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market access mar/08/apr The Inside View Dear Valued Customers, Consumers can distinguish whether a product has been tested and is harmless by simply looking for the certification mark on a product. The GS Mark is proof that it has been tested for product safety by an independent testing organization. GS Mark is currently not mandated by law, allowing potential for dangerous products in the marketplace. GS Mark is a key differentiator when a product’s malfunction leads to an accident, where the manufacturer could be held responsible under Germany’s (and the EU’s) strict product liability laws. These types of incidents can be prevented by GS Mark certification. The GS Mark was created to meet the safety demands of the industry, importers, distributors, trade-houses, public insurance and consumer organizations in Germany. Many organizations were experiencing difficulty controlling safety compliance of their products, to curtail uncertainties concerning product liability and sustain customer satisfaction. The GS Mark certification validates product’s compliance under German safety laws and assures product safety. In addition, the GS Mark is a convincing marketing aid creating customer confidence and purchasing motivation. The GS Mark is valid for most electrical consumer products such as toys, household appliances, handheld tools and IT/office and AV Equipment. The idea of the GS-mark was so successful, not only did it become a marketing criterion but also received recognition by consumers and distributors in countries outside of Europe. In this issue of Market Access, our cover story explores the significance of the GS Mark and delves into clarifying its difference from the CE Marking. You will also find articles on the EU’s new machinery directive and details into the Wi-Not organization. You’ll get to discover timely news items, such as the TUVdotCOM enhancements, customer feedback contestant winner, tradeshows and more. Sincerely, Dan Sullivan Product Safety Division Manager Dan Sullivan PRODUCT SAFETY DIVISION MANAGER TüVRheinland ® 2
market access Cover Story Product Safety The GS Mark Clarifying The Significance And Difference Between GS Mark and CE Marking Authored by Dan Sullivan, (Newtown, CT) Product Safety Division Manager The TüVRheinland ® GS Mark has its roots in the German equipment safety law but the literal translation of “GS” does not stand for German safety, but rather “safety-tested”. Typically, the electrical safety aspects of a product are evaluated, tested and certified in conjunction with the issuance of this marking. The TüVRheinland ® GS Mark signifies: • A representative sample of the product has been evaluated, tested and approved for safety. • The production line is inspected on an annual basis. The TüVRheinland ® GS Mark may also provide a marketing advantage since it is a voluntary mark. CoNTiNueD oN PAge 4 mar/08/apr GS Mark vs. ce Marking There is often confusion about the terms CE and GS among non-European manufacturers. To better understand the differences between each, and avoid misunderstandings, a brief explanation follows. The TüVRheinland ® , GS Mark is a voluntary testmark. It is attached to a product to highlight that a third party has tested its safety and that a continuous production control is maintained. The GS Mark was created to meet the demands of industries, importers, distributors, trade-houses, public insurance and consumer organizations in Germany. It verifies the compliance of technical products with the safety requirements of the German safety law. These organizations could not afford to control the compliance of articles from all over the world by themselves, but wanted to avoid uncertainty concerning product liability and customer satisfaction. The concept of the GS Mark was so successful that it became not only a marketing tool but also found wide acceptance from consumers and distributors in other countries in and outside of Europe. On the other hand, CE Marking is a mandatory regulation and not a test-mark. It was created by the European Union as an authorization for customs officials - proving that the product may be traded freely within Europe. Since the CE Marking has to be attached to each and every product within the 3
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