What is GS Certification? GS Certification Review, Features

GS, which stands for "Geprufte Sicherheit" (safety certified), is a voluntary certification based on the German Product Safety Law (GPGS) and is tested in accordance with the EU unified standard EN or the German industrial standard DIN. It is a German safety certification mark recognized in the European market.

About GS Certification

·GS mark is only applicable to finished products, not parts and semi-finished products. GS mark is a safety certification mark issued by TUV, VDE and other institutions authorized by the German Ministry of Labor. GS mark is a safety mark accepted by many European customers. Usually, GS certified products are sold at a higher price and are more popular.

GS mark is a voluntary mark, but it is widely recognized as a product safety mark in Germany and all German-speaking countries. GS certification requires a third-party agency authorized by ZLS to evaluate product safety according to European standards, and also needs to comply with the requirements of the German ProdSG Act to evaluate some chemical indicators, such as PAHs, LFGB, etc.

·The GS mark indicates that the product's safety has been tested by an independent and credible organization. Although the GS mark is not a mandatory legal requirement, it does allow manufacturers to be subject to strict German (European) product safety laws when a product fails and causes an accident. Therefore, the GS mark is a powerful marketing tool that can enhance customer confidence and purchasing desire. Although GS is a German standard, it is recognized by most European countries. In addition, when meeting the GS certification, the product will also meet the requirements of the European Community's CE mark. Unlike CE, the GS mark is not a mandatory legal requirement, but because safety awareness has penetrated into ordinary consumers, an appliance with a GS mark may be more competitive in the market than ordinary products.

Certification bodies

1. German certification body: The well-known German GS certification bodies in China include TUV RHEINLAND, TUV PRODUCT SERVICES, VDE, etc., which are GS certification bodies directly recognized by Germany.

2. Other certification bodies: Other GS certification bodies in Europe that usually cooperate with Germany include KEMA, ITS, NEMKO, DEMKO, etc.

Scope of certification

1. Household appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, kitchen appliances, etc.;

2. Household machinery;

3. Sports equipment;

4. Home 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 experimental measuring equipment;

7. Other safety-related products such as bicycles, helmets, ladders, furniture, etc.

Certification Process

1. Initial meeting: At the initial meeting, the testing agency or the agency will explain the specific certification procedures and relevant standards to the applicant's product engineer and provide the required document forms to be submitted.

2. Application: The applicant shall submit documents that meet the requirements. For electrical products, the applicant shall submit the product assembly drawing, electrical schematic diagram, material list, product purpose or installation instructions, and description of the differences between series models, etc.

3. Technical meeting: After the testing agency has checked the applicant’s documents, a technical meeting will be arranged with the applicant’s technical staff.

4. Sample testing: The testing will be carried out in accordance with the applicable standards and can be carried out in the manufacturer's laboratory or in any laboratory of the inspection agency stationed in various countries.

5. Factory inspection: GS certification requires safety-related procedural inspections of production sites.

6. Issue GS certificate.

Certification cycle

Generally speaking, the time required 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.

Information required for certification

1. Fill in the application form;

2. Sign the general agreement;

3. Information required for safety assessment: You can provide the CB certificate and report of the product, which must include the European Group Difference; or provide the information required for safety assessment: product instruction manual (including safety warnings, maintenance instructions, accessories installation steps, etc.), parts list (provide key safety parts information used in the product in accordance with relevant standards. Parts information may include manufacturer, model, parameters, certification information, and parts requirements need to consider the requirements of component standards and final product standards), circuit diagram and layout, product structure diagram, transformer and other parts specifications.

4. Parts in contact with food (if any): Please provide food hygiene permit documents issued by an authority for contactable black materials (plastics, coatings, etc.), or require relevant test evaluation (PAH);

5. Nameplate (German, GS Logo of the correct size is required.);

6. Electromagnetic compatibility assessment report (EMC) and factory declaration of conformity (DOC);

7. German instruction manual;

8. Samples at the time of shipment to complete structural review, type testing or ergonomic testing and evaluation;

9. If applicable to product categories, Noise and EN50332 evaluation reports are required;

10. If applicable to product categories, DMF and EMF assessment reports must be provided.

Certification Fees

The fee includes a one-time certification fee, factory inspection fee and annual certification fee. The specific amount will be determined by the product category and the required tests. The certification body will provide a price reference after receiving the required documents submitted by the applicant. The market policy and credibility of each certification body are different, and the price will vary.

Comparison between GS certification and CE certification

The relationship between GS certification and LVD

The European Community CE regulations have regulated the "Low Voltage Directive (LVD)" since January 1, 1997. GS already includes all the requirements of the "Low Voltage Directive (LVD)". Therefore, after obtaining the GS mark, TUV will exceptionally issue the LVD CE certificate (COC) of the product free of charge. TUV Rheinland's certificates after 1997 include the LVD certificate in the GS certificate. Manufacturers obtain the LVD certificate at the same time as applying for GS.

GS Certification Advantages

1. As a symbol of product safety and quality, GS is more widely recognized by German and EU consumers.

2. GS certification can minimize the manufacturer's liability risk in product quality.

3. GS certification can enhance manufacturers' confidence in product quality, safety and compliance with legal requirements.

4. GS certification emphasizes to consumers the obligations of manufacturers for product quality and safety.

5. Manufacturers can assure end users that products bearing the GS mark have passed testing by a third-party testing agency.

6. In many cases, the quality and safety of products bearing the GS mark exceed the level required by law.

7. The GS mark has a higher degree of recognition than the CE mark because the GS certificate is issued by a third-party testing organization with certain qualifications.