Batteries and charging

EU Declaration of Conformity for USB Cables and Charging Cables: requirements and checklist

By Ing. Jaroslav Křepelka, Owner, DoC solutions s.r.o. · Updated 18 October 2026

In short: A USB or charging cable sold on its own is covered by the RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU, which defines cables and has applied to them since 22 July 2019, so it needs an EU Declaration of Conformity citing RoHS and the CE marking. The Low Voltage Directive does not apply at USB voltages, and a passive cable is not apparatus under the EMC Directive; from 14 December 2028 the ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2025/2052 adds requirements for USB Type-C cables.

A USB cable is a simple product, and sellers are often told it needs no CE marking at all. That is not right: the RoHS Directive explicitly covers cables used to connect electrical and electronic equipment, and RoHS requires an EU declaration of conformity and the CE marking. What a passive USB cable does not need is the Low Voltage or EMC Directive.

This page covers USB-A, USB-C and Lightning charging and data cables, sold on their own. Chargers with a built-in cable are power supplies and are covered in the phone charger guide.

Checklist: what your usb cable / charging cable declaration must contain

Model exactly as on the cable or packaging, listing connector types, lengths and colours covered
Name and postal address of the manufacturer (and of the authorised representative, if appointed)
The statement that the declaration is issued under the sole responsibility of the manufacturer
RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU
The EMC Directive 2014/30/EU only for cables with active electronics, for example signal repeaters or display adapters
The standard used to document RoHS compliance, with year
Place and date of issue, name and function of the signatory, and the signature

Which EU legislation applies

Legislation	Applies?	In the DoC?	Notes
RoHS Directive2011/65/EU	Applies	In the DoC: Yes	Article 3(5) defines cables as all cables with a rated voltage below 250 V that connect electrical equipment to the outlet or to each other, and Article 4(1) applies the substance restrictions to them. The Commission treats cables placed on the market on their own as electrical and electronic equipment in their own right (open-scope category 11), in scope since 22 July 2019, so the RoHS conformity assessment, declaration and CE marking apply.
EMC Directive2014/30/EU	Depends on model	In the DoC: Yes	A passive cable is not apparatus under the EMC Directive. Cables with active electronics, such as active extension cables, USB-to-HDMI or display adapters and hubs, are apparatus and need EMC assessment. Whether a cable with only an electronic marker chip counts as active should be assessed and documented.
Low Voltage Directive2014/35/EU	Usually not	In the DoC: No	USB operates far below 75 V DC (USB Power Delivery up to 48 V), so the LVD does not apply. Safety, including overheating of thin conductors at high charging currents, is covered by the General Product Safety Regulation.
Ecodesign for external power supplies, wireless chargers and USB-C cablesRegulation (EU) 2025/2052	Depends on model	In the DoC: No	From 14 December 2028 it replaces Regulation (EU) 2019/1782 and also covers USB Type-C cables. Check its requirements for cables sold from that date and plan the product information it requires.
General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)(EU) 2023/988	Applies	In the DoC: No	Safety of the cable in use, plus identification, traceability and online-listing information. No declaration of conformity under GPSR.
WEEE Directive2012/19/EU	Depends on model	In the DoC: No	Whether a separately sold passive cable falls under the national WEEE schemes differs between countries. Check the register in each country of sale before you start selling.

Typical harmonised standards

A harmonised standard gives presumption of conformity only in the version cited in the Official Journal of the EU. Always check the current list for each directive before you issue or update a declaration (European Commission: harmonised standards); the versions below are the ones commonly used at the time of writing, and the right selection depends on your product.

Hazardous substances (RoHS)

EN IEC 63000:2018Technical documentation for the assessment of electrical and electronic products with respect to the restriction of hazardous substances

USB specifications (not harmonised under CE legislation)

These are the specifications phones, tablets and laptops must support for charging under the Radio Equipment Directive. Cables that meet them avoid compatibility and overheating problems, and the evidence belongs in the technical file.

EN IEC 62680-1-3USB Type-C cable and connector specification
EN IEC 62680-1-2USB Power Delivery specification

Cables with active electronics (EMC)

EN 55032:2015 + A11:2020Electromagnetic compatibility of multimedia equipment — emission requirements
EN 55035:2017 + A11:2020Electromagnetic compatibility of multimedia equipment — immunity requirements

Already have a declaration for your usb cable / charging cable?

A certification expert checks it against everything on this page and tells you exactly what to fix. Written report in 48 hours, €99 per product (excl. VAT).

Common mistakes in usb cable / charging cable declarations

No declaration at all
Cables are covered by RoHS, which requires an EU declaration of conformity and the CE marking. "Cables don't need CE" is a common misunderstanding that marketplaces increasingly catch.
LVD and EMC cited for a passive cable
A passive USB cable is neither within the LVD voltage range nor apparatus under the EMC Directive. Citing both shows the declaration was copied from a template.
RoHS claimed without evidence
Plasticisers such as DEHP in the cable jacket are the typical RoHS problem for cables. The technical file needs supplier declarations or test reports for the jacket, connectors and solder, organised according to EN IEC 63000.
Current rating not supported
A cable sold as "100 W" or "5 A" must be built for it: conductor cross-section, an electronic marker chip in USB-C cables above 3 A, and temperature-rise evidence.
Variants not identified
One declaration for "all lengths and colours" without model numbers does not identify the product. List each model or a clear model range.

What you need besides the declaration

Technical documentation: Bill of materials, RoHS evidence for each material, the cable specification (conductors, current rating, e-marker) and, for active cables, EMC test reports. Keep it for 10 years.
Marking: CE marking, type or batch number, and the manufacturer's name and postal address on the cable or, where that is not possible, on the packaging.
Economic operator in the EU: An importer, authorised representative or responsible person established in the EU (Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020), named on the product, packaging or an accompanying document.

No EU presence yet? We can act as your EU authorised representative or responsible person.

Frequently asked questions

Does a USB cable need CE marking?

Yes, when it is sold on its own. The RoHS Directive covers cables and requires an EU declaration of conformity and the CE marking. The Low Voltage and EMC Directives usually do not apply to a passive USB cable.

Which directives go in a USB cable's declaration of conformity?

RoHS 2011/65/EU. The EMC Directive 2014/30/EU is added only for cables with active electronics, such as active extension cables or display adapters.

Are there new EU rules for USB-C cables?

Yes. The ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2025/2052 covers USB Type-C cables, as well as external power supplies and wireless chargers, from 14 December 2028.

What does MyCECheck check on a cable declaration?

That RoHS is cited correctly, that no directives that do not apply are listed, that the models are identified and that an EU economic operator is named. Written report within 48 hours.