30 Aug
2012
30 Aug
'12
5:09 p.m.
In Europe, mains devices have to be CE-certified and
display the CE mark.
I beleive it's only those 'offered for sale'. Homebrew devices have to
comply with certain regulations,but they don't need to have a CE mark on
them.
But the manufacturers certify themselves that their
products are
compatible with the regulations, nobody actually tests them unless it is
necessary to prove that they do not comply, e.g. if a competitor reports
This (rather ridiculous) way of 'testing' has led to conspircy theories
that the big manufacturers have formed a cartel where they agree not to
report each other, but they do report (and thus eliminate) other
comepetiors, particualrly smaller companies. Sicen the testing is so
expesnive (either to have the equipment to do it yourself, or to have it
doene), said large companies are unlikely to be reported by anyone else.
Even getting the standards you have to cvomply with is expensive (and not
easy).
them to the authorities as being non-compatible, or
they are suspected
of being the cause of an accident, or they are suspected of being fake.
Devices made in China may show the "China Export" symbol, which is very
like the CE mark and may be easily confused with it (= is meant to be
confused with it?) http://www.icqc.co.uk/en/china-export.php but does
not mean that the device complies with EU regulations.
This is bl**dy ridiculous.... I was under the distinct impression there
were lwas (at least in the UK) prohibiting the use of 'similar' logos and
trademarks which could confuse the customer.
We have just had a certain event in East London. It's been called the
'Stratford Sports Day' because the organisers have come down heavily on
anyone who used the O-word without permission. Some reported cases of
that were silly.
And yed it appears that yuu can put a logo on soemthing that is likely to
be confused with a similar logo indicating that the product complies with
various safety standards. That strikes me as a lot more serious. Why is
this allowed?
-tony