Certificate of Conformity

A Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is a formal document, typically issued by a Third-Party Testing laboratory or a component supplier, attesting that a specific product or part meets defined technical standards. For North American manufacturers, it is critical to distinguish this from the Declaration of Conformity (DoC). While the DoC is the mandatory legal statement you sign to assume liability for CE marking, a CoC is often a voluntary validation from an external partner.

In the context of Global Market Access (GMA), specific CoCs are often required for exports to markets like Saudi Arabia (SASO) or Russia (EAC). However, within the EU machinery sector, a CoC generally serves as supporting evidence for your Technical File rather than a standalone permit to sell. It proves that an independent expert has verified your Component Compliance or safety test results.

While not always legally required for standard machinery, obtaining a CoC from an accredited lab is a powerful risk management tool. It demonstrates "due diligence" to authorities like Trading Standards should your self-declaration ever be challenged.