CE marking on tiles means the manufacturer declares that the product's performance has been assessed under the EU construction products rules, using the harmonised standard EN 14411. Tiles placed on the EU market need it, along with a Declaration of Performance.
Many Indian plants that export to Europe do provide CE marking. But it is product by product, not factory by factory, so check the paperwork for each tile you buy.
What CE marking on a tile means
For construction products, CE marking is not a quality mark. It does not say a tile is good. It says the manufacturer has declared its performance for set characteristics, such as breaking strength, bond strength, durability and, for floors, slip resistance.
For ceramic tiles, much of the assessment is carried out by the manufacturer itself, based on type testing and its own factory production control. That makes the CE mark the manufacturer's declaration, not a certificate from an independent body. Your own checks still matter.
Ceramic tiles are among the products the EU classes as reaction-to-fire class A1 without the need for testing. Other characteristics must be tested or marked as "no performance determined".
What you should receive
- A Declaration of Performance for each product type, with a unique reference number.
- CE marking on the box or the accompanying documents, linked to that declaration.
- Test reports to EN 14411 and the ISO 10545 methods behind each declared value.
- The manufacturer's name and address, matching the plant that made your tiles.
Checking the declaration
Our article on the Declaration of Performance explains what each section should contain.
Do Indian tiles have it?
Plants that ship regularly to the EU usually have Declarations of Performance for their export ranges. Plants that sell mainly in India or to markets without CE requirements may not. Ask before you order, not after.
Watch for three problems. The declaration may belong to a different company than the exporter, which suggests a trader. The declared values may not match a current test report. Or the declaration may cover one size while you are buying another. Each of these needs fixing before shipment.
Duties are a separate question. The EU applies anti-dumping duties to tiles from India, and the rate depends on the exporter. Our list of countries with anti-dumping duties on Indian tiles covers the EU measure.
The new EU regulation
As of October 2026, the EU is moving from the Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 to a new one, Regulation (EU) 2024/3110. The new regulation entered into force in January 2025 and most of it has applied since 8 January 2026. It replaces the old rules gradually, as harmonised standards are moved across, and introduces a combined Declaration of Performance and Conformity.
Until the standard for tiles moves across, the existing CE and Declaration of Performance system continues to apply to them. Ask your EU customs broker or a notified body which version applies at the time you import.
How we help
We check that the Declaration of Performance, test reports and box marking match the plant and the product you are buying. To confirm the paperwork for an EU order, book a free sourcing review.