How can I tell if a PPE CE certificate is genuine?
A genuine CE mark on PPE (other than the simplest Category I products) must trace back to an EU type-examination certificate (Module B) issued by a Notified Body with a four-digit number, plus an EU Declaration of Conformity signed by the manufacturer. Verify the certificate by checking that the Notified Body number is real and is accredited for PPE in the EU NANDO database, and cross-check the product against the EU Safety Gate (formerly RAPEX) recall feed. Counterfeit respirator certificates were a widespread problem during COVID-19, so a PDF certificate alone is not proof.
CE marking on personal protective equipment is governed by EU Regulation 2016/425. The CE mark itself is applied by the manufacturer, so the mark alone does not prove a product is genuine or tested. The supporting documents are what you actually verify.
The documents that should exist
- ·EU type-examination certificate (Module B): for Category II and III PPE, a Notified Body examines a representative sample and issues this certificate. It names the standard tested against (for example EN 149 for respirators).
- ·EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC): a signed statement by the manufacturer listing the product, the applicable regulation and standards, and, for Category III, the Notified Body involved in production control. The CE mark for Category III is followed by the four-digit number of that body.
- ·Technical file and test reports: the underlying evidence behind the certificate, which a serious supplier can produce on request.
How to verify rather than just receive a PDF
| Step | What to check | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Is there a Module B type-examination certificate at all (Cat II/III)? | Supplier document pack |
| 2 | Is the four-digit Notified Body number real and accredited for PPE 2016/425? | EU NANDO database |
| 3 | Does the certificate number and product match what the Notified Body lists? | Issuing body, many publish a lookup |
| 4 | Is there a signed EU Declaration of Conformity naming the same standards? | Supplier document pack |
| 5 | Has the product or brand been recalled or flagged? | EU Safety Gate (formerly RAPEX) weekly alerts |
Two common red flags: a certificate that cites only a test laboratory but no Notified Body for a Category III product, and a Notified Body number that exists but is not actually accredited for PPE. During COVID-19 the market saw large volumes of respirators carrying forged or misused certificates and fake Notified Body numbers, which is why cross-checking against NANDO and the Safety Gate matters.
How MPBxChange handles conformity evidence
MPBxChange does not certify products itself and does not claim suppliers are pre-verified. What the platform does is let a buyer require specific conformity evidence as part of the deal: the Module B certificate, the Declaration of Conformity, and test reports can be attached to a quality milestone. Where milestone escrow is used, that evidence is reviewed against the milestone before it releases, and the counterparty stays sealed until both sides accept, so the requirement is set before either side is exposed.
Frequently asked questions
No. It only indicates a Notified Body is involved in production control for Category III PPE. You still have to confirm that number is genuine and accredited for PPE in the EU NANDO database and that it matches the issuing body on the certificate.
It is the EU rapid alert system, formerly called RAPEX, that publishes weekly notifications of dangerous non-food products, including recalled or non-compliant PPE. Checking it can reveal a brand or model already flagged in the EU.
No. CE applies in the EU under Regulation 2016/425, UKCA is the separate Great Britain mark, and NIOSH approval is a US system for respirators. A product genuine for one market is not automatically accepted in another.