Focus of the technical unit
In this technical unit, consumer protection comes first – and accredited services play a crucial role. When it comes to the quality of products and their safety, conformity assessment bodies whose competence has been confirmed by DAkkS accreditation fulfil an important function. Accreditation in this area is granted for testing laboratories (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025), certification bodies that certify products, processes and services (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065) and inspection bodies (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020).
In conjunction with both national and European legal bases, they make a significant contribution to placing appliances and consumer products on the market and making the everyday use of household appliances, tools, machines, toys, sports and leisure equipment, furniture and sanitary appliances safer.
Appropriate product labelling provides evidence to consumers of the safety and reliability of these products and their fulfilment of the relevant requirements. These product labels are issued and monitored by various certification bodies on the basis of their respective accredited certification schemes.
State-regulated “tested safety” mark
The German GS “tested safety” mark indicates that the safety and health of the user is not endangered by intended or foreseeable use of a product with the mark. This mark can only be awarded by a certification body for products authorised to do so. The authority to award GS marks is granted by ZLS, the Central Authority of the Federal States for Safety Engineering. The certification bodies or testing laboratories demonstrate their competence in accreditation.
Accreditation is also proof of competence for notification to the European Commission within the scope of harmonised EU directives or EU regulations. International recognition on the basis of mutual recognition agreements can also be achieved in certain areas.