Declaration of Conformity: A guide to DoC services for the EU and UK

This guide explains everything you need to know about Declarations of Conformity: what they must contain, how EU and UK requirements differ, and how to ensure your DoC is compliant. Whether you’re creating your first DoC or reviewing existing declarations, this comprehensive resource will help you navigate the requirements with confidence.

A Declaration of Conformity (DoC) is a legal document in which the manufacturer (or their authorised representative) formally declares that a specific product complies with the essential health and safety requirements of relevant EU directives or UK regulations. By signing the DoC, you accept full responsibility and liability for your product’s compliance with applicable legislation.
The DoC is intrinsically linked to CE marking and UKCA marking. You cannot legally affix these marks without a compliant Declaration of Conformity.
The DoC is the final step in the compliance process. Before signing, you must ensure your product genuinely meets all requirements, including risk assessments, testing, technical documentation, and conformity assessment procedures. A compliant DoC, combined with proper CE or UKCA marking, demonstrates to authorities, customers, and end-users that your product meets regulatory standards.

Businesses often confuse different terms related to product compliance. Let us clarify the most common errors.

Incorrect: CE Declaration of Conformity or UKCA Declaration of Conformity. The marking is placed on the product itself, not on the declaration. The declaration supports the marking.

Incorrect: EC Declaration of Conformity. Older directives used the term but it’s currently outdated.

Incorrect: Certificate of Conformity. CoC is typically issued by third parties; EU Doc is issued by the manufacturer.

Correct: EU Declaration of Conformity or UK Declaration of Conformity. This is the official and modern term, as the document declares conformity under European Union or United Kingdom law.

The DoC is a claim you make about your own product, based on robust evidence compiled in your technical documentation. It acts as the public-facing summary and pledge of compliance.

Note: For many products, you may need both a notified body certificate (which you reference in your technical file) and your own Declaration of Conformity.

The EU declaration of conformity and the UKCA or CE marking are two sides of the same coin, serving distinct but interconnected legal purposes.

Crucially, the marking is affixed to the product, not printed on the declaration.

When a product bears the UKCA or the CE marking and is supported by a valid EU Doc, UK or EU member states presume the product is compliant, facilitating its free movement

Many products sold in the EU or UK require a Declaration of Conformity. Specifically, all products that fall within the scope of CE marking or UKCA marking require a DoC (or specific variations like Declaration of Incorporation for partly completed machinery, or Declaration of Performance for construction products).
Products requiring a DoC include:

This list is not exhaustive. To determine if your product needs a DoC, check whether it falls within the scope of any EU directive or UK regulation. The scope, definitions, and exceptions are detailed in each specific directive or regulation.
Important note: Under the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), which came into force on 13 December 2024, virtually all consumer products sold in the EU must have an EU-based economic operator (manufacturer, importer, authorised representative, or fulfilment service provider) clearly identified. This significantly expands the range of products requiring proper compliance documentation.
If you’re selling directly to end-users online through platforms like Amazon or eBay, marketplace requirements may be stricter than legal minimums. Many platforms actively check for DoCs before allowing product listings.

Modern law introduces a practical approach: if a product falls under multiple directives requiring a declaration, they must be shown in a single, consolidated Declaration of Conformity. This document must:

A clear, accurate DoC helps you place products on the market with confidence and avoid unnecessary delays with authorities, distributors, and marketplaces. Whether you’re creating your first EU declaration of conformity or updating existing UKCA declarations, having a properly formatted DoC template and understanding the requirements ensures smooth market access.