Certification and Listing Marks

The UL Mark

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

Founded in 1894, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. is an independent, nonprofit organization with a rich history of promoting safe living and working environments with the application of safety science and hazard-based safety engineering. UL certifies, validates, tests, inspects, audits, advises, and trains its customers to navigate the growing complexities of regulatory compliance. One of the most common Safety Marks, UL has more than 1,400 safety standards against which it tests millions of products and their components every year.

UL is accredited by "Standards Council of Canada". The C-UL mark is accepted throughout Canada, and covers all UL’s facilities for testing and certification.

The CE Mark

European Conformity

The CE mark, formerly the EC mark, is a mandatory conformity marking from the European Commission. The CE Listing Mark is mandatory on certain product groups such as medical devices, electronics, or toys sold since 1985 within the European Economic Area – EEA. It is a key indicator of a product’s compliance with European Union - EU legislation to meet health, safety, and environmental regulations, which ensure consumer and workplace safety. The European Commission describes the CE mark as an EU "passport," which fosters free circulation of products within the EEA.

Important Note: In July 2011, the Recast RoHS Directive was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Therefore, as of July 2011, all products must meet RoHS Directive requirements in addition to other CE requirements in order to obtain the CE marking. However, as products exempt under RoHS may still receive the CE mark, CE compliance does not guarantee that a product contains minimal levels of hazardous substances.

In addition, the Recast RoHS Directive set in July 2011 included new categories, formally excluded from RoHS, to be added over time, with the eventual goal of including all electrical and electronic devices by 2019. New categories scheduled for inclusion under RoHS are as follows: Medical Devices, Monitoring and Control Instruments – July 2014. In-vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices July 2016. Industrial Monitoring and Control Instruments – July 2017. Active Implantable Medical Devices will be reviewed in 2020 for inclusion. All other electrical and electronic equipment not covered by any of the categories above – July 2019.

The RoHS Mark

European Union

As mentioned above, RoHS compliance is now a mandatory requirement under CE.

Adopted in February 2003 by the European Union, RoHS - Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive 2002/95/EC, is a directive restricting the use of six hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products. RoHS restricts the use of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Hexavalent chromium (Hex-Cr), Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), and Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). All applicable products in the EU market after July 1, 2006 must pass RoHS compliance.

RoHS 2

In January of 2013 the RoHS 2 directive 2011/65/EU took effect. RoHS 2 is an evolution of the original directive, which addresses the same substances as the original directive, with more extensive regulatory conditions and greater legal clarity. RoHS 2 requires periodic reevaluations that facilitate gradual broadening of its requirements to cover additional electronic and electrical equipment, cables, and spare parts. Currently, any product sold with a valid CE mark must satisfy the RoHS 2 directive in addition to other CE requirements. However, the CE mark does not guarantee that the affixed product has minimal hazardous substances, as products exempt under RoHS 2 may display the CE mark.

The ETL Mark

Intertek Testing Services

Electrical Testing Laboratories - ETL has been conducting electrical performance and reliability tests since 1896 under Thomas Edison. In 1988, ETL was acquired by Inchcape, which in turn was bought out by Charterhouse Development Capital in 1996. The company was renamed Intertek Testing Services, forming the present-day Intertek, is a global leader in testing inspection and certification services. The ETL Listing Mark and C-ETL Listed Mark are accepted throughout the United States and Canada when denoting compliance with nationally recognized standards such as UL, ANSI, ASTM, NFPA, NOM, UL, and CSA. Intertek is an OSHA-recognized Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory - NRTL and is accredited as a Testing Organization and Certification Body by the Standards Council of Canada.

The ETL Listing mark indicates that the product has been tested to meet the minimum requirements of a widely recognized product safety standard, that the manufacturing site has been audited, and that the applicant has agreed to a program of periodic factory follow-up inspections to verify continued conformance. An ETL Listing mark may include a small US and/or C, indicating that it follows product safety standards for the United States and/or Canada, respectively.

The CSA Mark

Canadian Standards Association

Since its initial charter in 1919, the Canadian Standards Association has grown into the largest standards development organization in Canada. The CSA works globally with other standards development organizations to harmonize international standards.

Its library of more than 3,000 standards and codes address subjects that affect the interests of business, industry, government, regulators, and consumers in Canada and the global marketplace. A Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, CSA is very familiar with U.S. requirements; according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety, and Health Administration – OSHA regulations, the CSA-US Mark qualifies as an alternative to the UL Mark. In addition, the CSA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute - ANSI.

The Energy Star Mark

Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy

Developed in 1992 by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, Energy Star - trademarked ENERGY STAR is an international standard for energy efficiency for consumer products that originate in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union. Devices carrying the Energy Star mark generally use 20 - 30% less energy than required by federal standards. In the United States, the Energy Star label is also shown on EnergyGuide appliance label of qualifying products.

The FCC Mark

Federal Communications Commission

The FCC mark, or FCC Declaration of Conformity marking, is a certification mark displayed on devices indicating certification by the Federal Communications Commission. It indicates compliance with FCC rules governing electromagnetic interference. These rules, located in 47 CFR 2.803 and 47 CFR 2.1204, require that most devices be authorized before they can legally be imported or sold in the United States. The FCC mark can be found on electronic products manufactured or sold in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.