Check Notified Body NANDO CE Certificate Scope

To check notified body NANDO CE certificate evidence properly, do more than verify a number printed on a PDF. In NANDO, the body must be notified for the applicable EU legislation, product category and conformity-assessment procedure. The certificate must then match the manufacturer, model and version of the product you actually import or sell.

Key takeaways

• A CE notified body number is relevant only where its NANDO notification covers the legislation and conformity-assessment procedure applicable to the product.
• A third-party certificate does not replace an EU Declaration of Conformity signed by the manufacturer where that declaration is required.
• Not every CE-marked product requires the involvement of a notified body.
• The trade name, model, variants, manufacturer and standards in the documents must be matched to the product being imported or sold.
• Before placing an order or publishing a listing, retain the documents and obtain the technical evidence needed from the manufacturer.

How do you check a notified body NANDO CE certificate?

Start with NANDO, the European Commission database for notified bodies. Search for the number shown on the certificate, then confirm that the body is notified under the EU act and for the procedure relevant to your product.

NANDO means New Approach Notified and Designated Organisations. The database does not approve your product or confirm that a particular certificate is genuine. It helps you verify a body’s official status, the legislation for which it is notified and the scope of that notification.

Whether a notified body must be involved depends on the applicable harmonisation legislation and the conformity-assessment procedure. The common framework is set out in Decision No 768/2008/EC and explained in the European Commission’s Blue Guide on the implementation of EU product rules (2022).

In practice, follow these steps:

1. Record the four-digit number, the body’s name, certificate number and issue date.
2. Search NANDO using the number, rather than relying on a logo displayed on the supplier’s PDF.
3. Open the notification for the directive or regulation that applies to the product.
4. Read the scope: product categories, assessment modules or tasks, and any restrictions.
5. Check that the notification was active on the relevant certificate date and, where needed, ask the body to confirm the document’s authenticity.

Your supplier review should also cover the identity of the business that manufactures, invoices and ships the goods. The Supplier Check tool helps you centralise those details and identify inconsistencies to investigate before paying a deposit or placing an order.

EU Seller Kit — Use Supplier Check before ordering to compare the manufacturer’s identity, payment details, supplied documents and delivery information.

What can the NANDO notified body database actually confirm?

NANDO can confirm that a national authority has notified a body for specific activities. It cannot automatically prove that a supplier’s certificate is valid or that your product meets every applicable requirement.

The applicable legislation

A single body may be notified for the Toy Safety Directive but not for radio equipment. Start with the product and its functions, not with the notified body number alone. A Bluetooth speaker, for example, will generally fall within Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment (RED), although other requirements may also apply depending on its characteristics.

For electrical equipment without a radio function, relevant legislation may include Directive 2014/35/EU on low-voltage electrical equipment and Directive 2014/30/EU on electromagnetic compatibility. Classification depends on the product, voltage, functions and intended use.

The scope of notification

Scope is the decisive point. It may cover only a limited product category, particular assessment modules or a defined task, such as EU type examination or quality-system assessment. A body listed in NANDO is not therefore competent for every CE-marking activity.

Imagine a Chinese manufacturer sends you a certificate showing the number of a notified body for toys. If your product is a smartwatch, that number establishes nothing about the radio requirements applying to the watch. You must identify the legislation applying to that model, then verify the corresponding notification.

Use the practical CE marking guide for EU sellers to frame the CE legislation to review before import. For electronic products, the guide to RED, low voltage and EMC requirements helps distinguish the documents expected for different product functions.

How do you match the legislation, product and procedure?

You need to match three things: the product actually sold, the legislation that applies to it and the conformity-assessment procedure required by that legislation. A certificate is relevant only when all three align.

First, describe the product without relying solely on its marketing title: power supply, voltage, radio connectivity, battery, age range, professional or consumer use, included accessories and technical variants. This description lets you identify the legislation to assess. CE marking applies only to product categories covered by EU legislation that requires it; it is not a general quality label, as Your Europe’s CE marking guidance explains.

Then compare that description with the certificate:

• the named manufacturer must be the actual manufacturer or the entity taking on that role;
• the model reference must cover the product, including its technical variants;
• the description must not be broader or vaguer than the product sold;
• the legal act and procedure must be appropriate;
• cited test reports must concern the same configuration;
• dates, signatures and any certificate conditions must be coherent.

A certificate may cover a base reference but not a version with a different battery, charger or added Wi-Fi function. Such changes can alter the regulatory assessment and the testing needed. This is common with private-label products: the casing looks identical, yet the internal electronics or power supply has changed.

The EU Market Entry Compliance Assessment helps you organise checks by product and trade flow, including CE obligations, product safety, customs, VAT, packaging and other points to review. It flags checks to make; it does not replace the manufacturer’s conformity assessment.

How do you read a certificate without confusing it with an EU Declaration of Conformity?

A notified body certificate and an EU Declaration of Conformity are different documents. The EU Declaration of Conformity is the document through which the manufacturer declares, under its own responsibility, that the product meets applicable requirements; a certificate may be part of the evidence where the procedure requires or provides for third-party involvement.

The Commission’s Blue Guide explains that the manufacturer remains responsible for conformity assessment and for drawing up the EU Declaration of Conformity. A notified body’s involvement does not transfer that responsibility to the certifier, importer or marketplace seller.

What a certificate may demonstrate

Depending on the applicable legislation and module, a document may evidence type examination, quality-system assessment or another defined stage. Its value therefore depends on its exact title, procedure and scope. A document labelled “Certificate of compliance” or “CE certificate” may be a commercial document, a voluntary report or an attestation with no role in the relevant regulatory procedure.

What the EU Declaration of Conformity should identify

Request a readable, dated and signed declaration that identifies the manufacturer, the product and the applicable Union acts. It should also make clear, where relevant, which notified body was involved and in what capacity. Review the EU Declaration of Conformity content and signature checklist before accepting it.

Example: a supplier sends you a certificate for a USB charger and a declaration for a lamp. Even if both documents show the supplier’s logo, they do not form a coherent file for the charger. The technical reference, function and applicable requirements must be matched product by product.

Which warning signs mean you should pause the review?

An incomplete, inconsistent or overly generic document calls for clarification before import or sale. It does not necessarily prove fraud, but you should not treat it as sufficient evidence.

Common warning signs include:

• a notified body number missing from NANDO or linked to different legislation;
• a certificate without a specific product reference, using only terms such as “electronic product” or “CE product”;
• a clearly inconsistent date, signature, body name or address;
• different manufacturers shown on the invoice, certificate, test reports and EU Declaration of Conformity;
• a cited standard unrelated to the product or an unidentifiable product version;
• a certificate covering a similar product but not your model or variant;
• a CE mark accompanied by a notified body number where no notified-body involvement is required for the case presented.

A common mistake is accepting a file because the CE logo is visible on the product and a PDF contains the word “certificate”. CE marking is affixed under the manufacturer’s responsibility after the applicable procedure has been completed; it is not a general authorisation issued by the European Union. Economic-operator obligations and market surveillance are governed in particular by Regulation (EU) 2019/1020.

If you sell through a marketplace, your listing may be blocked if the information or documents requested do not demonstrate the expected compliance. Before publication, the Marketplace Product Compliance Scanner helps identify traceability, safety and compliance information to check on the listing.

Why is a notified body not required for every CE-marked product?

A notified body is required only where the applicable legislation and conformity-assessment procedure say so. For many products, the manufacturer may carry out the required conformity assessment, compile technical documentation and sign the EU Declaration of Conformity without a notified body certificate.

This avoids two opposite errors. The first is demanding a NANDO certificate for every CE-marked product and wrongly rejecting a complete file. The second is assuming that a certificate is always enough where a notified body is involved. In both cases, read the applicable legislation and procedure for the specific product.

Toys illustrate the distinction. The manufacturer must carry out a safety assessment; notified-body involvement depends, among other things, on how the applicable requirements and standards are addressed. Directive 2009/48/EC on toy safety is the starting point, but the assessment must concern the actual toy: age range, functions, materials, warnings and risks.

For more detail, read when a notified body is required for CE marking. If you ship from Shenzhen to an Amazon FBA warehouse in Germany, do not confuse this product assessment with import formalities: CE compliance, EORI, VAT and placing-on-the-market obligations follow separate rules.

What documents should you request from the manufacturer or supplier?

Request a file proportionate to the product, its risks and the legislation that applies. Your supplier may be your commercial contact, but the manufacturer must be able to provide, or arrange access to, the documents supporting product compliance.

Documents to obtain before placing the product on the market

• A dated and signed EU Declaration of Conformity for the relevant model.
• Relevant certificates where the applicable procedure involves a notified body.
• Test reports and annexes identifying the tested product reference.
• A complete technical specification: model, variants, power supply, radio functions, battery, materials and accessories.
• Instructions, warnings and safety information in the languages required for the intended markets.
• Manufacturer contact details and identification, plus importer details where you import into the European Union.
• Technical-file and risk-assessment material needed to demonstrate conformity.
• Photographs of labels, CE marking, rating plate and final packaging.

Technical documentation is not simply a folder of generic PDFs. It should enable authorities to understand the product’s design, applicable requirements, risk assessment, testing and measures taken. The guide to CE technical documentation and supporting evidence can help you structure this request.

For a manufacturer established outside the European Union, also check whether the applicable CE legislation requires an EU authorised representative and whether a written mandate exists. An EU CE authorised representative becomes active only after acceptance, entity assignment, a signed mandate and active payment. The service does not replace the manufacturer’s testing, technical documentation or EU Declaration of Conformity.

EU Seller Kit — Where a non-EU manufacturer needs an authorised representative and the applicable legislation permits it, the CE Authorised Representative service can be considered under a written mandate; it does not carry out conformity assessment on the manufacturer’s behalf.

How do you check everything before import or publication?

Complete the review before paying the balance, shipping stock or publishing the listing. Once goods have arrived at a warehouse or a marketplace has blocked the listing, correcting documents and labels costs more and can delay sales.

Operational checklist

• Describe the actual product and every technical variant, not just its marketing name.
• Identify the EU legislation that may apply and the corresponding conformity-assessment procedure.
• Request the EU Declaration of Conformity, test reports and, where relevant, the notified body certificate.
• Search the body number in NANDO and check the legislation, scope and notification status.
• Match the certificate, reports, declaration and product: manufacturer, reference, version, functions and accessories.
• Check markings, traceability details, warnings and instructions on a sample or final-product photographs.
• Keep a dated version of the file with the purchase order, invoice and clarification correspondence.
• Review the sales listing before publication, especially for Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Shopify or Cdiscount.

For a first shipment, the EU Market Entry Compliance Assessment helps you avoid treating CE checks in isolation from import, VAT, GPSR, packaging and storage-country requirements. If you are unsure about a document’s validity or the exact regulatory scope, seek confirmation from the issuing body, the competent authority or a qualified professional.

Tools and services to take action

• Supplier Check centralises supplier identity, payment details, documents and delivery data before you place an order.
• EU Market Entry Compliance Assessment builds a checklist of CE, GPSR, customs, VAT and country checks before a first shipment or product launch.
• Marketplace Product Compliance Scanner analyses the traceability, safety and compliance information to verify on a product listing before publication.
• CE Authorised Representative is relevant where a non-EU manufacturer needs an EU-based authorised representative under a written mandate, subject to the applicable legislation.

Frequently asked questions

Does a notified body number on a product prove compliance?

No. The number may indicate that a notified body was involved in a particular procedure, but you must check the relevant legislation and scope in NANDO. You must also confirm that the document and the product sold genuinely match.

Can I accept a CE certificate without an EU Declaration of Conformity?

Generally, no where the applicable legislation requires an EU Declaration of Conformity. A certificate may form part of the file, but it does not replace the declaration signed by the manufacturer. Request both documents and compare their product references.

Can NANDO verify that a certificate is genuine?

NANDO verifies a notified body’s notification status and scope, not the authenticity of every certificate it has issued. If in doubt, contact the body using contact details obtained independently of the supplier’s document. Keep the response in your compliance file.

Do all CE-marked products need a notified body?

No. Notified-body involvement depends on the applicable legislation and conformity-assessment procedure. For some products, the manufacturer can follow the prescribed procedure without a notified body.

What should I do if the certificate covers a different product reference?

Do not assume models are equivalent because they look alike. Request a documented technical explanation, reports covering the variant and an updated EU Declaration of Conformity where necessary. A different battery, radio module, charger or material can make the original document insufficient.

Can a supplier sign the EU Declaration of Conformity instead of the manufacturer?

That depends on the supplier’s actual role. The declaration must be drawn up by the manufacturer or, where the applicable framework allows, its authorised representative. A simple reseller or commercial agent cannot present itself as the manufacturer without taking on the corresponding responsibilities.

Official sources

• Decision No 768/2008/EC on a common framework for the marketing of products — sets out the common framework for conformity-assessment procedures and economic-operator roles.
• Commission Notice — The ‘Blue Guide’ on the implementation of EU product rules (2022) — explains CE marking, notified bodies, EU Declarations of Conformity and technical documentation.
• Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on market surveillance and compliance of products — governs market surveillance and certain product-compliance obligations.
• Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment — covers requirements for radio equipment, including certain connected products.
• Directive 2014/35/EU on low-voltage electrical equipment — covers electrical-safety requirements for products within its scope.
• Directive 2014/30/EU on electromagnetic compatibility — covers electromagnetic-compatibility requirements for relevant equipment.
• Directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of toys — sets the safety and conformity-assessment framework for toys.
• Your Europe — CE marking — outlines general CE-marking principles for businesses.

This content provides general information and is not legal advice.