Staying ahead of the Standards and Certifications curve: Are you among the compliant 20%?

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) initiated a test purchasing program in October 2021 to assess the conformity of products sold on designated online marketplaces (OMPs) to UK consumers. The objective was to gain insights into the assortment and potential hazards associated with these products. The program concluded in September 2022.

The products that were actually test purchased were from a low-price range, unbranded, or unknown brands. They had poor product reviews (less than 3 stars) or appeared to be of low quality in the listing photos.

The OPSS procured various items for evaluation, spanning cosmetics, compact mains-powered electrical devices, items incorporating button batteries, toys, and category 3 (complex) personal protective equipment (PPE). These products underwent rigorous scrutiny to ensure adherence to pertinent regulatory standards, encompassing assessments of labelling accuracy and visual inspections for conspicuous regulatory violations. Additionally, select products underwent laboratory testing.

Where non-compliance was found, businesses, including online marketplaces (OMPs), were notified. Products were also removed from sale, and enforcement action was taken where necessary. Only 84 out of the 515 small mains powered electricals were found compliant.

Standards and Certifications tested by The Office for Product Safety and Standards

The OPSS had a rigorous testing process for compact mains-powered electrical devices. These are some of the standards and certifications tested for:

• UKCA: The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessment) mark is the new UK product marking that will be required for certain products being placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland).
• EN 62368-1: provides the guidelines for the safety of electrical and electronic equipment within the field of audio, video, information, and communication technology.
• EN 60335-1 and EN 60335-2: European Standard deals with the safety of electrical appliances for household environment and commercial purposes, their rated voltage being not more than 250 V for single-phase and 480 V for others.
• EN 60598-1: European standards that specify safety requirements for electrical luminaires or lighting units.
• BS 1363-2 : British Standards covering the UK’s national electrical power plug and socket outlet system

As experts in power conversion, we know that understanding the subtle differences between each standard, regulation, and directive can be daunting. To this end, our sales and technical experts have prepared a comprehensive overview of the certifications and standards that govern the manufacturing and distribution of power supplies in different territories.

To ensure your electronic devices aren’t delisted or sanctioned, start by grabbing a virtual coffee with us as we cover all the bases on your required standards and certifications today.