The CE EN 388 Certification Process: How Gloves Get Tested

What CE Certification Actually Means

CE marking on a safety glove means the product has been tested and shown to meet the relevant European standard - for most work gloves, EN 388 for mechanical risks, with EN 374 for chemical and EN 407 for heat as applicable. The testing is performed by a notified body, an independent organisation designated to assess PPE, and the results are recorded in a test report and certificate.

Crucially, certification applies to a specific style, not a factory or a range. Each glove model has its own certificate number, which is why a supplier who gives you a certificate number for each style is behaving properly, and one who offers only a CE logo is not.

The Testing Process

For EN 388, the notified body tests the glove against a series of mechanical hazards: abrasion, cut, tear and puncture. Each test produces a performance level, and the results are printed on the glove as a code. For cut resistance, the modern standard uses a scale from A to F, while older certificates used 1 to 5.

The process involves sending samples to the laboratory, testing each property, and issuing a report that records the standard, the method and the achieved levels. The certificate is then tied to that specific product specification - which is why changing a material after certification requires re-testing.

The Certificate Number and How to Verify It

A genuine CE certificate carries a certificate number that identifies the specific test and product. You can verify this number against the notified body's records, which is the single most reliable way to confirm a glove is genuinely certified. A supplier who provides the number and invites verification is professional; one who offers only a logo or a vague claim should be treated with caution.

As an importer, you should keep the certificate and test report on file for every certified style you import. This documentation is what customs may request and what corporate buyers and tenders will almost certainly ask for.

Why Certification Requires Re-Testing

Certification is not permanent in the sense that any change to the product can invalidate it. If a factory changes the yarn, the coating compound or the construction of a certified glove, the performance may change, and the certificate may no longer apply. This is why a factory must control materials carefully and re-test when a specification changes.

For a buyer, this means the certificate you are shown must match the glove you are actually ordering. A certificate for a previous version of a glove does not cover the current one, which is another reason to verify the certificate number against the current product.

How Expedition Safety Handles Certification

Expedition Safety holds CE EN 388, EN 374 and EN 407 certification across our cut-resistant, nitrile, latex, PU and heat-resistant ranges, with a certificate number and test report for each certified style. We provide these for verification before you commit, and we maintain material control so the certified product matches what we ship. Our documentation is ready for customs and for the corporate buyers who require it.

The Role of the Notified Body

A notified body is an independent organisation designated by a European authority to assess personal protective equipment. It is not the factory and not the buyer - it is a third party whose job is to test the glove and confirm it meets the standard. The test report it issues records the standard, the test method and the achieved performance levels, and the certificate is tied to that specific product specification.

This independence is the whole point. A CE mark backed by a notified body's certificate means the performance claim has been checked by someone with no stake in the sale. That is why a certificate number you can verify is worth infinitely more than a logo image you cannot.

Reading the EN 388 Markings

The markings printed on a certified glove tell you its tested performance. Under the current EN 388 standard, the code lists abrasion, cut (A to F), tear and puncture resistance in order. A glove marked with a high cut letter has genuinely been tested to that level, and the test report will confirm it. The common confusion is between the old 1-to-5 cut scale and the new A-to-F scale - always confirm which standard a level was tested under.

For an importer, reading the markings is a practical skill: it lets you match the glove to the hazard and explain the difference to your customers with confidence.

Keeping Certification Valid

Certification is tied to a specific product, so it must be protected. A change to the yarn, the coating or the construction can change performance and invalidate the certificate, which is why material control and re-testing matter. A responsible factory re-tests when the specification changes and keeps the current certificate on file for each style.

For you, this means asking one question: does the certificate I am shown match the glove I am ordering? When the answer is yes - and you can verify it - the compliance side of your supply chain is solid.