Thursday, November 13, 2008
Who needs the CE Mark and CE certification? A primer for medical manufacturer
The European Union now includes 27 countries. Three additional countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) are not EU members but are included in the European Economic Area (EEA). Switzerland is not part of the European Union.
For the exporter, Europe's regulatory requirements are easier to meet than even before. Before the creation of the European Union, each country imposed its own regulations. Different standards and regulatory procedures forced exporters to target one or two countries only, or to forego exporting to Europe altogether. The unification of 27 European countries into a European Union, and the resulting unification of laws, standards, and procedures, changed all that.
What are the advantage of certification?
· Improved customer retention
· Revealing operational optimisation
· Clear structures, improved flow of information
· Continuous improvements and more profitability through less disturbances
· Staff motivation Economic success
What are the ISO standards referred to by PC manufacturers?
CE Mark services with ACC-APAVE
· All necessary electrical and EMC testing provided on-site at your facility
· Detailed examination and test reports with technical solutions to each non-conformity
· Over 100 offices in Europe to support your project long after completion.
· Working with the most knowledgeable and experienced CE Mark compliance engineers in the industry.
What are the uses of CE marking?
- As proof of the required surveillance by an accredited body, the product carries the individual CE-marking of the accredited body with a four-digit number registered in russels.
- E.G. The CE-marking of TÜV Saarland carries the number 0034.
Who will certify?
What is the procedure?
If you think your product may fall in any of the above mentioned 23 categories, contact us immediately. We will provide end-to-end solutions in CE Marking your product, including consultancy, product testing and certification.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Where the CE marking should be affixed?
CE Marking and the Pressure Equipment Directives
The Pressure Equipment Directive is probably the most applicable to industrial machines and processing equipment, and yet most manufacturers are unaware of its impact and requirements. It became a mandatory requirement for equipment entering the European Union on May 29th, 2002. If the machinery you produce contains gas or liquid systems operating above 0.5 bar (approximately 7.25 psi) you should investigate the application of this directive. It is likely that many of the components encompassed within your equipment will not require any rigorous assessment, but there will be a few components that may require the involvement of a Notified Body.
CE marking and the reality of SMEs
Simplified procedures for CE marking for small series production should be guaranteed through the accreditation and conformity assessment systems established under EU legislation. Public procurement should operate under these SME friendly rules.
The balanced representation of SME collective organizations in standardization technical committees and their right to vote in technical committees should be guaranteed by European Legislation on the standardization system.
Simplicity of standards written with the "Think Small First" principle should also be established in the European Legislation on the standardization system. Simplification manuals and training of SME standardization experts should be provided through European and National coordinated actions with sufficient funding
How should the marking look?
CE-Marking Complain Process
2. Clarification as to the role, limits, and assistance of EBCP in individual cases.
3. CE medical device regulations, policy and guidelines
4. EBCP documentation and an information system for accidents, product failure, safety problems, and related reports.
5. Websites and Links: useful EMC/safety information.
How Does CE Marking Works?
The good news is that CE marking is integral part of the BS EN Standards for aggregates, and therefore, as you are likely to produce your aggregate to such standards already, obtaining the CE mark may be easier than you think.
The requirements for the CE marking are usually set in Annex ZA of your relevant BS EN Standard (e.g. BS EN 13043 aggregates for asphalt, and BS EN 13242 aggregates for unbound applications etc.). There you will find:
- The list of product characteristics you will need to designate or declare a category or value for, as appropriate (e.g. designation d/D for aggregates size, category for resistance to fragmentation, declared value of chloride content etc.)
- Whether or not a third party certification is required.
- The procedures to attest conformity of your aggregates (e.g. initial type testing, factory production control)
- Supplementary information you need to provide in the declaration of conformity
- Some examples of CE marking you could affix on the label, packaging and/or commercial documents accompanying your product.
Is there a relation between CE Marking and ISO 9000?
Some directives explicity make use of a quality management system (ISO 9000) as part of the conformity assessment. Only in specific cases this is a requirement to comply with CE marking directives.
If a company wishes to provide the customer with assurance about the functional quality of the product, the company needs to obtain a voluntary quality inspection mark. The inspection mark guarantees that products will conform to safety and functional requirements over the long term. It is sometimes also the case that these products meet the essential requirements of European Directives. In such cases, little extra effort is required to meet CE marking requirements.
What are the benefits of product testing and certification?
Break into new markets with appropriate certification and compliant products
Market development:
Maximize the potential of existing markets and break into new markets
Speed to market:
For time critical industries, product testing and certification can speed the entry to market
Risk management:
Mitigate the risks and liabilities in your chosen markets and achieve secure and robust decision making through the management of risk and compliance
Product differentiation:
Through independent testing and certification your products will stand out from your competitors
Managed compliance:
In partnership with our clients we offer guidance throughout the design and manufacturing process - improving our client's time to market.
Competitive edge:
Through our distinguished product certification mark - Kitemark, trusted by 88% of the UK adult population and recognized around the world.
Customer confidence:
Through BSI's globally acknowledged and trusted independence and reputation achieve consumer and business reassurance
Are You Losing Money Because You Don’t Know How CE Marking Certification Works?
Here is your opportunity to take control over your company’s CE marking projects. To get back in the driver seat, so to speak. You can learn exactly how the CE marking requirements affect your company’s products and business. You can take the strategies and tactics and use them to reduce CE certification costs and get results amazingly fast.
Why is CE Marking called the "Passport to Europe" for non-EU products?
This legislation requires manufacturers to display CE Marking on their product, packaging and accompanying literature. Where a new approach directive is in force, it is (with few exceptions) an offence to place a product on the market without CE Marking. The manufacturer is legally responsible for ensuring that the product confirms to the requirements of the directive and for applying CE Marking.
CE Marking is one important measure that the EU has adopted to establish the single market and foster economic development for the member states. The objective of the directives is to simplify the movement of goods into and within the EU. This may eventually lead to the free movement of goods throughout Europe as more and more european countries are expected to join the EU. The European Commission thus refers to the CE Marking as a "Passport" which allows products to be freely circulated within the EU single market.
Often, consumers will consider CE Marking on a product as an indication of conformance to laid down minimum standards, and therefore a minimum level of safety which other products may lack. CE Marking is thus for many consumers a "Symbol of Safety." Being a manufacturer exporting to EU, if you have not got your products fixed with CE Marking, it is now time to invest in it. A CE Marking on your product will be more valuable than millions of dollars spent on TV advertising. Nowadays, it is not unusual to see some high-quality, even known brand, products have to appear in Second-hand Stores (which sells used products) or on street-vendor's Stands. Why? lack CE Marking!
What are the General principles of the CE marking?
- The CE marking shall be affixed only by the manufacturer or his authorised representative.
- The CE marking shall be affixed only to products to which its affixing is provided for by specific Community harmonisation legislation, and shall not be affixed to any other product.
- By affixing or having affixed the CE marking, the manufacturer indicates that he takes responsibility for the conformity of the product with all applicable requirements set out in the relevant Community harmonisation legislation providing for its affixing.
- The CE marking shall be the only marking which attests the conformity of the product with the applicable requirements of the relevant Community harmonisation legislation providing for its affixing.
- The affixing to a product of markings, signs or inscriptions which are likely to mislead third parties regarding the meaning or form of the CE marking shall be prohibited. Any other marking may be affixed to the product provided that the visibility, legibility and meaning of the CE marking is not thereby impaired.
- Member States shall ensure the correct implementation of the regime governing the CE marking and take appropriate action in the event of improper use of the marking. Member States shall also provide for penalties for infringements, which may include criminal sanctions for serious infringements. Those penalties shall be proportionate to the seriousness of the offence and constitute an effective deterrent against improper use.
CE Marking is not only a legal obligation
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
What is CE Marking ?
Why struggle with the complexity of CE Marking requirements?
Barclay Phelps have the experience of thousands of successfully completed cases of CE Marking and CE Certification. We fully understand the complexity of CE Compliance and CE Approval and we are exceptionally well qualified in this field. So why struggle with the complexity of this subject when we can do it all for you for a very modest fee.
What it means to have CE Mark?
When the CE Mark is affixed, it means that the products conform to EMC(Electromagnetic Compatibility) Directive and other relevant Directives that are relevant to the products. Many electrical appliances also have to conform to Low Voltage Directive. Electrical toys will have to conform to Toy Safety Directive.
The EC declaration of conformity must include components like :
a) Description of the products.
b) A reference to the specifications under which conformity is declared.
The reference to the specifications does not necessarily mean that you have to test these specifications. Three scenarios are apparent.
i) The product intrinsically meets the requirements of the Directive and does not need testing
. Most electronic products are not able to follow this option.
ii) Declaration is make on existing test results. If the products already conform to existing standards such as FCC for emissions and IEC 801 for immunity, then you may be confident that the product will meet the appropriate harmonized standards without further testing.
iii) Test fully to the harmonized standards or choose the technical file route. For complex and new products, this will be costly but is essential.
c) Signatory to bind the manufacturer or his representative.
d) where necessary, reference to the EC type examination certificate for radio transmitters.
Five Levels of Certification
· Level I Graduate degree in Library or Information Science from an Institute of Higher Education Accredited by the American Library Association
· Level II A Bachelor's Degree from an Accredited College or University, AND 15 Semester Hours or 20 Quarter Hours in Library Education from an Accredited College or University, AND 40 CE Contact Hour Credits - OR - A minimum of a Minor in Library Science from an Accredited College or University
· Level III A Bachelor's Degree from an Accredited College or University AND 40 CE Contract Hour Credits - OR - An Associate degree from an Accredited College or University, AND 5 years of library work within the last 10 years, AND 40 CE Contact Hour Credits
· Level IV High School Diploma or G.E.D., AND 60 Semster Hours or 90 Quarter Hours of College Credit, AND 40 CE Contact Hour Credits - OR - High School Diploma or G.E.D., AND 5 Years of Library Work within the last 10 years, AND 40 CE Contact Hour Credits
· Level V High School Diploma or G.E.D., AND 2 Years of Library Work within the last 5 years, AND 40 CE Contact Hour Credits