When CE violations are detected the EC blocks imports of that item - not sure if they block anything from that manufacturer, which would be more sensible. Does America really check the paperwork trail for every import?
Comment on another point raised here: the point of UL etc certification is usually insurance based. Don't forget they're called Underwriter's Laboratories, ie they certify that the manufacturer has an audit trail proving product X is made to a particular design which has been cross-checked by UL as meeting the standards which have been found, through numerous sad accidents, to make things reasonably safe. (I often wonder how many people die to give doctors one cure.) European certification works along similar lines but violation inspections are generally complaint-driven, as I understand the FCC rules are, ie no inspection until someone complains - but the people most likely to complain are competitors saying "Acme Widgets is cutting corners, slap their wrists". Alas the competitors are usually cutting the same or other corners so are unlikely to rock the boat lest a mud slinging contest ensue with no winners.
So, are you saying that UL actually batch check every imported item and every home produced item for violations? From what I've seen, UL are vastly undermanned right now.
Interesting practical American approach. Personally I've found the CE standards much easier to use than UL ones, largely because the 3rd party certification authorities are engineers who are allowed to use common sense to interpret standards, rather than less experienced staff who are not allowed to deviate from the *letter* of the holy specifications. Also you can ring them up and they'll answer the phone.