The Declaration of Conformity (DoC) is a mandatory legal document that every manufacturer must draw up before affixing the CE mark. By signing it, the manufacturer declares sole responsibility for the product's compliance with all applicable EU legislation.
What Must the DoC Contain?
The exact requirements are set by the Decision 768/2008/EC (the "NLF" — New Legislative Framework). All CE-marking directives reference this structure. A valid DoC must include:
- Product identification — name, model number, batch or serial number
- Manufacturer's name and address — or authorised representative if outside the EU
- Statement of responsibility — "This declaration of conformity is issued under the sole responsibility of the manufacturer"
- Object of the declaration — clear product description sufficient for traceability
- Reference to relevant EU legislation — list every directive that applies
- Harmonised standards applied — or other technical specifications referenced
- Notified Body details — if applicable (name, number, certificate reference)
- Signature — name, function, date and place of issue, legally binding signature
DoC Template
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Product name | Smart Environmental Sensor – Model SE-100 |
| Manufacturer | Acme Sensors GmbH, Musterstraße 1, 10115 Berlin, Germany |
| Directives | RED 2014/53/EU · EMC 2014/30/EU · RoHS 2011/65/EU |
| Standards | EN 300 328 v2.2.2 · EN 301 489-1 v2.2.3 · EN 62368-1:2020 |
| Signed by | Jane Smith, Director of Engineering — Berlin, 15 January 2025 |
How Long Must You Keep It?
The DoC must be kept for 10 years after the product is placed on the market (or longer if specified by a sector-specific directive). It must be made available to market surveillance authorities on request — within a timeframe specified by each directive, typically a few days to two weeks.
Simplified DoC (for products with multiple directives)
Where a product falls under multiple directives, you may issue a single combined DoC listing all applicable legislation, or separate DoCs per directive — whichever is clearer for your documentation system. The simplified DoC approach (one document, multiple directives) is generally preferred for clean technical files.