The technical documentation provides information on the design, manufacture, and operation of a product and must contain all the details necessary to demonstrate the product conforms to the applicable requirements.

If you are the manufacturer, there are certain rules that must be followed when placing a product on the market; you must:

• Prepare the technical documentation before placing a product on the market
• Ensure the technical documentation is made available to the market surveillance authorities (should they request to see it) as soon as the product is placed on the market
• Keep the technical documentation for 10 years from the date the product is placed on the market (unless explicitly specified otherwise)

The technical documentation is necessary to prove the product meets the essential requirements and therefore justify and support an EU declaration of conformity. You need this documentation in order to affix the CE marketing to the product.