Once considered the domain of commercial products, CE marking is increasingly important for defence manufacturers. As EU legislation evolves, exemptions narrow, and the line between civilian and military applications continues to blur, the assumption that defence equipment sits outside the scope of CE marking no longer holds.
Join Steve Hayes, Global Technical Director at Element, as he cuts through the complexity of one of the most misunderstood areas of defence compliance. Drawing on decades of experience, Steve will help you understand where you stand, what manufacturers’ requirements are, and what action you need to take when preparing for product testing.
What You’ll Learn
- The current regulatory landscape, including EMC requirements and the European Commission’s evolving position on military exemptions
- Why MoD expectations, legal precedent, and Article 346 challenges have pushed this issue up the agenda
- When CE marking applies to defence equipment, including the critical distinction between “placing on the market” and “putting into service”
- How to navigate harmonised standards, build technical documentation, and embed compliance into design and procurement
- Practical steps to manage CE marking across complex supply chains and long programme lifecycles
Why Attend
- This session is essential for engineers, compliance leaders, and programme managers who want to reduce regulatory risk, strengthen bid competitiveness, and integrate CE compliance into product development before it becomes a costly problem
- CE marking is no longer peripheral for defence. It is a commercial, legal, and operational necessity, and this webinar will give you the clarity and practical guidance to stay ahead
When
Thursday, June 25, 2026 · 4:00 p.m. London (GMT +1:00)
Presenters
Steve Hayes
Global Technical Director, Element
Steve Hayes has over 30 years of experience in the product approvals industry and serves on numerous national and international standards committees. He started his career as a test engineer, working in various positions within a test organisation, from running laboratories to taking full P&L responsibilities for company business teams.
Steve is highly active in the technical field and sits on many national and international committees, writing standards as well as regulatory forums. Steve is also currently the Chairman of the EMC Test Labs Association, former Chairman of the European Commission’s Association of Notified Bodies (EUANB) and an active member of the Radio Equipment Directive Compliance Association (REDCA).
In 2022, Steve also won the IEC 1906 Award, commemorating the foundation of the IEC and recognizing his ‘exceptional current achievement.
