George I generally agree with most of what you say - except the possible implication in the 3rd paragraph where the use of the word "applicable" could be be misconstrued as INCLUDING that the GPSD would apply in the absence of any SPECIFICALLY applicable directives.
I believe that a better definition is that "the CE marking is required on all products covered by European Directives that apply to it AND that require the marking". This definition then excludes the GPSD, Product Liability Directive and multitudinous other directives which exist - but which (at least currently!) no mention at all of CE marking. With many of the "non-specific" directives it would actually be very difficult to lay down a set of rules under which the CE Marking could be applied - since, in many cases, product standards and means of verifying conformity do not exist. To require the CE Marking in such circumstances would result in a similar - but FAR worse -situation that we encountered in the early 90's with the advent of the EMC Directive but with far fewer standards etc., to support it! I hope that I have not stated the obvious but I encounter people who are under the impression that the CE marking means that a product complies with ALL European directives that apply to it. John Allen Racal Defence Electronics Ltd. ---------- From: [email protected][SMTP:[email protected]] Sent: 04 April 2000 19:01 To: [email protected] Subject: GPSD Discussion Several comments were made relative to the evolving General Product Safety Directive (92/59/EEC) and CE marking that may have given an inaccurate view. Here is my understanding: The EU now requires "CE" marking on a broad variety of imported products as a condition of entering the EU. The display of the "CE" marking means that the product complies with all "applicable" EU Directives for that product. The required EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for each "CE" marked product states the Directives to which the product conforms, and often the standards or method by which conformity was verified. As a result of the above, you can find the "CE" marking on household kitchen appliances, electric razors, stuffed animals, etc. In other words, "CE" is not just for electrical equipment. The GPSD appears to be aimed at many consumer products for which there is now no specific Directive or EU legislation. However, since this 1992 Directive is not well understood by even members of the EU, recent Commission discussions are with the intent of clarifying this Directive, possibly replacing it with a new version. Although no specific product examples are cited, there are references to "food products". There are also references to the following Union death rates in 1996: workplace deaths 6000 traffic accidents 45000 home and leisure accidents 83000 This explains the emphasis on consumer products and services. Although the langauge sounds like it was written by a committee of lawyers, I think it implies that where products conform to existing product safety Directives/legislation, the GPSD does not apply. These are merely my opinions on a very complex document.... George Alspaugh ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Jim Bacher: [email protected] Michael Garretson: [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected] ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Jim Bacher: [email protected] Michael Garretson: [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected]
