Bob Eager wrote:

they understood that they could sell them without CE because they
were 'unfinished' (not in cases, etc.). They've now been told that is
not so.

Probably a case of them thinking that would be how they'd do it when the
RPi foundation were going to manufacture an sell themselves, but
RS/Farnell deciding they weren't happy now that *they* are licensed to
do the manufacturing and selling.