Check the physical marking and rating label, then connect the signed declaration of conformity and supporting records to the exact product and ordered version. A visible CE logo or a voluntary certificate alone does not complete that review.
A purchase-ready decision sheet
| Decision field | Purchasing record |
|---|---|
| Product identity | Buyer SKU, supplier designation, manufacturer and sample-label references; keep a documented mapping where the names differ. |
| Declaration | Product description, applicable requirements, manufacturer identification, date and authorised signature. |
| Supporting evidence | Relevant report references and assessed configuration; distinguish reports, certificates and declarations. |
| Differences | Record the exact changed field, its explanation and the evidence needed to resolve it before a claim is used. |
Turn an apparent mismatch into a resolvable question
If the quoted SKU differs from a document model, retain both names and ask for their documented relationship. If the label voltage or an included charger differs, record that specific configuration question. Do not edit a copied declaration to make it look consistent.
Your Europe's CE guidance explains the manufacturer’s responsibility and warns about voluntary certificates. Use the GS guide or UL/ETL guide for those separate claims; they do not replace a CE review.
How can an importer check whether a product is CE marked?
- Inspect the CE marking and product rating label on the sample.
- Request the EU declaration of conformity for the exact product family.
- Match the manufacturer, model designation and product description.
- Review the applicable legislation, standards and issue dates.
- Confirm that voltage, battery, charger, guard and other ordered details remain within the reviewed configuration.
This sequence helps a buyer separate a visible marking check from the deeper document and configuration review needed before an order decision.
Start with product identity
Compare the model designation on the document with the supplier’s source model, the order specification and the product rating label. A buyer-facing SKU may be different from a factory source model, so that relationship should be recorded rather than assumed.
Check what the document actually is
A test report, certificate, declaration of conformity and technical file are different things. Read the title, issuer, applicant/manufacturer, product description and conclusion. Do not treat a voluntary certificate or a generic test page as a substitute for the manufacturer’s required conformity work.
Review the applicable legislation and standards
Identify which EU legislation applies to the product and configuration, then compare the standards and editions shown. More than one legal instrument may apply. The European Commission’s CE guidance also makes clear that manufacturers must identify applicable requirements, assess conformity, prepare technical documentation and issue the declaration.
Look for configuration-changing differences
Voltage, motor, switch, guard, charger, battery, plug, enclosure material or accessory changes may affect the evidence relationship. Similar appearance is not enough. Record any difference and ask whether it is covered by the assessed model family or requires additional review.
Check dates, issuer and traceability
- Document number and issue date
- Applicant and manufacturer identities
- Model list and any family rules
- Standards and report references
- Issuer identity and, where relevant, notified-body status
- Relationship to the final rating label and declaration
Use public summaries carefully
DUPOW’s Compliance Library publishes redacted, privacy-safe summaries to help buyers navigate reviewed associations. The summary does not replace the controlled source file, the EU declaration of conformity or an order-specific destination-market review.
A documented model-mapping example
- DUPOW model: DUP-AS-001, 700W Compact Airless Paint Sprayer.
- Supplier-model cross-check: an exact textual match is recorded internally; the public summaries redact the source designation.
- File scope: separate GS/PAH and EMC-related previews are linked to this model. These summaries do not replace the EU declaration of conformity.
- Ordered version: check the requested voltage, plug, motor/control version and accessory set against the controlled documents and final rating label before order approval.
This records a model relationship, not blanket coverage for every version. A change in branding or packaging does not establish document coverage for a changed electrical configuration.
For machinery placed on the EU market, buyers should also monitor the transition to Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, which applies from 20 January 2027. Obtain current professional advice for the exact product and placing-on-market date.
Buyer FAQs
Is a test report the same as a declaration of conformity?
No. Record the document type, issuer, product and scope separately. The manufacturer’s declaration and supporting technical evidence have different roles.
Does a DUPOW product photo prove certification?
No. A photograph identifies a model reference; an order claim needs the relevant declaration and evidence for its actual configuration.
What should happen when a material difference remains?
Keep the affected claim unresolved, record the exact mismatch, and obtain the relevant explanation or evidence before final label and order approval.
Send DUPOW the model, market, quantity and requirements for this purchase.