GS certification

GS means "Geprufte Sicherheit" in German, which also means “Germany Safety”. The GS certification is a voluntary certification based on the German Product Safety Act (GPGS) and conducted in accordance with the EU uniform standard EN or German industrial standard DIN, and is recognized as the German safety certification mark in the European market.

The logo

1. The GS logo is a safety certification mark issued by certification bodies such as TüV, VDE etc. under the authorization of German Ministry of Labor.

The GS logo is a safety mark widely accepted by European customers. GS certified products are usually sold at a higher unit price and are more popular.

2. Accordingly to the European Community CE regulation, the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) was implemented from January 1, 1997 onwards. GS already includes all requirements for Low Voltage Directive (LVD). Therefore, after obtaining the GS logo, TüV will issue the additional CE Certificate (COC) of LVD for free. For TüV Rhineland, certificates issued after year 1997 included the LVD Certificate as part of the GS Certificate. The manufacturer obtained the LVD Certificate when applying for the GS Certificate.

3. Requirements of the GS Certification for products and documents: -The products must pass the type test of the European Safety Standards. -The product structure shall meet the standard requirements. -The specifications (in German and English) must be in compliance with the standards. -English documents such as structure schematics, circuit schematics and parts inventory must be prepared as per the TüV requirements, and product testing will be conducted according to the parameters provided in these documents.

4. The GS Certification has set up strict requirements for the quality assurance system in factories, which shall be examined and yearly inspected: -Factories are required to establish their own quality assurance system in accordance with ISO9000 standards when batch shipments are made. Factories should at least have their own quality control system, quality records etc., as well as adequate production and inspection capacities. -Before issuing the GS Certificate, new factories should be inspected and approved before issuing the GS Certificate. -Inspect factories at least once yearly after issuing the Certificate. No matter how many GS logos a factory applies for, the factory only needs to be inspected once yearly

Certification bodies

(1) German certification bodies: GS certification bodies which are well-known in China include TüV Rhineland, TüV SUD (known as TüV SUD Group in China, also known as TüV PS) and VDE, which are directly recognized by Germany as GS certification bodies.

(2) Other certification bodies: other GS certification bodies usually cooperating with Germany in Europe include Eurofins Italy, IMQ, SGS, ITS, etc.

Certification body that directly issues certificates Eurofins

Certification body that directly issues certificates Eurofins (2 photos)

Certification body that directly issues GS certificates: IMQ Italy

Certification body that directly issues GS certificates: IMQ Italy

Scope

1. Household appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, kitchenware, etc.
2. Household machinery.

3. Sports equipment.
4. Household electronic equipment, such as audio-visual equipment.
5. Electrical and electronic office equipment, such as copiers, fax machines, shredders, computers, printers, etc.
6. Industrial machinery and laboratory measuring equipment.
7. Other safety-related products such as bicycles, helmets, ladders, furniture, etc.

Introduction to German GS certification

GS means "Geprufte Sicherheit" in German, which also means “Germany Safety”. The GS certification is a voluntary certification based on the German Product Safety Act (SGS) and conducted in accordance with the EU uniform standard EN or German industrial standard DIN, and is recognized as the German safety certification mark in the European market.
The GS certification mark indicates that the safety of the product has been tested by a reputable independent body. The GS certification mark, while not legally mandatory, do bind manufacturers to strict German (European) product safety laws in the event of an accident due to a product failure. So the GS certification mark is a powerful marketing tool which enhances customer confidence and purchase desire. Although GS is a German standard, it is recognized by the vast majority of European countries. When satisfying the GS certification requirement, the product will at the same time meet the European Community's CE mark requirements. Unlike CE, the GS certification mark is not legally mandatory, but because safety awareness has been deeply rooted in ordinary consumers, an electrical appliance with the GS certification mark may be more competitive in the market than others.

Products that are appropriate for apply GS certificate:

Household appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, kitchenware, etc.

Household machinery.
Sports equipment.
Household electronic equipment, such as audio-visual equipment.
Electrical and electronic office equipment such as copiers, fax machines, shredders, computers, printers, etc.
Industrial machinery, laboratory measuring equipment.
 Other safety related products such as bicycles, helmets, stairs, furniture, etc.

 The GS certification adopts the European Union's corresponding EN safety standard.

The GS certification is more strict than the low voltage safety certification (LVD certification) of the CE certification. The GS certification stipulates factory inspection and annual inspection, while CE-LVD does not.

Who can issue GS certificates?

(1) German certification bodies: GS certification bodies which are well-known in China include TüV Rhineland, TüV PRODUCT SERVICES and VDE, which are directly German recognized as GS certification bodies.
(2) Other certification bodies: other GS certification bodies usually cooperating with Germany in Europe include KEMA, ITS, NEMKO, DEMKO, etc.

Process

1) First meeting: On the first meeting, the testing organization or agency will explain to the product engineer of the applicant the specific certification procedures and related standards, and provide the documents and forms to be submitted.

2) Application: the applicant shall submit satisfying documents. For electrical products, it is required to submit the general assembly diagram, electrical schematics, parts inventory, product application or installation manual, and model variation description documents.

3) Technical meeting: After the testing organization has checked the documents and materials of the applicant, it will arrange a technical meeting with the technical personnel of the applicant.

4) Sample testing: The tests will be carried out in accordance with applicable standards and may be carried out in the manufacturer's laboratory or any laboratory of the certification body in the respective country.

5) Factory inspection: The GS certification requires production site to be inspected for safety-related procedures.

6) Issue GS certificate.

Requirements

1. Quality management

1.1 Is there a management organization responsible for product quality independent of production, and what is the name of the person in charge?

1.2 Whether training plans for all types of personnel have been established and implemented, especially for key process personnel? What is the personnel assessment system?

1.3 Ratio of quality management personnel to production personnel.

1.4 Whether production records have been kept for key production processes, whether the product packaging has a serial number, and if not, how to find out the problem products in case of quality problems?

1.5 Whether warehouse management personnel and production operators have conducted relevant inspection:

      1.5.1 Raw materials           1.5.2 Production process            1.5.3 Finished products 

1.6 Whether there is quality check and who is responsible?

1.7 Whether quality analysis meetings are regularly convened to timely deal with quality problems and collect feedbacks.

2. Production line of certified products

2.1 Whether there are production flow chart and quality control point diagram of certified products and written production system.

2.2 Whether the equipment, instruments and measuring tools on the production line have maintenance system and periodic inspection system and relevant records.

2.3 Whether there are key production equipment, process equipment and test equipment, and their accuracy. The relevant inventory shall be provide.

3. Raw materials, purchased parts and spare parts

    3.1 Provide an inventory of key parts and key materials.

    3.2 Explain how to ensure the quality of raw materials, purchased parts and spare parts (whether there are inspection specifications for spare parts and raw materials). Whether there is a receiving and keeping system.

4. Metrology

4.1 Whether there is any metrological mechanism.

4.2 Scope of work and personnel profile of the metrological mechanism (whether they have examinations of metrology departments)

4.3 If there is no metrological mechanism, please indicate the unit in which the metrology is carried out.

5. Factory test mechanism

5.1 List the name of the main test equipment and the production factory, whether they possess qualification certificates and valid certificates (accuracy, grade), and what tests can be carried out.

5.2 Test Environment 

6. Technical documents and information

6.1 Product drawings, product technical conditions and process documents.

6.2 Test report of products applied for certification within six months.

6.3 Percentage of waste products and defective products in total production within 6 months.

7. Technical service
7.1 What is situation record and user evaluation like.

Documents

1. Fill out the application form

2. Sign the total agreement

3. Documents needed for safety evaluation

CB certificate and report of the product can be provided, which must include a European group difference. Alternatively, documents needed for safety assessment shall be provided

-Product specification (including safety warning, maintenance manuals, spare parts installation steps manual, etc.)

-Spare parts inventory (in accordance with the relevant standard requirements, provide key safety parts information used in products. The spare parts information may include the manufacturer, model, parameters, certification information. The requirement for the parts need to be aligned with requirements for spare parts standards and finished products standards)

-Circuit schematics and layout

-Product structural diagram

-Specifications of transformers and other spare parts

4. Parts in contact with food (if any)

Please provide food hygiene permit documents issued by the authority about black materials (plastics, coating, etc.) contactable with food, or relevant test evaluation (PAH) shall be necessary.

5.Nameplate (in German, GS logo with correct size).

6.Electromagnetic compatibility evaluation report (EMC) and Declaration of Compliance  (DOC)

7.Manual in German

8.Samples during shipment for completing test evaluation of structural review, type test or ergonomics test

9.For applicable product categories, Noise and EN50332 evaluation reports shall be provided.

10.For applicable product categories, DMF and EMF evaluation reports shall be provided.

Cycle

In general, the duration depends on whether the product needs to be modified or how quickly the manufacturer submits the required product documentation. In general, the time required is generally about 6 to 8 weeks.

Role

The GS logo indicates that the safety of the product has been tested by a reputable independent body. The GS logo, although not legally mandatory, does bind manufacturers to strict German (European) product safety laws in the event of an accident caused by a product failure. Therefore the GS logo is a powerful marketing tool, which helps enhance customer confidence and purchase desire. Although GS is the German standard, it is recognized in a vast majority of European countries. When satisfying the GS certification requirement, the product will at the same time meet the European Community's CE mark requirements. Unlike CE, the GS certification mark is not legally mandatory, but because safety awareness has been deeply rooted in ordinary consumers, an electrical appliance with the GS certification mark may be more competitive in the market than others.

Advantages

1. As an indication of product safety and reliable quality, GS is widely recognized by German and EU consumers;
2. Minimizes the manufacturer's liability risk in terms of product quality;
3. Enhance the manufacturers' confidence in product quality, safety and compliance with legal requirements;
4. Emphasize to consumers the manufacturer's obligations regarding product quality and safety;
5. The manufacturer can ensure to the end users that the product with the GS logo has passed the test of the third-party testing institutions;
6. In many cases, the quality and safety of products marked with the GS logo go beyond legal requirements;
7. The GS logo is even highly recognized than the CE mark, because the GS certificate is issued by a qualified third-party testing institution.

Relationships

Accordingly to the European Community CE regulation, the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) was implemented from January 1, 1997 onwards. GS already includes all requirements for Low Voltage Directive (LVD). Therefore, after obtaining the GS logo, TüV will issue the additional CE Certificate (COC) of LVD for free. For TüV Rhineland, certificates issued after year 1997 included the LVD Certificate as part of the GS Certificate. The manufacturer obtained the LVD Certificate when applying for the GS Certificate.

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