Introduction

When clients request a CE certificate for a beacon, flasher, work light or other signaling product, we can often provide an ECE R10 or ECE R65 certificate as a full and official alternative. But what’s the difference between CE and ECE, and why is ECE certification often enough?

What is the difference between CE and ECE certification?

• CE marking is a general European directive for product safety, intended for consumer and industrial products within the EU.
• ECE approvals (such as ECE R10 and R65) are specific, official approvals under the E-marking system, recognized by all EU member states and many countries beyond. ECE certifications apply mainly to vehicle components such as lighting and signaling, and fall under a more specialized technical framework.

Why ECE R10 or R65 certification is often sufficient

In many cases, an ECE approval completely replaces the need for a CE certificate. Here's why:

• ECE = CE+, meaning it meets CE requirements and often exceeds them ​

• Products with ECE marking already comply with relevant EU directives
• The E-marking on the product serves as official proof of conformity

As a result, no separate CE document is issued for products with ECE R10 or R65 approval - the regulations don’t require it, because ECE approval already covers compliance. ​

In most vehicle signaling applications, ECE R10 or R65 certification is legally sufficient. These approvals fall under the European E-marking system and cover the necessary compliance for vehicle use.

Only when a product is used outside of vehicle installations, or falls under different CE directives (such as EMC for industrial equipment), might CE marking be required.