For decades, the CE mark (Conformité Européenne) has reassured consumers that home appliances meet strict EU safety, environmental, and energy standards. But as cross-border e-commerce surges, the system is breaking down.

In a recent piece, industry leader Yannick Fierling warned that non-compliant products—particularly small appliances sold directly by overseas sellers on online platforms—are entering EU homes with fake or unverified CE marks. Because these companies operate outside the EU, authorities cannot hold them accountable.

Why the Digital Product Passport (DPP) Isn’t Enough

The European Commission’s proposed Digital Product Passport (DPP) aims to fix traceability, but it creates new issues:
* Faked Compliance: Overseas sellers can easily upload false data into the DPP system just as they misuse the CE mark today.
* Unfair Admin Burden: Demands for granular data (like embedded carbon and recycled steel content) create heavy red tape for legitimate EU manufacturers, while offshore rule-breakers ignore them without consequence.

A Smarter Fix: The EPREL Model

Instead of adding bureaucracy for compliant brands, the EU should adapt the system used for the EPREL energy database:
* Mandatory EU Legal Entity: Require every CE-marked product sold in the EU to be backed by a verified, legally responsible entity located within the EU.
* QR Code Verification: Pair physical CE marks with QR codes linking to a central EU registry so consumers and authorities can verify compliance instantly.

Closing this loophole will protect European consumers, restore trust in safety standards, and level the playing field for legitimate appliance manufacturers.