[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/CE conformity assessment modules EUProcess guide # CE Conformity Assessment Modules A to H Explained: Which Route Applies to Your Product? CE conformity assessment modules are the standard procedures, defined in Annex II of Decision 768/2008/EC, that a manufacturer uses to show a product meets EU law. There are eight basic modules, A to H, and eight variants. They range from pure self-declaration (Module A) to full Notified Body oversight of design and production (Module H). You do not pick freely: each directive or regulation lists the modules allowed for your product, and higher-risk products get fewer options. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fce-conformity-assessment-modules) At a glance Basic modules 8 (A–H) Including variants 16 Legal source Decision 768/2008/EC, Annex II Self-declaration Module A (and C after B) ## All CE conformity assessment modules Module A ### Internal production control Self-certify The manufacturer does everything: draws up the technical documentation, controls production so products match it, signs the EU Declaration of Conformity and affixes the CE marking. No Notified Body. This is the standard route under the LVD and EMC Directive, and under RED when harmonised standards are applied in full. Module A1 / A2 ### Internal production control plus supervised product testing (A1) or supervised product checks at random intervals (A2) NB required Module A with a third party added at the production stage. In A1, tests on specific aspects of the product are carried out under the responsibility of an accredited in-house body or a Notified Body. In A2, that body carries out product checks at random intervals. A2 is used for example for Category II pressure equipment under the PED. Module B ### EU-type examination NB required A Notified Body examines the technical design, usually with a representative specimen, and issues an EU-type examination certificate. Module B covers design only. It must always be followed by a production module: C, C1, C2, D, E or F. Module C / C1 / C2 ### Conformity to type (follows B) Self-certify Module C: the manufacturer ensures production matches the approved type and signs the DoC, with no Notified Body at the production stage. C1 adds supervised product testing and C2 adds supervised product checks at random intervals, by an accredited in-house body or a Notified Body. Module D / D1 ### Quality assurance of the production process NB required A Notified Body approves and surveys the manufacturer's quality system for production, final inspection and testing. D follows Module B. D1 is used without Module B: the manufacturer draws up the technical documentation itself and the Notified Body assesses only the production quality system. Module E / E1 ### Quality assurance of final product inspection and testing NB required Like D, but the Notified Body-approved quality system covers only final inspection and testing, not the whole production process. E follows Module B. E1 is used without Module B. Module F / F1 ### Product verification NB required A Notified Body examines and tests every product, or statistical samples, to verify conformity. F follows Module B. F1 is used without Module B, with the manufacturer drawing up the technical documentation. Module G ### Unit verification NB required A Notified Body examines the design and tests each individual unit, then issues a certificate for that unit. Standalone, with no Module B. Suited to one-off or very small production runs, such as a single large pressure vessel or a bespoke installation. Module H / H1 ### Full quality assurance NB required A Notified Body approves and surveys a quality system covering design, manufacture, final inspection and testing. No type certificate is issued. H1 adds a Notified Body design examination that results in an EU design-examination certificate, and is required for some high-risk categories such as PED Category IV. ## Module availability by directive LVD 2014/35/EU Module A only (internal production control). There is no Notified Body route. EMC 2014/30/EU Module A, or Module B + C at the manufacturer's choice. The Notified Body in B + C issues a type-examination certificate. Its number does not appear next to the CE marking. RED 2014/53/EU Module A (Annex II), B + C (Annex III) or H (Annex IV). For Article 3.2 and 3.3 requirements, Module A is only available if harmonised standards are applied in full. Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC Non-Annex IV machinery: internal checks (Annex VIII, the Module A equivalent). Annex IV machinery: Annex VIII only if harmonised standards covering all requirements are applied in full. Otherwise EC type-examination (Annex IX) plus internal production checks, or full quality assurance (Annex X). There is no unit verification route. Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (from 20 January 2027) Annex I Part A machinery: Notified Body always needed (B + C, H, or G unit verification). Annex I Part B: Module A also allowed if harmonised standards or common specifications are applied in full. Other machinery: Module A. PED 2014/68/EU Category I: A. Category II: A2, D1 or E1. Category III: B + D, B + F, B + E, B + C2, or H. Category IV: B + D, B + F, G, or H1. A higher-category procedure may always be used. Lifts 2014/33/EU No Module A. Safety components: B + C2, B + E, or H1. Lifts: type-examination of a model lift with final inspection or quality assurance, unit verification (G), or full quality assurance with design examination (H1). ## Common module routes compared Design-phase modules (B) always pair with a production-phase module. The Notified Body number appears next to the CE marking only when a Notified Body is involved in the production phase. That is why a B + C product carries a plain CE mark. Route Who does what NB number on product? Typical use A Manufacturer only No LVD, EMC, most RED products, toys with harmonised standards A2 Manufacturer + random product checks Yes PED Category II B + C NB design exam, manufacturer controls production No RED without full harmonised standards, EMC by choice, toys without standards B + D NB design exam + NB production QA Yes PED Cat III/IV, ATEX equipment, PPE Category III G NB verifies each unit Yes One-off pressure equipment, lifts, Machinery Regulation Part A H / H1 NB approves full QA system (H1 adds design exam) Yes RED Annex IV, PED Category III (H) and IV (H1), lift safety components (H1) ## How to pick a module in four questions **1\. Which laws apply?** List every directive or regulation that covers the product. Each one has its own conformity assessment article, and you must satisfy all of them. **2\. What does each law allow?** Read the conformity assessment article and annexes. The LVD only offers Module A. The PED ties modules to a hazard category. RED ties Module A to full use of harmonised standards. **3\. Series or one-off?** For series production, B plus a production module or H is efficient. For a single unit, G avoids certifying a type you will never build again. **4\. Do you have a mature QMS?** If you already run ISO 9001-style processes and release many variants, H or D can be cheaper over time than repeated type examinations. For worked examples under RED, the Machinery Regulation and PED, see the [conformity assessment modules deep dive](/guides/ce-conformity-assessment-modules-deep-dive). For what happens during a type examination, see [EU-type examination (Module B)](/guides/eu-type-examination-module-b). ## Frequently asked questions ### What are the eight CE conformity assessment modules? Decision 768/2008/EC, Annex II, defines eight basic modules: A (internal production control), B (EU-type examination), C (conformity to type), D (production quality assurance), E (product quality assurance), F (product verification), G (unit verification) and H (full quality assurance). Variants such as A1, A2, C1, C2, D1, E1, F1 and H1 bring the total to 16. Each sector law picks which ones a manufacturer may use. ### What is the difference between Module B and Module G? Module B is a design check of a product type. The Notified Body examines the design and a representative specimen and issues an EU-type examination certificate, which then covers series production as long as a production module (C, D, E or F) follows. Module G is unit verification. The Notified Body examines and tests each individual unit and certifies that unit alone. B suits series production. G suits one-off or very low-volume products where certifying a type makes no sense. ### What is the difference between Module B and Module H? Both involve Notified Body scrutiny of design, but in different ways. Module B certifies a specific product type and must be combined with a production module. Module H approves the manufacturer's whole quality system covering design and production, so new models can be released under that system without a separate type certificate. H1 adds a Notified Body design examination for each design. Module H suits manufacturers with mature QMS processes and many variants. ### What is conformity assessment Module A2? Module A2 is internal production control plus supervised product checks at random intervals. The manufacturer does the design documentation and production control as in Module A, and an accredited in-house body or a Notified Body checks products taken at random intervals. It is used for example for Category II pressure equipment under the PED. ### What is a CE 'A' or 'B' declaration? There is no separate 'A declaration' or 'B declaration'. Under Module A the manufacturer signs an EU Declaration of Conformity based on its own assessment. Under Module B a Notified Body issues an EU-type examination certificate, and the manufacturer still signs the EU Declaration of Conformity once the production module (for example C) is in place. The DoC names the Notified Body and certificate where one was involved. ### Can a manufacturer choose Module A if their directive allows higher modules? Yes. Where a law offers Module A, the manufacturer may choose it and take full responsibility for the assessment. Some manufacturers voluntarily use B + C or H for a high-risk product to get independent review, but this is a commercial choice. Legally, Module A carries the same weight when it is available. ### Does Module A require a Notified Body number on the CE marking? No. Under Module A no Notified Body is involved, so no number appears. The four-digit Notified Body number follows the CE marking only when a Notified Body is involved in the production control phase (for example A2, C2, D, E, F, G or H). Module B on its own, as in B + C, does not add a number next to the CE marking, though the Notified Body and certificate are named in the DoC. ### Can the same manufacturer use different modules for different product models? Yes, within what each law allows. A manufacturer might use Module A for a radio product built fully to harmonised standards and B + C for a variant where a standard does not cover a feature. Each model's DoC must identify the procedure used and any Notified Body involved. **Disclaimer:** Educational resource only. Module availability is determined by the applicable directive's Annex, not by manufacturer preference. Always verify the permitted modules for your specific product category and applicable directive. 🇪🇺 CE Marking roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇪🇺 CE Marking compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. See compliance services](/services) Learn this properly In-depth course that teaches the full process, not just this one answer. [Start the course — $149](/courses/01-ce-marking-for-electronics-engineers)[Prefer to read? Get the book — $24.99](/books/01-ce-marking-for-electronics-engineers) Related guides * [CE Conformity Assessment Modules Deep DiveA deep dive into all sixteen CE conformity assessment module variants — A1/A2, C1/C2, D1, E/E1, F1, G, H1 — how they chain together across design and production phases, and worked module-selection walkthroughs for RED, Machinery, and PED products.](/guides/ce-conformity-assessment-modules-deep-dive) * [EU type-examination (Module B)Complete guide to EU type-examination (Module B): what it covers, when it is required, how to select a Notified Body, what the …](/guides/eu-type-examination-module-b) * [Pressure Equipment Directive (PED)Complete guide to CE marking under the Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU: scope, category classification (I–IV), conformi…](/guides/pressure-equipment-directive-ped) * [EU Machinery Regulation guideThe Machinery Regulation 2023/1230 replaces the Machinery Directive from January 2027.](/guides/eu-machinery-regulation) * [PPE Regulation CE markingComplete guide to CE marking under the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425: Category I, II, and III classification, Notified Body requ…](/guides/ppe-regulation-ce-marking)