The Harmonised Standards for the European Union are a set of technical specifications developed by European standardization organizations (such as CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI) that are aligned with EU legislation (such as directives and regulations) to ensure the free movement of products, services, or processes within the internal market of the entire EU. The "CE" mark is an abbreviation for "Conformité Européenne," meaning "European Conformity," and it is a declaration that the product meets the EU's health, safety, and environmental protection requirements. When a product complies with all relevant CE harmonised standards, the manufacturer can affix the CE mark to their product and issue a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) to demonstrate that the product meets the applicable EU directive requirements. The main features of the EU CE harmonised standards include:

Uniformity: Harmonised standards are recognized in all EU member states, ensuring the free movement of products between these countries.

Comprehensiveness: They cover a wide range of fields from toys, electronic and electrical equipment to construction products and medical devices.

Self-declaration: For certain product categories, manufacturers can conduct self-assessment and declare their products comply with CE standards without the involvement of third-party organizations.

Mandatory: For products that require the CE mark, compliance with CE harmonised standards is not optional but mandatory.

Market surveillance: Although manufacturers are responsible for ensuring their products meet the requirements, market surveillance authorities in EU member states also regularly inspect products on the market to ensure they indeed comply with the prescribed standards.

CE harmonised standards aim to simplify technical specifications and promote the integration of the European internal market while ensuring the safety of products for consumers and the environment.