What happens if I export to the EU without CE marking?

Consequences range from fines through product recalls to seizure at the customs border. In Germany, research shows minor breaches attract fines of between €3,000 and €10,000, with serious breaches risking up to €100,000. For putting products on the market without CE marking and without technical documentation, additional administrative penalties of between €2,000 and €12,000 apply, and for breaches that pose a genuine risk to health or safety, fines can reach between €60,000 and €6,000,000. Beyond that, the practical reality is often worse: goods held at customs incur storage costs and delivery delays that frequently exceed the financial damage of the fine itself.