European Union · Global Market Access
Entering the EU Market: Low Voltage (LVD)
Low Voltage Directive — no notified body; the declaration is made by the manufacturer.
- Market
- European Union
- Site
- European
- Mark
- LVD
01What is it?
The Low Voltage Directive governs the safety of electrical equipment within a defined voltage range. It is the first directive most manufacturers shipping electrical products to the EU encounter.
02Why Does This Scheme Exist?
The Low Voltage Directive is one of the EU's oldest pieces of product legislation and the problem it arose from is simple: electric shock and fire were the most widespread fatal risks in consumer products and every country applied its own electrical safety rules.
The directive covers electrical equipment within certain voltage ranges and addresses electric shock, fire, mechanical and thermal hazards. Defining the scope by voltage range makes the legislation independent of product type: the same directive covers both a toaster and an industrial power supply.
The defining feature of the regime is THAT A NOTIFIED BODY IS NEVER INVOLVED. Under this legislation conformity assessment is entirely the manufacturer's own responsibility; no body examines the product before it is placed on the market. This reflects the legislation's political choice that "for low voltage products, risk can be left to the manufacturer's own assessment".
The practical consequence is that the technical file is the only line of defence. When a market surveillance authority inspects the product it does not find a body's certificate; it finds the manufacturer's own risk analysis, test reports and design justifications. A weak file leads directly to a finding of non-conformity.
Harmonised standards are particularly mature under this legislation: there are general and product-specific parts for household and similar electrical appliances, a combined standard for information technology and audio-video equipment, and a separate series of standards for laboratory and measuring instruments.
03Whose Obligation?
The obligation lies entirely with the manufacturer: LVD provides for no notified body involvement, conformity assessment is carried out through internal production control and the declaration is signed by the manufacturer.
04Required Documents
- The circuit diagram and printed-circuit-board drawings
- Critical component list and component certificates
- Insulation distance (creepage/clearance) calculations
- Test report to a harmonised standard
- User manual and label sample
- The EU Declaration of Conformity
05Process
- 01Scope DeterminationIt is determined which legislation and marking scope the product falls under in the target market. This step defines the entire process; getting it wrong wastes all subsequent work.
- 02Determining Applicable StandardsThe standards accepted by the market and any national deviations are identified. The same IEC standard may apply with different deviations in different markets.
- 03Establishing the Test PlanIt is assessed which part of existing test reports will be accepted; missing tests are planned. A CB Scheme report, if available, reduces retesting.
- 04Local Party and RegistrationIf the market requires an established representative, importer or applicant, this party is designated and the necessary registrations are made.
- 05Tests and Technical FileTests are conducted and the technical file is prepared. Some markets require testing to be performed within their own country.
- 06Certification or DeclarationDepending on the market's regime, a manufacturer's declaration is drawn up or a certificate is obtained from the authorised body; a factory audit is carried out if required.
- 07Marking and LabellingThe mark and label are applied according to the market's format and language rules. The language requirement is checked at customs in most markets.
- 08Shipment and CustomsIf a pre-shipment document is required, it is obtained; the document set to be presented at customs is completed.
06Points to Watch
- A notified body is not mandatory; responsibility lies entirely with the manufacturer
- Although an independent test report is not legally mandatory, it is the first document requested in market surveillance
- A CB Scheme report can be used as a basis once EN version differences are closed out
- The product is usually within the scope of EMC and RoHS at the same time
07Neighbouring Schemes and the Difference
- 01LVD and EMCThe two apply together to the same product but address different things: LVD the user being harmed by electricity and heat, EMC the product's compatibility with the electromagnetic environment. A product may comply with LVD and not with EMC.
- 02LVD and REDIf the product carries a radio interface, RED applies instead of LVD and EMC; RED takes the safety and EMC requirements into itself. Declaring both together is contrary to the structure of the legislation.
- 03LVD and machinery legislationWhich legislation applies to the electrical equipment of a machine is determined by whether the risk arises essentially from the electricity or from the machine; the two can also apply together.
- 04LVD and the GS markGS is a voluntary third-party mark and includes facility inspection; LVD rests on manufacturer declaration. Holding GS does not make the LVD declaration and the technical file unnecessary.
08Scheme Detail
This page describes entry into the European Union market. The scheme itself — its scope, process, validity period and required documents — is covered in detail on the certification page.
Low Voltage Directive (LVD) and CE Marking10Frequently Asked Questions
This section's content is being prepared. The roadmap specific to your product and target market at the quote stage in writing.
The certification timeline varies with the product, the required test workload, sample shipping time and the authority's workload; for this reason, no duration in days or weeks is given on these pages. The main factors determining the timeline are: whether testing must be performed in the target country, whether a factory audit is required, the time to appoint a local representative, and the current maturity of the technical file. A realistic timeline for your product is provided in writing at the quote stage.
Market access regimes change frequently: scope lists are updated, transition periods are extended, new requirements are added. These pages describe the structure of the regime and who bears the obligation; the applicable scope and dates for your product are confirmed from the current legislative text at the quote stage.
European Union · LVD roadmap for
Tell us about your product; we'll share the required steps, documents and timeline in writing.