EU product directives are addressed to the member states, which then must transpose them into national law. The directives define a schedule for adopting and publishing national provisions to implement each directive. A directive is authorized when it has been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Directives also define when national provisions must be applied. CE marking directives recognize a transitional period during which existing national provisions and new legislation will co-exist. In such cases, the manufacturer may choose to follow either the national or the new legislation. However, only the latter will allow the manufacturer to affix the CE marking.
Some products may be governed by more than one directive because different risks may be dealt with under separate directives. In cases where more than one directive may apply, the CE marking can be affixed only if the product complies with the appropriate provisions of all applicable directives that have become mandatory.
