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CE certification for motorcycle gear, explained
Riding jackets, suits, pants and gloves sold in the EU (European Union) need the CE mark, which shows that a product meets EU rules. They also need a certificate from a notified body, a testing body the EU approves. A brand that sells under its own name needs the certificate in its own name. Here is how it works, as of October 2026.
- As of October 2026
- The EU, the UK, the US and Australia
- A 10-step checklist
The US has no standard for riding clothes
No US rule sets a standard for riding jackets, suits, pants or gloves. Only helmets have one, in the federal motor vehicle safety standards.
- Claims need proof: the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) expects a brand to hold proof before it makes a claim. That covers a claim about protection or a CE mark.
- Helmet marks: the DOT (US Department of Transportation) mark belongs to helmets. It never goes on a jacket or a glove.
- Labels: each piece needs a permanent "Made in Pakistan" label. Textile gear also needs fiber content and care labels.
In the EU, riding gear is personal protective equipment
Riding jackets, suits, pants and gloves fall under Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment (PPE). Test houses treat them as Category II PPE.
- A notified body: tests a sample of each model and issues an EU type-examination certificate. It lasts up to five years.
- Then production: each piece must match the certified sample.
- The paperwork: a technical file and an EU declaration of conformity, kept for 10 years, and user instructions with each piece.
- An EU address: an importer or representative based in the EU must be named on the product or its papers.
What the standards test
A notified body tests to European standards, named EN and a number. These are the ones for riding gear.
- EN 17092, garments: jackets, pants and suits, rated in classes AAA, AA, A, B and C. The tests include abrasion on a concrete surface and the strength of seams and closures.
- The classes: AAA, AA and A need impact protectors, and A leaves the hip protectors optional. B covers abrasion without protectors. C is a holder for protectors, worn with a garment of another class.
- EN 13594, gloves: rated Level 1 or Level 2. A glove that passes the knuckle test adds KP.
- EN 1621, protectors: protectors for the limbs, the back and the chest, rated Level 1 or Level 2.
Who holds the certificate
Under Article 12 of the regulation, a brand that sells gear under its own name or trademark counts as the maker. So the certificate must be in the brand's name.
- Your own certificate: your brand sends samples to a notified body, which tests them and certifies the model. You control it, and it costs the most.
- A certificate linked to the factory's: some notified bodies issue an own-brand certificate tied to a factory's certificate for the same model. The brand and the factory sign a contract for it.
- Either way: every piece must be built exactly like the certified sample.
What certification costs, and how long it takes
A notified body quotes each product. These figures come from gear sellers, and they vary widely.
- Cost: from about 2,000 to 20,000 euros per product. One glove maker puts gloves at about 3,000 euros.
- Time: from about 12 weeks to 18 months, from design to certificate.
- Your quote: ask a notified body for your own price and time before you plan a launch.
Great Britain and Australia
Two markets outside the EU, each with its own rules for riding gear.
- Great Britain: accepts the CE mark from an EU notified body, with no end date, since October 1, 2024. The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark is optional.
- Australia: has no required standard for riding clothes. MotoCAP, a government-backed program, rates gear it buys in stores and online.
- New South Wales: since July 1, 2026, learner and provisional riders must wear gloves labeled to EN 13594.
Your brand, the factory and the notified body
How the work usually splits when a brand sells riding gear in the EU.
| Task | Who does it |
|---|---|
| Count as the maker under Article 12 | Your brand |
| Pick a notified body and apply | Your brand |
| Make the samples for testing | Sharknits |
| Give the material details and production records | Sharknits |
| Test the model and issue the certificate | The notified body |
| Keep the technical file and the declaration for 10 years | Your brand |
| Name an EU importer or representative | Your brand |
| Build each order exactly like the certified sample | Sharknits |
| Tell you before any material changes | Sharknits |
| Sew in the CE mark, once the certificate is in your name | Sharknits, with your artwork |
10 steps before you sell riding gear in the EU
- Decide where you sell: the EU, Great Britain, Australia or the US.
- List the models that need a certificate: jackets, pants, suits and gloves.
- Pick the standard and the class for each model, such as EN 17092 class A or EN 13594 Level 1.
- Choose a notified body and ask for its price and time.
- Order samples made from your bulk materials, for testing.
- Get the certificate in your brand's name, for each model.
- Write the declaration of conformity and the user instructions.
- Name an EU importer or representative, with an EU address on the product or its papers.
- Mark the gear with the CE mark, your name and address, and the class or level.
- Keep the records for 10 years, and renew each certificate before it ends.
Where these rules come from
Read these before you plan a launch, and confirm the details with your notified body. CFR is the US Code of Federal Regulations.
- No US garment standard. Only helmets have a federal standard. eCFR: 49 CFR part 571
- Claims need proof. What the FTC expects before a claim goes out. FTC: advertising substantiation
- Origin labels. The country of origin on imported goods. eCFR: 19 CFR part 134
- The EU rules. Personal protective equipment, including Article 12. EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2016/425
- Great Britain. The CE mark accepted, and who counts as the maker. GOV.UK: PPE in Great Britain
- New South Wales. The glove rule for learner and provisional riders. New South Wales Government: gear for learner riders
- Garment classes. What EN 17092 tests, class by class. SATRA: EN 17092
- Protectors. What EN 1621 tests. SATRA: EN 1621
This guide explains the rules as of October 2026. It is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm the details with your notified body.
Questions buyers ask
Is CE certification required in the US?
No. The US has no required standard for riding clothes. A CE claim on a US listing still needs proof, as the FTC requires.
Who holds the CE certificate for a private label brand?
The brand. Under Article 12 of Regulation (EU) 2016/425, a brand that sells gear under its own name counts as the maker. So the certificate must be in its name.
What does EN 17092 class A mean?
A garment class for lighter riding. It is tested for abrasion and seam strength and needs impact protectors, though the hip protectors are optional.
Do gloves need their own certificate?
Yes. Gloves are tested to EN 13594 and rated Level 1 or Level 2.
How long does a certificate last?
An EU type-examination certificate lasts up to five years.
Is the UKCA mark required in Great Britain?
No. Great Britain accepts the CE mark from an EU notified body. The UKCA mark is optional.
Does Sharknits issue CE certificates?
No. A notified body issues the certificate, in your brand's name. We make the samples for testing, give you the material details and production records, and build each order exactly like the certified sample.
Your request is ready
Send it to us on WhatsApp, or copy it into an email to contact@sharknits.com.
Want to talk sooner? Book a 15-minute call on Google Meet.
What happens next
- We reply with questions and a quote.
- We make one sample for you to check.
- You approve it, and we make your order.
contact@sharknits.com · +1 647 501 5424
Sharknits is a custom clothing manufacturer for brands in the US, with factories in Lahore and Sialkot and a U.S. corporate office near Chicago.