CERT provides specialist product legislation and technical support across food, supplements, and a wide range of household products. The only exclusion is medicinal products. You are welcome to explore our website to see how we can support your business—or better still, give us a call or send us an email.

In the meantime, here is a quick overview of Electrical Products and how CERT can assist:

The International Electrotechnical Commission defines low voltage as the range 50–1000 V AC or 120–1500 V DC.

CERT can provide support with the following areas:

• Low Voltage Electrical Equipment – regulated by the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) in the EU and the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 in the UK.
• Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) – regulated by the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC) in the EU and the Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 in the UK.
• Radio and Telecommunications Equipment – regulated by the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) in the EU and the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 in the UK.

The central piece of harmonised legislation in Europe is the Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU). This ensures that electrical equipment operating within the defined voltage limits provides a high level of protection for consumers while benefiting fully from the Single Market / European Economic Area (EEA).

Compliance with a harmonised European standard creates a presumption of conformity, meaning the product is accepted as safe. Manufacturers have specific obligations, including:

• Affixing the CE marking for EU markets and the UKCA marking for UK markets.
• Preparing and holding a Declaration of Conformity.
• Retaining technical documentation available for inspection by market surveillance authorities.

Support from CERT

• Comprehensive product risk assessment covering legislative obligations and health & safety, ensuring all principal safety objectives are achieved.
• Independent guidance on product testing requirements, tailored to your market and product category.
• Targeted regulatory support for each market where your products are placed.
• Advice on variations in low voltage networks such as Separated Extra-low Voltage (SELV) – commonly used for decorative outdoor lighting – and Protected Extra-low Voltage (PELV), as found in IT and computer equipment.
• Mandatory product and packaging labelling requirements, including recommended best practice for due diligence.
• Independent product review and critical analysis of test results to ensure compliance and market readiness.
• Expert support in preparing, recording, and maintaining documentation for inspection by enforcement authorities.
• Guidance on key regulations, including:
• Radio Equipment Directive (RED) – formerly Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R&TTE)
• Low Voltage Directive (LVD)
• Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive
• Machinery Directive, where applicable
• Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE)
• Batteries and associated safety guidelines, including button cell batteries.

Documentation

CERT delivers tailored solutions aligned with your development schedule, supplying the results required for effective compliance. Contact CERT to discover the right solution for your business.

Labelling and Records

Manufacturers or their authorised representatives within the European Economic Area (EEA) are responsible for ensuring electrical equipment displays a type, batch or serial number, or another element enabling clear identification.

It is mandatory for manufacturers to indicate their name, registered trade name or trademark, and a contact postal address on the equipment. Where marking directly on the product is not feasible, this information may instead be provided on the packaging or accompanying documents. All details must be legible and easily understood by both end users and market surveillance authorities.

Affix the CE mark (for the EU) or UKCA mark (for Great Britain) to the equipment, packaging, instruction manual, or guarantee certificate. The presence of these marks is a formal declaration that the equipment complies with relevant regulations.

A Declaration of Conformity and the supporting technical documentation must be retained and made available for inspection by enforcement authorities. This requirement applies to:

• The manufacturer, if established within the EEA.
• Their authorised representative, if the manufacturer is outside the EEA.
• If neither of the above, the importer responsible for placing the equipment on the EEA market.

Records must be kept for a minimum of ten years from the date the equipment is first placed on the market. CERT provides expert guidance on marking obligations and the essential records to maintain for regulatory compliance.

Product Support:

Lighting

CERT provide expert support and guidance on the testing requirements for a broad range of lighting product categories, including:

• Electric signs
• Portable luminaires
• Dimmer switches and controllers
• Seasonal and decorative lighting for holidays
• Underwater luminaires
• Photoelectric switches for lighting applications
• Fluorescent lamp ballasts
• HID lamp ballasts
• LED drivers
• Solid-state dimming controls
• Track lighting systems
• Fixed luminaires
• Nightlights
• Low voltage outdoor and landscape lighting
• Self-ballasted lamps and lamp adapters
• Low-voltage lighting systems
• Neon transformers and power supplies
• Flexible lighting products
• LED lighting equipment
• Photobiological safety for lamps and lamp systems

This list illustrates the diverse range of support available from CERT but is not exhaustive. For specific enquiries or tailored guidance related to particular products or regulatory challenges, please get in touch—CERT would be pleased to assist.

Small Domestic Appliances

CERT provide support and regulatory guidance for a wide variety of small domestic appliances, including:

• Cooking & Food Preparation: Hot plates, microwaves, toasters, sandwich makers, blenders, and more.
• Beverage Making: Kettles, coffee machines, water urns, and similar equipment.
• Heating: Standalone electric heaters and towel rails.
• Cooling: Standalone air conditioning units and electric fans.

Battery Operated & Electronic Products

Battery-operated products and consumer electronics have been grouped together given their extensive range. CERT assist with product labelling and compliance for:

• Simple circuit toys through to advanced digital toys.
• Household accessories such as remote controls, torches, radios, and similar devices.
• Personal accessories including mobile phones, digital cameras, Dictaphones, fitness trackers, and laser pointers.

These product categories frequently fall under multiple pieces of legislation and regulatory directives, such as the Product Safety Directive, Radio Equipment Directive, Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive.

CERT can review your product portfolio for intended markets, ensuring the requisite information and mandatory markings are complete and correct. In addition to product and labelling reviews, technical support ranging from product testing advice to documentation, instruction manuals, and advertising requirements is available. CERT welcome enquiries about unique or innovative products, and all projects are handled with full discretion and support tailored to your requirements.

Principal Safety Objectives

Electrical equipment must be designed and manufactured to ensure safe operation for its intended use. Compliance with the safety objectives set out in the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) is essential. This includes:

• Clear identification by type, batch or serial number, allowing straightforward traceability.
• Safe and proper assembly and connection of the equipment and all component parts.
• Provision of instructions and information required for safe use, clearly marked on the equipment or in accompanying documentation.
• Reliable operation at safe temperatures, with no hazardous arcing or radiation.
• Adequate insulation suitable for foreseeable conditions.
• Availability of thorough technical documentation, demonstrating compliance with CE marking requirements and a valid Declaration of Conformity.

Demonstrating Conformance with Safety Objectives

• Manufacturers must operate suitable internal production control systems, including quality assurance, ensuring technical documentation and manufacturing processes meet regulatory requirements.
• Declarations of Conformity must be prepared either by the manufacturer or, by written mandate, their authorised representative in accordance with LVD requirements.
• If the equipment complies with relevant harmonised European standards, it is automatically deemed to meet the principal safety objectives.
• Where harmonised European standards are unavailable, adherence to recognised international standards will be sufficient.
• If no appropriate international standards exist, meeting a national standard is acceptable provided all principal safety objectives are covered.

CERT is on hand to provide clear guidance and expert assistance, helping you fulfil your legislative obligations and resolve technical queries with confidence.

Obligations of Importers & Distributors

Importers must not place any electrical equipment on the market without appropriate evidence that it complies with all principal safety objectives. Importers must ensure the manufacturer has fulfilled all obligations regarding conformity assessment procedures, technical documentation, and the correct application of CE or UKCA marking and labelling requirements. Importers are required to make this documentation available to enforcement authorities on request. They must also ensure their name or registered trade mark and a postal address at which they can be contacted appear on the electrical equipment—if this is not possible, it must be included on the packaging or accompanying documentation (subject to transitional arrangements).

Distributors are responsible for ensuring that all instructions and safety information accompany the electrical equipment before it is placed on the market. They must check with the importer that the manufacturer has met all labelling obligations and confirm that the electrical equipment bears a label identifying the importer. Distributors should only supply items that bear the appropriate conformity marking, are accompanied by requisite documentation, and meet all labelling requirements. If distributors have reason to believe a product is not compliant, they must not make it available until it is brought into conformity and should cooperate fully with enforcement authorities as needed.

Obligations of Manufacturers & Importers

Manufacturers and importers have a number of additional responsibilities to ensure the safety and compliance of electrical equipment made available on the market. They must:

• Conduct sample testing of electrical equipment to verify ongoing compliance and safety.
• Investigate, and maintain a register of, customer complaints, instances of non-conforming equipment, and details of product recalls.
• Keep distributors informed of any findings, actions taken, or matters arising from such monitoring activities.

CERT is able to support your business with all these obligations, offering tailored solutions that align with your product development schedule and deliver the results you require. Contact CERT for bespoke compliance support.

While this guidance focuses on electrical and safety matters, it is important not to overlook the compliance of supporting materials. Electrical and electronic components are only one aspect – the product should be assessed holistically. CERT can provide comprehensive risk assessments, including advice on product testing, and review characteristics such as organoleptic properties for items intended for food contact. These aspects may not always fall under health and safety, but can significantly affect product performance and customer satisfaction, leading to returns and complaints if overlooked.

If you have a unique requirement or an unresolved query, CERT welcome your enquiry. Solutions are always tailored to your needs, delivered with professionalism and discretion.

Services and Product Areas CERT support

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