Don, As confirmed in discussions with the European Commission regarding the revision to LVD only yesterday, it is generally for each Member State to define what language(s) are acceptable within its own borders.
EN 60950 does give guidance in this area, saying that - except for safety instructions only for service personnel - instructions and equipment marking related to safety shall be in a language which is acceptable in the country in which the equipment is installed. Safety instructions for service personnel have to be in English and German (if you're supplying to Germany). You do not say if your product is, or could be, used by (including hired by) or sold to Consumers (e.g. the general public). If it is, then the revised General Product Safety Directive (GPSD - 2001/95/EC) could apply (it has not yet been adopted in all Member States). Article 8(1)(b) of this directive states: "for any product that could pose risks in certain conditions: (i) to require that it be marked with suitable, clearly worded and easily comprehensible warnings, in the official languages of the Member State in which the product is marketed, on the risks it may present; (ii) to make its marketing subject to prior conditions so as to make it safe;" The present and revised GPSD apply to equipment that falls outside the voltage limits of the LVD. Certain parts of the revised GPSD also apply in addition to the LVD. Hope the above help, Richard Hughes Typing on behalf of himself. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [ mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 22 January 2003 15:10 To: [email protected] Subject: Language Requirements for User Interfaces--CE Mark Dear Group: >From the harmonized list of standards published in the official journal of European communities, I do not see any CE Mark standards/requirements which cover the Languages of User Interfaces for products sold into Europe. Do any such requirements exist? Thanks in advance for any guidance you may be able to provide. Don ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Ron Pickard: [email protected] Dave Heald: [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected] Jim Bacher: [email protected] All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://ieeepstc.mindcruiser.com/ Click on "browse" and then "emc-pstc mailing list"
