.0).
• RoHS 2.0 Directive:
  • Restricts 10 hazardous substances (e.g., lead, mercury, cadmium).
  • Threshold: 0.1% (0.01% for cadmium).

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Applicable Scope of Lighting CE Certification

CE certification covers a wide range of lighting product types:

By Installation Method

• Fixed luminaires: Recessed luminaires, ceiling lights, track lights, chandeliers, wall sconces.
• Portable luminaires: Table lamps, floor lamps.

By Application Scenario

• Industrial lighting (IP65+).
• Road lighting (EN 60598-2-3).
• Emergency lighting (EN 60598-2-22).
• Explosion-proof luminaires (ATEX/IECEx).

By Technical Characteristics

• Dimmable luminaires (require additional EMC flicker testing).
• High color rendering index luminaires (Ra ＞ 90).
• UV curing luminaires (require additional optical radiation assessment).

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Detailed Certification Process

Lighting CE certification typically includes the following key steps:

1. Preparatory Phase

• Product Analysis: Confirm applicable directives and standards.
• Technical Documentation Preparation: Compile product manuals, circuit diagrams, technical parameters, etc.
• Sample Preparation: Provide representative samples for testing.

2. Testing & Evaluation Phase

• Safety Testing: Includes insulation resistance, dielectric strength (AC 4kV/1min), leakage current (≤ 0.5mA), earth continuity (≤ 0.1Ω), etc.
• EMC Testing: Conducted emission (150kHz-30MHz), radiated emission (30MHz-1GHz), electrostatic discharge (±8kV contact/±15kV air), surge immunity (±2kV line-line/±4kV line-earth), etc.
• Photobiological Safety Testing: Measure blue light hazard weighted radiance (≤ 100 W·m⁻²·sr⁻¹) per EN 62471.
• Energy Efficiency Testing: Evaluate luminous efficacy, color rendering index, flicker, etc.

3. Certification & Follow-Up Phase

• Technical Documentation Review: Certification body reviews complete technical documentation.

• Certificate Issuance: Issue CE conformity certificate upon test passing.

• Annual Supervision: Some products require annual factory audits and supervision testing.

• Typical Cycle: 5-7 working days for standard products; longer for complex products.

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Common Questions & Solutions

Q: Must CE certification be handled by EU-designated institutions?

A: CE certification must be processed through EU-authorized Notified Bodies to ensure the legality and authority of the certificate.

Q: What should technical documentation include?

A: Technical documentation should cover product difference tables, circuit schematics, structural dimension drawings, BOM lists, key component lists, labels, and installation manuals.

Q: What are the 2025 new requirements for CE certification?

A: 2025 updates include a special assessment of heat dissipation design for LED modules, strengthened frequency band control for wireless communication modules in smart luminaires, and new testing requirements for phthalates.

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GTG Testing Group’s CE Certification Service Advantages

As an authoritative institution in lighting testing, GTG Testing Group provides comprehensive CE certification solutions with rich experience and professional technical capabilities:

1. Professional Testing Capabilities

• Equipped with full-set CE certification testing equipment (e.g., EMI test receivers, high-precision integrating spheres, constant current/voltage power supplies).
• Proficient in the latest standards such as EN 60598, EN 62471, and EN 55015.
• Offers full-item testing services (electrical safety, EMC, photobiological safety, etc.).

2. Efficient Service Process

• Standardized operating procedures to ensure certification efficiency.
• Professional team provides full-process guidance from pre-consultation to certificate acquisition.
• Expedited service channel to meet urgent customer needs.

3. Cost Optimization Solutions

• Reasonable testing fees, avoiding unnecessary test items.
• Discounts for series product certification, reducing per-model costs.
• One-pass strategy to minimize repeated testing expenses.

4. Continuous Compliance Support

• Provides standard update alerts and compliance recommendations.
• Certificate maintenance and renewal services.
• Support for responding to market supervision inspections.

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CE certification is a necessary condition and technical threshold for lighting products to enter the European market. With the implementation of 2025 new regulations, certification requirements will become stricter. Choosing an experienced certification partner not only ensures smooth product certification but also lays a solid foundation for the long-term development of products in the European market.

With a comprehensive service system, professional technical team, and rich project experience, GTG Testing Group has become the preferred CE certification service provider for numerous lighting enterprises, helping products successfully enter the European market.