German GS Certificate of Certification

What is GS?
The Geprüfte Sicherheit ("Tested Safety") or GS mark is a voluntary certification mark for technical equipment. It indicates that the equipment meets German and, if available, European safety requirements for such devices.
Many products, including home appliance products, lamps and lanterns, audio video products, communication products, office equipment, electric tools, electronic toys, electronic measuring instrument and so on need to meet GS requirements; otherwise, it’s difficult to be sold in German.
The concept of GS certification:
The meaning of GS comes from German language ‘Gprufte Sicherheit’, and another meaning is ‘Germany Safety’. The GS certification is based on GS, and is a selfcertification according to EN or DIN test.. The GS marking is widely accepted as a Germany safety certification.
The GS certification marking shows that the safety of the product has passed the test of the credible independent agency. The GS marking isnot mandatory, but it does help when there is something wrong with the product and cause the accident, because the manufacturer will berestricted by the strict Germany(EU) product safety laws. Based on this, the GS certification marking becomes the powerful tool in the market, because it can enhance customers’ confidence on the products and are willing to buy them.
So even the GS is from German, most countries from the EU have agreed with the marking. And if the product matches the GS certification,it will also match the CE certification requirements. But the GS certification is different from CE certification, because the latter one ismandatory. and as the customers have already accepted the safety consciousness, an electric product with GS marking may gain more capacity in competition with other products in the market.
GS marking is Germany voluntary safety marking, but has been paid great attention by the customers. There are many products, whichinclude power tools, IT equipments and other household electric appliances, if be not affixed with GS marking, it will be hard for them to be sold in German or surrounding areas Process of GS certification:
Product evaluation à Certification à Pre-license test.
Product evaluation is based on the harmonized EN, and refereed to low voltage directive, EMC directive and mechanical directive. If the product which matches the GS but does not got other EN, the IEC license will be released. And the IEC license will be valid for 5 years.
Pre-license test is a necessary step, and after this it will be annually factory test.
Product evaluation is not only based on the harmonized EN of the electrical safety procedures and the German National Deviations, but also on the ZEK file and file from the EK1( Exchange of Experience Forum1). And still part of the products have to take the Ergonomic detection.
Based on the ZEK 01-08 file, Since the Apr. 1, 2008, the product which is applied for the GS certification, must take the PAHs evaluation for people’s health. This mandatory order is suitable for the products which be normally used or under reasonable misuse, may contain the PAHs material and possibly have a connection with human body or put into the mouth. Products which get the GS marking before Apr. 1, 2008, must finish the PAHs evaluation before Mar. 31, 2009. The Rev. of ZEK 01-08 file has been launched at June 25, 2008. The Ergonomic detection of GS certification contains many kinds of IT products. It includes LCD / picture tube display devices, computer, laptop, the annex equipment of computer (keyboard, mouse, printer, scanner, etc.). All of these equipments must meet the requirements of EK1-ITB 2000 STD