In recent years we’ve got used to the fact that if a product bears CE mark, it is safe. The reason for this assumption is the goods’ compliance with EU standards. Unfortunately, there exists a much similar mark which the majority of consumers and even sellers understand as CE mark of the European Union. However, this mark symbolizes something quite different.
What’s behind China Export marking?
This mark means that the product was manufactured in China, and means “China Export”. This similarity is not a chance coincidence. It expresses the aggressive approach and is used to confuse European consumers.
The China Export mark is not registered, it does NOT confirm positive test results and is placed by Chinese manufacturers arbitrarily.
Please spread the news to avoid confusion!
More information: OCU, International Center for Quality Certification
I used to work in the engineering department at Underwriters Laboratories. There is something that everyone should know about the “official” CE mark. Unlike the a mark given by third party safety laboratories such as UL, the CE mark also does not confirm positive test results as alluded to above. The CE mark is self proclaimed by the manufacturer. If the authorities find a product with a CE mark and decide to inspect it and find that it in fact does not conform to the appropriate standards, they will take action against the manufacturer of that product. However this is only possible in their jurisdiction. The odds of the Epicurean authorities checking products in the United States are slim to none and renders the CE mark effectively meaningless in the US because there is no way to enforce it’s usage. The Chinese can proclaim their exports are safe as well but if they are never brought under scrutiny, there is no way to tell. Therefore the usage of the CE mark in the United States serves the same purpose as the Chinese CE mark and that is to give the consumer a false sense of security in buying a particular product.