CE marking US certification is a common question, and the short answer is no: a CE mark does not count as certification for selling a product in the US. It tells EU buyers and regulators that you say the product meets EU rules. It does not satisfy any US testing, declaration, or authorization requirement.
The US has no single replacement mark. Which certification applies depends on what the product is and who uses it, and the main regimes sit with different agencies. This post is the fifth item on the Compliance & Labeling list in our EU to US Expansion Checklist: confirm whether CE-marked products need separate US certification before sale.
Does a CE mark count as certification for selling a product in the US?
No, and CE marking US certification is not an automatic route. According to Your Europe (opens in new tab), CE marking shows that "the manufacturer indicates that a product meets the requirements set out in EU product rules." The manufacturer affixes it, and the page states that "There is no central EU body that gives you permission or a certificate allowing you to use the CE mark."
Some products do need a notified body, and the CE mark is still a statement tied to EU law. It lets the product be sold freely in the EU. OSHA, the federal workplace safety agency, says so directly in its guidance on workplace products (opens in new tab): products that bear only non-NRTL marks, "including the CE mark," do not meet its approval requirements.
Our EU to US Expansion Guide lists the same check. Treat CE marking as useful evidence about your product and not as a US certificate.
Why is there no single US certification?
US product safety is split by product type, use, and agency. For CE marking US certification, the table shows the main regimes an EU brand meets. Your product may touch one, several, or none.
| Product type | US regime | Who is responsible | What it requires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children's products (designed mainly for ages 12 or younger) | CPSC | US manufacturer or importer | A Children's Product Certificate based on third-party testing by a CPSC-accepted lab |
| Other consumer products with a CPSC safety rule | CPSC | Importer, for products made overseas | A General Certificate of Conformity based on testing, with no lab accreditation requirement |
| Radio frequency devices, such as routers | FCC | Grant holder, or the US-located responsible party for SDoC | Equipment authorization, either certification or Supplier's Declaration of Conformity |
| Electrical equipment used in workplaces | OSHA | Depends on the product and its workplace use | Approval from a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) for most workplace electrical equipment |
Medical devices, food, and cosmetics sit with the FDA, covered in our post on FDA and FTC requirements for EU brands. CE marking covers many product families, including toys, electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, machinery, and personal protective equipment, per Your Europe. A US regime for each one has to be checked separately, which is the "no single regulator" problem in practice.
What does UL certification mean, and do you need it?
UL is a private testing organization. OSHA recognizes labs as NRTLs, which are independent third parties authorized to test and certify particular product types, and UL is one of them, as OSHA's Federal Register notices (opens in new tab) on UL's recognition show. The OSHA bulletin says most electrical equipment used in the workplace must be NRTL approved.
That bulletin is framed around workplace use, and it does not address consumer products sold to the public. So a listing mark on a consumer product is a different question from the OSHA requirement. Retailers, marketplaces, insurers, or local rules may still ask for one, so check what your buyers require before you assume you can skip it.
If your product goes into offices, shops, or warehouses, the workplace rule becomes relevant. Ask the lab that tested your product whether it holds NRTL recognition for the relevant standard.
What does the FCC require for EU electronics?
For CE marking US certification on electronics, radio frequency devices generally need FCC equipment authorization before they are imported, marketed, or sold, unless a listed exception applies. The FCC's importation page (opens in new tab) lists the routes, and the main one is to have the required authorization in place. There are two common paths.
Certification is the stricter one, and most intentional radiators and some high-power unintentional radiators go through it. The FCC or an accredited Telecommunication Certification Body evaluates the device, and the grant holder is the responsible party. Certified equipment carries an FCC ID and a device-specific label statement.
SDoC is the lighter path, and it still requires testing. The responsible party must be located in the United States, and for imported equipment the importer of record takes that role. For an EU brand without a US entity, that is a decision to make early. Our post on EIN and TIN requirements for EU importers covers who can act as importer of record.
What do CPSC rules require for children's and general consumer products?
For CE marking US certification on children's products, the CPSC requires a Children's Product Certificate. Per the CPSC (opens in new tab), a children's product is one designed or intended mainly for children aged 12 or younger. The certificate has to rest on test results from a third-party, CPSC-accepted laboratory, and the certificate and test reports must be in English.
The CPC must name the applicable safety rules, the certifier's contact details, the dates and places of manufacture and testing, and the lab. Your EU test lab may not hold CPSC acceptance, so check this before you rely on existing reports.
For other consumer products covered by a CPSC rule, the General Certificate of Conformity (opens in new tab) applies. The importer issues it for products made overseas. Any laboratory can perform the testing for non-children's products, and each shipment must be accompanied by the certificate.
The CPSC also states that since July 8, 2026, importers of most regulated consumer products must electronically file certificates of compliance with US Customs and Border Protection. Check the CPSC's eFiling pages for who files and which products are covered.
How do you close the CE marking US certification gap for a product?
Work through five steps, one product at a time, and keep a written record.
Step 1: Classify the product by use and user
Write down what the product does, who uses it, and where. Note whether it is designed mainly for children aged 12 or younger, whether it emits radio signals, and whether it is used in workplaces.
Step 2: Match it to the US regimes
Use the table above as a first pass. For consumer products, the CPSC's "What regulations apply to my products?" tool is a starting point, and an FCC or NRTL lab can confirm the electrical and radio side.
Step 3: Name the US-side responsible party
The importer issues the General Certificate of Conformity, and the importer or US manufacturer issues the Children's Product Certificate. For SDoC, the responsible party must be in the US. Our post on setting up a US entity as an EU brand covers the options.
Step 4: Commission the right testing
Use a CPSC-accepted lab for children's products, the FCC or a Telecommunication Certification Body for radio devices that need certification, and an NRTL where workplace approval applies. Ask each lab what it accepts from your existing EU test reports.
Step 5: Document, label, and confirm with buyers
Keep certificates and test reports in English, add any required labels such as the FCC ID, and file what must be filed. Then ask your retailers and marketplaces what marks they expect, and have counsel or a compliance specialist review the set. Our post on getting US counsel and an accountant before launch covers who to hire.
Frequently asked questions
Does a CE mark count as certification for selling a product in the US?
No. A CE mark is a manufacturer's statement of conformity with EU rules. The US regimes each require their own testing, declaration, or authorization, and OSHA states that products bearing only non-NRTL marks, including the CE mark, do not meet its approval requirement. CE marking US certification is never automatic.
Can I reuse my EU test reports for US certification?
Sometimes, but check with the lab. A Children's Product Certificate must rest on testing by a CPSC-accepted lab, so an EU lab without that acceptance will not do. Ask each US lab which of your existing reports it will accept.
Do I need UL certification to sell a consumer product in the US?
It depends on the product and the buyer. OSHA's NRTL requirement is aimed at workplace electrical equipment, and its guidance does not address consumer products sold to the public. Ask your retailers and marketplaces what they require, and ask counsel about local rules.
Who is responsible for US certification if I am based in the EU?
Usually a US-side party. The importer issues the General Certificate of Conformity for overseas-made products, and the SDoC responsible party must be located in the US. Plan for CE marking US certification to run through your importer of record.
What should you do next?
Download the EU to US Expansion Checklist (opens in new tab) and work through the Compliance & Labeling list, including the CE marking check. Then read the compliance section of the EU to US Expansion Guide to plan your CE marking US certification steps.
This post is general information and does not replace legal or compliance advice. It does not cover every product category, so confirm your product with a specialist before you ship.
