Ah well, that has to be like that because of the Eco-design directive
ec.europa.eu/enterprise/eco_design/directive_2005_32.pdf#search=%22Directive%202005%2F32%2FEC%22Because the CE directive is to become an IMPLEMENTING MEASURE.
Now because the original CE directive taken together with the Eco-design directive could be construed as giving a monopoly to COMPETENT BODY'S, it is taken out of the CE directive with this update, but, as you could have guessed, it is firmly in place in the Eco-design directive. So if you thought you'd get away with it, think again.
The next thing you will notice is that the Eco-design directive will be amended to link the amended CE directive.
So far that's pretty simple!
On the plus side the Eco-design directive makes it easy for the small producer because (until it is amended - and it will be...) you don't have to be subjected to an IMPLEMENTING MEASURE if you make less than 200,000 units a year. You can volunteer, but you then would have to pay a COMPETENT BODY, which works out at about £2,000 a go per product (and if you get it wrong you fail, go back, throw another six and pay again). So that's just dandy?
No, it isn't!
If you decide you don't need to volunteer, you are effectively blocked from selling in Europe!
By not complying, and you don't have to if you make less than 200,000 a year, you won't be applying an IMPLEMENTING MEASURE, so you can't apply the CE directive, which is an IMPLEMENTING MEASURE. Therefore you are prevented by European law from applying the CE mark, which makes your products illegal for sale in Europe!
Therefore, the only way you can legally sell anything (by putting a CE mark on it) you are forced to gamble £2,000 on it. Now add that to the £12,000 per year WEEE (another European Directive) forces upon you, see:
www.letsrecycle.com/legislation/news.jsp?story=5929and you can guess that most decent audio products will be exclusively sold on the black market within the next year or so, making audio equipment designers fugitives on the line of murderers, rapists and Saddam Hussein
I'm pleased you understand that and by the way, did I leave anything out here? ;D
If you would like to BLAME anyone for this, look no further than the USA's biggest ally, NEW LABOUR (otherwise known as the UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT ELECT). Secretary of State to the EC at time of drafting and co-writer of the Eco-design directive is Jack Straw MP. He comes across as such a nice guy, but as they say about anything this complex "The Devil is in the detail"....
Not that I support the other lot, POLITICIAN is a very dirty word to me and I'd say they should all be abolished. However as that could be considered a treasonable statement, punishable by George Bush jnr, as this website is somehow linked via the good ol USA, I will not say they should all be abolished for obvious reasons.
And there you have it.... Enjoy