Low-voltage circuit breakers, contactors and boards sold in the EU fall under the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU (equipment rated 50–1,000 V AC). The product must carry the CE marking and be covered by an EU Declaration of Conformity, and when you import it from China you, the importer, take on legal duties: check the marking and the declaration, hold the technical file on request, put your name and address on the product or its packaging, and keep the declaration for 10 years. For a first order, ask the supplier for the declaration of the exact ordering code, check it against the sample, then book the shipment — by DHL Express air for samples, by sea for volume.
Key facts
- The Low Voltage Directive (LVD) covers electrical equipment designed for 50–1,000 V AC or 75–1,500 V DC — which includes MCB, RCBO, MCCB, ACB, contactors and distribution boards.
- Conformity assessment under the LVD is by internal production control (Module A): there is no notified body and no mandatory third-party certificate. The CE marking is a manufacturer’s declaration, backed by a technical file.
- The public grid in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France and Germany is 230/400 V, 50 Hz. 480 V is not a public-grid voltage in Europe, but industrial machinery and some projects specify it — see which grid your breaker suits.
- Spanish installations are governed by the Reglamento electrotécnico para baja tensión (Real Decreto 842/2002) and its technical instructions, so installers and specifiers expect CE-marked devices built to IEC/EN standards.
Who is responsible for what
| Party | Duty under the LVD |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Designs and tests the product, draws up the technical file, issues the EU Declaration of Conformity and affixes the CE marking. |
| Importer (you, or the EU company that imports) | Places only compliant equipment on the market; checks the CE marking, the declaration and the instructions; shows its own name and postal address on the product, packaging or accompanying document; keeps a copy of the declaration for 10 years and makes the technical file available to authorities on request. |
| Exporter / trading company (HAZAM) | Supplies the right ordering code with its declaration, test reports, labels and photos; does not replace the importer’s legal role. |
The importer’s role is where first-time buyers are caught. If you import in your own name, you are the economic operator the authorities will contact — not the Chinese factory. If a distributor imports for you, make sure their name and address appear on the goods or the packaging.
Which standards apply to which product
| Product | Typical standard | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MCB (household and similar) | EN 60898-1 | The household standard; see IEC 60898 vs 60947. |
| MCCB and ACB (industrial) | EN 60947-2 | Ratings are stated as Icu / Ics, not the 6 kA / 10 kA of MCBs. |
| Contactors and overload relays | EN 60947-4-1 | Coil voltage and 50 / 60 Hz must be stated — coil voltage guide. |
| RCCB / RCBO | EN 61008-1 / EN 61009-1 | Type A is common for modern loads — Type AC vs Type A. |
| Assembled boards | EN 61439 series | Applies to the assembly, not to the single device. |
Harmonised standards are revised, so the edition cited on the declaration matters. The authority list is published by the European Commission; see its pages on the Low Voltage Directive and on CE marking, and the directive text on EUR-Lex.
What a valid Declaration of Conformity contains
- The model or type it covers — it must match the ordering code you buy, not just the series name.
- The manufacturer’s name and address and a statement that the declaration is issued under its sole responsibility.
- A statement that the product conforms to the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU (and, for devices with electronics, the EMC Directive 2014/30/EU and RoHS where applicable).
- The harmonised standards applied, with their edition.
- Place, date, and the name and signature of the person who signed it.
Red flags: a declaration that names only a series, a declaration with no manufacturer address, a “CE” logo that looks like the “China Export” mark (the letters too close together), or a certificate belonging to a different brand. Certificates belong to the manufacturer and the exact tested model; they do not transfer between brands. See how to verify an authorised CHINT distributor.
The customs file for a first shipment
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Customs value, Incoterm, exact descriptions and ordering codes. |
| Packing list with carton data | Pieces, gross weight and CBM per carton; lets the broker declare correctly and the forwarder quote exactly. |
| Transport document | Air waybill for air or express, bill of lading for sea. |
| Declaration of Conformity and test reports | Proof for market-surveillance checks; keep them with the import file for 10 years. |
| Importer’s EORI number | An EU importer needs an EORI number to clear goods. |
| Tariff code | Automatic circuit breakers up to 1,000 V are usually classified under subheading 8536 20; boards under 8537. Confirm the code and the duty with your broker and the EU tariff database. |