[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/CE marking for drones EUProduct guide # CE Marking for Drones (UAS): EU Classes C0–C6, Class Labels and Conformity Routes CE marking of drones in the EU is governed by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, which defines seven UAS classes (C0–C6) by mass, speed and capability. A drone sold for the open category or the standard scenarios must carry the CE mark and a class identification label, and C1, C2 and C3 drones need a notified body before they can be marked. The Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU applies in parallel to the control link, video link and remote ID beacon, and everything goes into one EU Declaration of Conformity. Since 1 January 2024, new open-category drones are expected to be class-marked; unlabelled drones placed on the market earlier can only fly in A1 (under 250 g) or A3. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fce-marking-for-drones) At a glance Legal basis Delegated Reg. (EU) 2019/945 UAS classes C0–C6 (C5/C6 added by 2020/1058) Notified body Mandatory for C1, C2, C3 Class label ≥ 5 mm, on UA and packaging Legacy cut-off Placed on market before 1 Jan 2024 ## EU drone classes C0–C6 at a glance Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 originally defined classes C0–C4 for the open category. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1058 added C5 and C6 for the specific-category standard scenarios and the direct remote ID add-on. The class is chosen by the manufacturer and proven through conformity assessment; MTOM always includes payload. Class Key limits Conformity route Notes C0 MTOM < 250 g incl. payload; max 19 m/s level flight; height limited to 120 m above take-off point Module A (internal production control) or B+C / H. Toys: Module A or B+C (H not available). No direct remote ID or geo-awareness required. Flies in A1. Operator registration still needed if it carries a camera or other sensor able to capture personal data, unless it is a toy under Directive 2009/48/EC. C1 MTOM < 900 g or < 80 J transferred to a human head on impact; max 19 m/s Notified body required: EU-type examination + conformity to type (B+C) or full quality assurance (H) Direct remote ID, geo-awareness, lights, low-battery warning and a guaranteed sound power level. Flies in A1 with active remote ID and geo-awareness. C2 MTOM < 4 kg; selectable low-speed mode ≤ 3 m/s (unless fixed-wing) Notified body required: B+C or H Direct remote ID, geo-awareness, C2 link protected against unauthorised access. Enables subcategory A2 (closer to people, A2 certificate of competency for the pilot). C3 MTOM < 25 kg; characteristic dimension < 3 m Notified body required: B+C or H Direct remote ID (unless tethered), geo-awareness, lost-link recovery or flight termination. Flies in A3, far from people. C4 MTOM < 25 kg; no automatic control modes beyond flight stabilisation and lost-link assistance Module A or B+C / H The model-aircraft class. Not a specific-category product: C4 flies in the open category, subcategory A3. No direct remote ID requirement in the class itself. C5 MTOM < 25 kg, dimension < 3 m; C3 requirements minus the 120 m height cap and mandatory geo-awareness; low-speed mode ≤ 5 m/s; can be a C3 drone plus a C5 accessories kit Module A (with harmonised standards applied) or B+C / H Added by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1058. For standard scenario STS-01 (VLOS over a controlled ground area in a populated environment) in the specific category. C6 MTOM < 25 kg, dimension < 3 m; C3 requirements minus the height cap, geo-awareness and electric-only rule; max ground speed 50 m/s; pre-programmed trajectory and flight termination Module A (with harmonised standards applied) or B+C / H Added by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1058. For standard scenario STS-02 (BVLOS over a controlled ground area in a sparsely populated environment). Internal production control (Module A) is only available for C0, C4, C5, C6 and remote ID add-ons, and only where harmonised standards have been applied for every requirement they cover. When full quality assurance (Module H) is used, the notified body number follows the CE mark. ## How to CE mark a drone: the route step by step 01 Decide how the drone will be flown. Open-category drones need a class mark (C0–C4). Drones for the standard scenarios STS-01 and STS-02 need C5 or C6. Drones only used under an operational authorisation in the specific category, or subject to certification, are outside the class-marking regime of Chapter II. 02 Pick the class from the hard limits: MTOM, speed, impact energy, dimension and automation. A 249 g camera drone can be C0; the same airframe at 260 g with a bigger battery cannot. 03 Map every applicable requirement in the Annex part for that class (Parts 1–5 for C0–C4, Part 16 for C5, Part 17 for C6) and decide how you will prove each one. Use EN 4709-002 for direct remote ID — it is the harmonised standard referenced in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2103. 04 Choose the conformity assessment route. C1, C2 and C3 always involve a notified body for UAS. C0, C4, C5 and C6 can use internal production control, but only if harmonised standards are applied for every requirement where one exists. 05 Run the RED assessment in parallel for the radio parts, plus RoHS 2011/65/EU and the battery rules for the battery pack. 06 Compile the technical documentation, sign one EU Declaration of Conformity, affix the CE mark and the class identification label before placing on the market. ## Class label, remote ID and the end of the transition period ### Class identification label Article 16(2) of 2019/945 requires the class label to be affixed visibly, legibly and indelibly to the UA (or to each accessory of a C5 kit) and to its packaging, at least 5 mm high. Markings that could be confused with the class label are prohibited. The CE mark goes on the product or its data plate, or on the packaging if the product is too small, and both must be affixed before the drone is placed on the market. ### Direct remote ID C1, C2, C3, C5 and C6 drones must broadcast the operator registration number, the ANSI/CTA-2063-A serial number, position, height, track, ground speed, the remote pilot's position and emergency status, using an open, documented protocol readable by ordinary phones. EN 4709-002:2023 is the harmonised standard (Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2103). Drones without a class label flying in the specific category below 120 m need equivalent remote ID, for example via a Part 6 add-on. ### Transition: what changed on 1 January 2024 Article 22 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 let drones without a class label fly in a limited open category until 31 December 2023. From 1 January 2024, unlabelled drones placed on the market before that date can still fly under Article 20: in A1 if under 250 g, and in A3 if under 25 kg. The EU standard scenarios STS-01 and STS-02 (for C5 and C6) have been available since the same date, and declarations based on national standard scenarios were set to lapse on 1 January 2026. ### Where EASA fits EASA writes the drone rules and AMC/GM, publishes the consumer information notice that must ship with every class-marked drone, and handles certification of UAS in the certified category. It is not a CE notified body. Notified bodies for 2019/945 are designated by Member States and listed in NANDO, and national market surveillance authorities enforce the CE and class-label rules. For a deeper look at operator registration, the specific category and SORA, see the [EU drone certification deep dive](/guides/eu-drone-certification-deep-dive). If you are building the full compliance file, the [CE marking for unmanned aerial systems course](/courses/35-ce-marking-for-unmanned-aerial-systems) walks through each class requirement. ## RED requirements for drone radio equipment 01 Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU applies in parallel to 2019/945 whenever the drone or its controller contains a transmitter or receiver: the C2 link, video downlink, GNSS receiver, Wi-Fi app link and Bluetooth or Wi-Fi remote ID beacon are all radio equipment 02 Radio spectrum testing per ETSI EN 300 328 (2.4 GHz wideband) and ETSI EN 301 893 (5 GHz RLAN) where those bands are used; check the GNSS receiver against ETSI EN 303 413 03 EMC for radio equipment per ETSI EN 301 489-1 with the relevant part (e.g. EN 301 489-17 for wideband data, EN 301 489-19 for GNSS receivers) 04 Article 3(1)(a) safety and RF exposure: assess the handheld controller and any body-worn equipment (EN 62368-1 plus EN 62311 / EN 62479 or SAR testing as applicable) 05 Since 1 August 2025, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 activates RED Article 3(3)(d), (e) and (f) cybersecurity requirements for internet-connected radio equipment; a drone ecosystem with an app or cloud account will usually be in scope (EN 18031 series) 06 One single EU Declaration of Conformity covering 2019/945, RED and any other applicable act (2019/945 Article 14(4)), identifying the UAS class 07 Frequency bands and maximum transmitted power stated in the user instructions, as RED Article 10(8) requires ## Technical documentation checklist (2019/945 Annex Part 10) * General description of the UAS: MTOM with reference configuration, dimensions, propulsion, control and monitoring unit, software version * Class identification label artwork, placement on the UA and on the packaging (minimum 5 mm high) * List of harmonised standards applied (for example EN 4709-002 for direct remote ID) or the other technical specifications used * Test reports against each class requirement: speed and height limits, low-speed mode, impact energy or mass, lost-link behaviour, geo-awareness, lights, battery warning * Sound power level test results and the Part 14 noise label where the class requires it (C1, C2 and C3, unless fixed-wing) * Direct remote ID description: transmission protocol, serial number to ANSI/CTA-2063-A, operator registration upload and tamper-reduction measures * RED test reports (radio, EMC, safety, RF exposure and, where applicable, cybersecurity) * Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC health and safety assessment for risks other than flight safety (2019/945 Article 4(2)) — not required for toys * Manufacturer instructions and the EASA information notice that must ship with each class-marked drone * Notified body certificate (EU-type examination or quality system approval) for C1, C2 and C3, and the signed EU Declaration of Conformity ## Common mistakes in drone CE marking ### Treating RED as the whole CE story Older drone guides say the CE mark on a drone only reflects RED. For a class-marked UAS, the CE mark also signals conformity with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, and the DoC must name the class. ### Assuming C4 is a specific-category class C4 drones fly in the open category, subcategory A3. The specific-category classes are C5 and C6, used with the standard scenarios. ### Self-declaring a C1 or C2 drone Internal production control is not available for C1, C2 or C3. You need a notified body for UAS, listed in NANDO under 2019/945, for EU-type examination or full quality assurance. ### Mass creep after launch Firmware, bigger batteries or accessory payloads can push a C0 over 250 g or a C1 over 900 g. Article 4(3) only allows software updates that keep the product compliant, and the MTOM includes payload. ### Forgetting the importer duties An EU importer must check the class label, CE mark, DoC and instructions in the local language before placing the drone on the market, and put its own name and contact address on the product or packaging. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is CE marking of drones and which law applies? Drones intended for the EU open category or the standard scenarios are CE marked under Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, which sets product requirements for seven UAS classes (C0–C6). Each class-marked drone carries both the CE mark and a class identification label. Radio parts are also covered by the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU, and the manufacturer issues one EU Declaration of Conformity covering both. ### Which drone classes need a notified body? Classes C1, C2 and C3 must go through a notified body, using either EU-type examination followed by conformity to type (Part 8 of the Annex) or full quality assurance (Part 9). Classes C0, C4, C5 and C6, and remote ID add-ons, may use internal production control (Part 7), but only where the manufacturer has applied harmonised standards for all requirements those standards cover. ### Do toy drones under 250 g need CE marking? Yes. A toy drone for children under 14 must comply with the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC. If it is sold for open-category flying it can also be marked C0; for toys, the C0 controllability, sharp-edge and electric-only points are covered by the toy rules instead, and full quality assurance (Module H) is not available for the 2019/945 assessment. Any radio link also needs RED compliance. ### What is direct remote ID and which drones need it? Direct remote identification is a local broadcast, receivable on ordinary mobile devices, of the operator registration number, the drone serial number, position, height, track, ground speed, the remote pilot position and emergency status. It is built in for C1, C2, C3, C5 and C6. C0 and C4 do not need it. For drones without a class label flying in the specific category, a separate direct remote ID add-on (Part 6 of the Annex) can be used. EN 4709-002 is the harmonised standard. ### Is the EU drone class label the same as the CE mark? No. The CE mark declares conformity with all applicable EU product legislation. The class identification label (C0–C6) tells operators which open-category subcategory or standard scenario the drone may be used in. Both must be affixed before the drone is placed on the market, and the class label must be at least 5 mm high on the drone and on its packaging. ### Can I still sell or fly drones without a class label after 1 January 2024? The transitional period in Article 22 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 ended on 31 December 2023. Drones without a class label that were placed on the market before 1 January 2024 can keep flying: under 250 g in subcategory A1, and under 25 kg in A3. A new product intended for open-category use placed on the market today should carry a class label. ### What does EASA do for drones, and what are the certified category UAS opinions? EASA drafts the rules and the acceptable means of compliance (AMC/GM) for 2019/945 and 2019/947, and publishes the information notice that ships with class-marked drones. It does not CE mark drones — that is done by the manufacturer and notified bodies, with national market surveillance authorities enforcing. For UAS that must be certified (for example designed to carry people, dangerous goods, or flown over assemblies of people with a dimension of 3 m or more), EASA Opinion No 03/2023 led to the 2024 package that includes Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1107 on continuing airworthiness of certified UAS and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1108 amending 2019/945. ### Does the drone charger need CE marking? Yes. A mains charger supplied with the drone needs CE marking under the Low Voltage Directive, the EMC Directive and RoHS, unless it is itself radio equipment, in which case RED covers its safety and EMC. It can have its own DoC or be listed in the drone's single DoC. **Disclaimer:** Educational resource only. Regulations (EU) 2019/945 and 2019/947 continue to be amended (most recently by 2024/1108 and 2025/1130 for 2019/945). Check the current consolidated text on EUR-Lex and the harmonised standards list before placing drones on the EU market. 🇪🇺 CE Marking roadmap for drones Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take drones 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 — $199](/courses/35-ce-marking-for-unmanned-aerial-systems)[Prefer to read? Get the book — $24.99](/books/35-ce-marking-for-unmanned-aerial-systems) Related guides * [EU Drone Certification Deep DiveDeep dive into EU drone certification: Regulation (EU) 2019/945 and 2019/947, C0-C6 class labels, Open/Specific/Certified categories, and conformity assessment routes.](/guides/eu-drone-certification-deep-dive) * [Radio Equipment Directive complianceEverything you need to know about the Radio Equipment Directive: scope, essential requirements, testing, harmonised standards, …](/guides/red-directive-compliance) * [EMC Directive complianceComplete guide to EMC Directive (2014/30/EU) compliance: emissions, immunity, testing requirements, and harmonised standards fo…](/guides/emc-directive-compliance) * [Self-certification vs Notified BodyComplete guide to CE conformity assessment: when you can self-certify under Module A, when you need a Notified Body, and the co…](/guides/self-certification-vs-notified-body) * [CE marking timelineA realistic guide to CE marking timelines: typical duration for each phase from test preparation to DoC signing, what causes de…](/guides/ce-marking-timeline)