UL Marking for exports

Workshop on "Certification & Marking Requirements for Export of Electronics, Electrical & Engineering Products to Developed Country Markets" Eximius Centre, Bangalore, February 26, 2003

Background: Eximius Centre organized a workshop on the captioned subject with faculty support from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) India Pvt. Ltd. at Bangalore on February 26, 2003. The objective of the workshop was to create awareness among exporters about the importance of Certification Marking requirements and to provide an insight on various standards and modalities of certification for exports to developed country markets.

Faculty: The workshop was addressed by Mr. V. Ramesh, Co-ordinator, Conformity Assessment Services, Mr. A Bhattacharya, Project Engineer, Mr. P Gopinath, Country Co-ordinator, Mr. P Manickam, Senior Quality Auditor and Mr. Amit Tiwari, Sr. Engineering Associate, UL India Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore.

Target Sectors: The workshop targeted sectors and sub-sectors of electrical, electronics and engineering industry.

Summary of Discussions: Mr. Amit Tiwari and Mr. Ramesh made a presentation on the Role of UL Inc, and UL Mark, which act as Global Trade Facilitators. It was informed that UL Inc. evaluates more than 18,750 product categories worldwide and approximately 66,700 manufacturers produce UL certified products. It was also indicated that UL Mark appears on more than 17 billion individual products.

On categories of product safety certifications by UL, the participants were told that UL tests products for various hazards like shock, fire, casualty, and chemical & emissions hazards. It was informed that apart from UL certification, UL Inc., also provides services in obtaining global certifications like GS (Germany), C-UL (Canada), S (Sweden), D (Denmark), F (France), K (The Netherlands), NOM (Mexico), CE (Europe), Key Mark and EMC Mark, The Great Wall of China and many more.

Mr. Bhattacharya made a presentation on CE marking and the strategies for European compliance. It was informed that Europe has contracted three standards writing bodies for developing harmonized standards, viz., European Committee for Standardization (CEN), European Committee for Electro-technical Standardization (CENELEC) and European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). It was also informed that harmonized standards are primarily identified by European Norm (EN) which are based on International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) and International Standards Organization (ISO). Mr. Bhattacharya also made presentations on Low Voltage Directive, Electro-magnetic Compatibility Directive and Machinery Directives of European Union. The participants were also briefed upon developing a European EEA Conformity Assessment Strategy through identifying appropriate legal and marketing requirements.

The workshop gave extensive opportunity to the participants to interact with the faculty members on various issues related to quality standards

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