Battery CE Certification: EU Market Access Guide, Process & Standards 2025

With the accelerated global energy transition, battery products, as core components, face increasingly stringent international market access requirements. Battery CE certification has become a mandatory pass for entering the EU market. This article comprehensively analyzes the process, standards, and practical key points of battery CE certification, providing detailed compliance guidance for relevant enterprises.

What Is Battery CE Certification?

CE certification (Conformité Européenne) is a mandatory access mark for products entering the European Economic Area (EEA), indicating that products comply with EU laws and requirements related to safety, health, environmental protection, and consumer protection. For battery products, CE certification is not only a legal requirement but also a key reflection of product safety and quality.

Under the EU’s new Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, since August 18, 2024, all batteries (including built-in or external batteries) placed on the EU market must obtain CE certification. This new regulation replaces the old Directive 2006/66/EC and is upgraded to a Regulation with more stringent requirements.

Why Do Batteries Need CE Certification?

1. Statutory Requirement for Market Access

According to EU regulations, battery products must complete CE certification and affix the CE mark to be legally sold and used in the EU market. This is the basic threshold for products to enter the European market; batteries without CE certification cannot clear customs or be sold in the EU.

2. Authoritative Guarantee for Product Safety

CE certification ensures that battery products meet the EU’s strict health, safety, and environmental protection standards, providing authoritative proof for key performances such as electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility.

3. Avoid Legal Risks

Selling batteries without CE certification may lead to product delisting, heavy fines, or even legal proceedings. With the implementation of the EU’s new Battery Regulation, supervision will become more stringent.

4. Enhance Product Competitiveness

Battery products with CE certification can boost the confidence of consumers and purchasers, gain an advantageous position in market competition, and lay a solid foundation for exploring the European market.

Core Directives & Standards for Battery CE Certification

Battery CE certification involves multiple EU directives and standards, mainly including:

EU New Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542

As the core regulation for battery CE certification, it applies to all types of batteries, including portable batteries, light means of transport batteries, starting, lighting, and ignition (SLI) batteries, industrial batteries, and electric vehicle batteries. The Regulation imposes full-lifecycle requirements on batteries, including:

• Carbon footprint declaration

• Recycled material content certification

• Battery passport (digital tracking)

• Waste battery recycling and disposal requirements

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 2014/30/EU

Ensures that batteries do not generate excessive electromagnetic interference during operation and can resist external electromagnetic interference to maintain stable equipment operation.

Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU

Ensures that batteries have sufficient electrical safety protection when used within the specified voltage range to prevent electric shock, fire, and other hazards.

RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU)

Restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products to ensure battery products meet environmental protection requirements.

Core Safety Standards

• EN/IEC 62133-2: Safety requirements for portable sealed secondary lithium-ion cells and batteries

• IEC 62619: Safety requirements for industrial secondary lithium-ion cells and batteries, especially for energy storage systems

• IEC 62902:2025: Standard for secondary battery marking symbols, used to identify battery chemical properties

Detailed Battery CE Certification Process

Battery CE certification typically includes the following key steps:

Phase 1: Confirm Certification Scope (1 Week)

• Confirm product category: Clarify battery type (lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, etc.) and applicable technical standards

• Determine certification mode: Select an appropriate conformity assessment mode based on product characteristics and market strategy

Phase 2: Product Testing (3-4 Weeks)

• Sample submission for testing: Send battery samples to an accredited laboratory for testing

• Safety testing: Conduct comprehensive safety performance testing in accordance with relevant standards

• Performance testing: Evaluate key performance indicators of the battery

• EMC testing: Conduct electromagnetic compatibility testing (if applicable)

Phase 3: Technical Documentation Preparation (1-2 Weeks)

• Compile technical documentation: Prepare complete technical construction files

• Risk assessment: Conduct product risk assessment and compile a report

• User manual: Compile a compliant user manual (required in official EU languages)

Phase 4: Declaration of Conformity (1 Week)

• Sign Declaration of Conformity: The manufacturer signs the EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC)

• Affix CE mark: Attach the CE mark to the product

• Complete certification: The product gains qualification to enter the EU market

The total CE certification cycle is usually 6-8 weeks, with the specific duration depending on product complexity and testing progress.

Core Testing Items for Battery CE Certification

Testing items for battery CE certification include:

1. Safety Testing

• Electrical safety testing: Insulation resistance, withstand voltage, ground continuity, etc.

• Environmental safety testing: Temperature cycling, thermal abuse, low-pressure testing, etc.

• Mechanical safety testing: Vibration, shock, crush, free fall, etc.

• Battery-specific safety testing: Overcharge, over-discharge, short circuit, temperature cycling, etc.

2. Performance Testing

• Capacity testing: Rated capacity and actual capacity testing

• Cycle life testing: Evaluate the number of battery charge-discharge cycles

• Temperature characteristic testing: Test battery discharge capacity and internal resistance changes under high and low temperatures

3. Hazardous Substance Testing

• Lead, cadmium, and mercury content testing: Ensure compliance with RoHS Directive limits

• Other hazardous substance testing: Hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), etc.

Key Materials Required for CE Certification Application

The following main materials are required for battery CE certification application:

1. Enterprise Qualification Documents

• Copy of business license

• ISO quality management system certificate

2. Product Technical Documents

• Product specifications and technical parameters

• Circuit schematics and PCB layout diagrams

• Structural design drawings and bill of materials (BOM)

• Certification certificates for key components

3. Test Samples

Prepare a sufficient number of battery cells and battery samples in accordance with standard requirements

4. Other Necessary Documents

• Product user manual (in official EU languages)

• Declaration of Conformity documents

• Label and packaging samples

Our Service Advantages

1. Professional Technical Team

Our engineers are well-versed in battery technical characteristics and CE certification requirements, familiar with the latest EU regulations and standard updates, and can provide customers with accurate technical guidance and optimization suggestions.

2. Rich Project Experience

We have successfully provided CE certification services for numerous battery enterprises, familiar with key links and common technical issues in the certification process, and can effectively predict and solve various challenges during certification.

3. One-Stop Certification Service

We provide end-to-end services from pre-consultation, product pre-testing, formal certification to post-maintenance, covering all necessary testing items such as EMC, LVD, and safety performance, saving customers time and costs.

4. Efficient Project Management

We have complete testing equipment and laboratory resources, capable of providing rapid testing services and problem-solving solutions, significantly shortening the certification cycle by optimizing project processes.

5. Global Certification Support

In addition to CE certification, we can also provide other international certification services for customers, helping their products enter the global market.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the validity period of the CE certification certificate?

A: CE certification has no fixed validity period, but it is necessary to ensure that the product continues to comply with relevant directive requirements. When major changes occur in product design, standards, or directives, re-evaluation is required.

Q: Do I need to re-certify after product upgrading?

A: If product changes affect key characteristics that comply with basic requirements, especially major changes in electrical structure, key components, or software algorithms, re-evaluation or supplementary testing is required.

Q: What are the main changes in the EU New Battery Regulation?

A: The main changes of the EU New Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 include: mandatory CE marking, carbon footprint declaration, digital battery passport, and stricter recycled material content requirements.

Conclusion

Battery CE certification is a crucial link for products to enter the European market. With the implementation of the EU New Battery Regulation, certification requirements have become more stringent and comprehensive. Obtaining CE certification not only ensures compliant product launch but also reflects an enterprise’s technical strength and quality commitment.

Choosing a professional certification partner can help enterprises efficiently complete the certification process, reduce compliance risks, and provide strong support for products to successfully enter the European market. Driven by Europe’s energy transition and carbon neutrality goals, compliant battery products will embrace broad market opportunities.

If you have any questions about battery CE certification or need related services, please feel free to contact Guangdong Energy Storage Testing Technology Co., Ltd.! Our professional team will provide you with detailed technical consulting and personalized certification solutions to safeguard your products’ smooth entry into the European market.