CTSI warns manufacturers risk lives where CE marking is ignored

Posted 12/02/18

Failing to comply with regulations and standards could be a matter of life and death. The Conformité Européenne (CE) mark is a reassuring symbol that indicates goods such as toys, electrical items and construction products have been tested to high standards and don't put the public's health and safety at risk.

It is important for manufacturers and distributors to be aware of their legal responsibilities in this area. Trading standards experts have published a new video guide for businesses on CE marking, to ensure consumers and businesses are protected. The guide appears on the government-backed Business Companion website, produced by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI).

Those that fail to conformity assess and CE mark their products risk exposing consumers to serious harm and could face enforcement action from market surveillance authorities such as trading standards. This could mean their products will be removed from the EU market and they could face a fine or imprisonment for non-compliance.  

The responsibility also extends to those that are not the manufacturer yet import products into the EU, e.g. from China or the USA – as this will be the first time the product is placed on the single market or EEA it must conform to the essential requirements of the relevant Directives and bear the CE mark when required.

Chief Executive, Leon Livermore, at CTSI, said: “Unsafe and dangerous products put UK citizens’ lives at risk. CE marking is a valuable tool in enabling trading standards to ensure goods sold in the UK meet the highest standards.”

Talking about the importance of CE marking, especially with Brexit on the horizon, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, Natasha Crookes at the British Toy & Hobby Association, said: “CE Marking has been a way of keeping consumers safe for decades. It is important as it helps to identify toys that have been made to an incredibly high standard of safety requirements.

“As the Mark is linked to membership of the European Single Market we would also encourage government to be thinking about retaining, or exploring alternatives to, the CE marking as part of Brexit discussions, so that the UK does not become a dumping ground for unsafe toys if we can no longer rely on a CE Marking.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

For media bids contact CTSI press office 01268 582240

1. The video guide can be found here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88ID_NTSvQA
2. In-depth guides can be found here - https://www.businesscompanion.info/en/quick-guides/product-safety/safety-of-products-due-diligence#CEmarking

Business Companion

Business Companion is a free to use, government funded service, produced by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI).

Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)

CTSI is a training and membership group that has represented the interests of the Trading Standards profession since 1881 nationally and internationally.  We aim to raise the profile of the profession while working towards fairer, better informed and safer consumer and business communities.

CTSI’s members are engaged in delivering frontline trading standards services in local authorities and in businesses. www.tradingstandards.uk

The British Toy & Hobby Association

The British Toy & Hobby Association was established in 1944 to represent the interests of British toy manufacturers and to raise standards of practice in the industry. Today it has around 140 members ranging from international toy giants to small family-run businesses that together account for over 90% of the UK toy market.  Membership of the British Toy & Hobby Association shows the member’s commitment to adhere to the BTHA Code of Practice under the umbrella of the Lion Mark which includes rules covering ethical and safe manufacture of toys, toy safety, a ban on counterfeit goods, an assurance to market responsibly, a commitment to improving sustainability and a desire to promote the value of all play through support of the Make Time 2 Play campaign.  Our members are manufacturers committed to making good quality toys in a responsible way. The BTHA also administers the Toy Trust- the industry’s charity.

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