21.11.2019 1 High Level Certification versus Market Surveillance UNECE WP.6, 29th Session Geneva, 22nd November 2019 Presented by Heinz Berger Import Control / Market Surveillance is not an easy task and, in many cases, cost intensive. The costs remain with the importing country!!! Hence, a rather large number of products with low level certification may be shipped to a country, bringing in some risks. Low level certification systems (e.g. ISO System # 1), do not require factory inspection prior to certification of a product, followed by annual (or more frequent) surveil- lance assessments. Hence, certification according to ISO System # 5 may be an adequate solution. All under the control of the Certification Body under national accreditation.
Transcript
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High Level Certification versus Market Surveillance
UNECE WP.6, 29th SessionGeneva, 22nd November 2019
Presented by Heinz Berger
Import Control / Market Surveillance is not an easy taskand, in many cases, cost intensive.
The costs remain with the importing country!!!
Hence, a rather large number of products with low levelcertification may be shipped to a country, bringing in somerisks.
Low level certification systems (e.g. ISO System # 1), donot require factory inspection prior to certification of aproduct, followed by annual (or more frequent) surveil-lance assessments.
Hence, certification according to ISO System # 5 may be anadequate solution. All under the control of the CertificationBody under national accreditation.
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IS/ISO/IEC Guide 67:2004
In the field of electrical products {e.g. houshold equipment, installation equipment, equipment for use in Explosive Atmosphere (IECEx), apply ISO System # 5}.
A large number of national conformity assessment sys-tems, usually connected to a Conformity Mark, are in use.
Some examples:
VDE Mark
IECEx Mark is available but not mandatory
UL Mark
Chinese Compulsory Certification
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Certification Bodies are obliged to maintain databases ofcertified products.
As an example, the EU and the OECD maintain recall listsfor unsafe/risky products:
Products certified according to ISO Certification System #5 (testing, quality system, factory inspections, samplesfrom open market) and the use of databases as mentionedabove minimise the risk level.
In such certification systems, the normal procedure isstandard fulfillement with the assumption that a producttested to the latest standard version is rated safe.
Modern ways to check validity of a certificatehttps://www.iecex-certs.com/home
There are several possibilities to minimize the risks withimported products and to reduce the risk of casualties:
Use ISO System # 5 Certification System Govern-ments should/shall introduce import regulationsaccordingly («Govermental Power»)
The use of digital databases to check validity ofcertificates (e.g. IECEx) and the use of internet lists withunsafe/risky products reduction of picking samplesfrom the open market cost reduction.
The key point is, that manufacturers need to take over thecosts for factory inspection (including surveillanceinspections) and not the importing country creating highmarket surveillance costs. get better products to yourcountry improve import control!
