Blog
Products Subject to MIL-STD Testing May Be Exempt from ITAR
For manufacturers of products that require military standard (MIL-STD) testing, but have more of a commercial than military application, the product may be exempted from restrictive provisions in the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). If after reviewing the U.S. Munitions List and other relevant parts of the ITAR,... Read More
IEC 60601-1 3rd Edition Challenges Medical Products Industry
Rarely has a standard change elicited as much confusion – and anguish – as the transition to the third edition of 60601-1. Much of the confusion surrounds the varying rates of adoption of the new edition in different countries and regions. Here is a basic primer: IECEE CB Scheme – Issued in 2005, IEC 60601-1... Read More
Politicians Push Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) Labeling for Cell Phones
Starting this month in San Francisco, retailers are required to list the Specific Absorption Rate of all mobile phones they sell. The city is the first locality in the United States to have such a requirement. Here are the key points of the new ordinance that was signed into law last July: The Specific Absorption... Read More
Safety Certification to UL/IEC 61010-1 Evolves
Product safety certification for healthcare & other laboratory equipment continues to evolve. Thirteen months ago, on January 1, 2010, all new products and alternate constructions of listed or recognized products were required to be evaluated to UL 61010-1 2nd Edition. The Second Edition combines UL 61010A-1 for laboratory equipment, UL 61010B-1 for test and measurement... Read More
EPA Issues Updated ENERGY STAR Television Specification
On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the final Version 5.3 ENERGY STAR Television specification. The Version 5.3 specification will take effect on September 30, 2011. This date is pushed back from July 2011 due to stakeholder feedback. Version 5.3 modifies the Download Acquisition Mode (DAM) requirements to 40 watt-hours per day (0.04... Read More
Product Safety Conditions of Acceptability Apply to Recognized – Not Listed – Components
This Compliance Today blog post explores the meaning of what is known in product safety certification as Conditions of Acceptability. Conditions of acceptability only apply to recognized components, not listed components. Listed components are complete in construction and can be used without further design concerns. This means that during the certification of the component itself,... Read More
CES Features ENERGY STAR Testing & Verification Session
As part of the first day’s programming at the Consumer Electronics Show, the Tech Policy Summit featured a panel session on “ENERGY STAR and Consumer Electronics: What Does the Future Hold?” This session covered how the recent changes to verification, testing and enforcement affect manufacturers, retailers and consumers. As an EPA-recognized certification body, MET Laboratories... Read More
Is HALT Testing Still Relevant?
Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT) chamber manufacturer Qualmark recently completed an interesting study, where it compared test data from 47 HALT tests in 1995-96 to data from 47 tests in 2007-08. The purpose of the study was to gauge the effect of the transition from the use of through hole printed circuit boards (PCBs) that... Read More
OSHA Rejects EU SDoC System, Affirms NRTL Program
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced Friday that it will continue to require third-party certification via the Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) program for electrical products. The European Union requested that OSHA explore the possibility of adopting its system, known as Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC). Under the EU system,... Read More
First Product Safety Management Certificates Awarded
The first university-level program focused primarily on product safety managers has graduated its first class. The Certificate in Product Safety Management was launched as a pilot project, and ran from June through early December. Participants from manufacturing, retailing, and importing companies are the first holders of the certificate offered by Saint Louis University’s Center for... Read More
