NEWS

We are aware that some manufacturers are being approached by organizations who claim to be able to award CE Marking certification but who are actually not qualified to do so. We were recently contacted by a manufacturer in China, who believes they have been cheated by such an organization.

The manufacturer (ABC Co Ltd), had been approached by a company who offered product testing and CE certification for protective spectacles. The company tested ABC’s product and issued a certificate of CE Marking. ABC Co contacted staff in our Shanghai office after their European customer questioned the validity of the certificate. The General Manager told us that he had paid about US$3500 for the work but actually the CE company only tested one sample of his product and, as his customer had told him, the certificate was not in accordance with the format required in Europe and was not issued by a Notified Body, but by a company in USA claiming to be a certification body.

INSPEC is an officially approved Notified Body. We are authorized by United Kingdom Government and our representative office in Shanghai is also authorized by CNCA. We are experts in the requirements for CE Marking of Personal Protective Equipment and so, when we studied this case, we were able to inform ABC Co Ltd that,

- Testing to EN 166:2001 requires a minimum of 18 samples of each spectacle – not 1 sample!
- The total cost including application, testing and certificate issue of authorized CE Certificate is only USD2650 not USD3500!
- CE Certificates (EC Type Examination Certificates) for the PPE Directive can only be issued by European Notified Bodies – not by companies in the USA.

Unfortunately ABC Co Ltd have lost their money and will have to start again. We sympathize with ABC Co Ltd, and would like to recommend manufacturers check carefully that the company who offers a CE certificate is actually authorized. This can be done in the following ways:
a) Ask the company for the full name and address of their registered office in Europe.
b) Ask the company for their Notified Body reference number (INSPEC’s is 0194).
c) Check the website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/mechan_equipment/ppe/index.htm for an up-to-date listing of Notified Bodies who are authorized to provide testing and certification to the PPE Directive (89/686-EEC).
d) Contact the Notified Body in EU and ask them to confirm that they have an office/agent/representative in Asia.
In these days of electronic communications it is very easy for companies outside China to market their services to Chinese manufacturers. In this case, the unapproved company was outside China and therefore it may have been difficult for ABC Co to make a proper check. However, we believe that if manufacturers follow the above advice they may be able to save themselves time and money.

For all your CE Marking needs, please contact our staff at INSPEC Shanghai:
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