How long must I keep the technical documentation for CE-marked products?

You must keep technical documentation for at least ten years from the date you put the product on the market in the EU, not from the manufacturing date. Technical documentation includes design records, risk assessments performed, test reports, the declaration of conformity and proof of the standards applied. This period applies regardless of whether you operate inside or outside the EU, so it binds British businesses just as it does manufacturers within the Union. During market surveillance inspections or in disputes, you must be able to produce these documents quickly to a regulatory authority on request, so a structured, permanently accessible storage system is advisable.