CE Marking is mandatory for products sold in the EU. However, CE Marking is Self-declarative, which means that it does not require third-party testing,with the exception of certain product categories, and CE marking is affixed to a product by the supplier. Discerning buyers, retailers and consumers who want to buy safe products therefore look for another mark – the S Mark.

S stands for SafetyThroughout Europe, in all the major languages, the word safety starts with an s: Sicherheit (German), seguridad (Spanish), sécurité (French), sicurezza (Italian), segurança (Portuguese). The customer-friendly S Mark therefore carries a message of safety for the 450 million people who live in the EU.

The S Mark tells customers that Intertek, as an independent testing laboratory, has established that the products conform to current European product-safety requirements.

The S Mark is a voluntary certification system, which means that the manufacturer has actively chosen to have a third party test its products. The mark can be used in all EU member states.

What can the S Mark do for you?By getting independent certification, you ensure that your products fulfil technical product safety requirements within the EU. In the event of a liability issue, the S Mark certification is good evidence that you have taken your responsibility to produce safe products seriously, which may result in lower damages should the case go to court. Furthermore, the S Mark provides you with testing documentation required for CE Marking.

The S Mark strengthens your brand by signalling that safety is an important issue to your company and that you care about the safety of your clients. Moreover, it reduces the risk of a safety defect, which could lead to a product recall and the associated damage to your brand through adverse publicity.

Safety sellsThe S-Mark adds brand value and ensures product safety

InspectionFor manufacturers who have relocated their production, the S Mark provides increased protection through an annual inspection of the manufacturing site to verify compliance and a well functioning production control system. This helps to ensure that the products always fulfil the requirements.

The S Mark a tool in Marketing and SalesBy making use of the S Mark in your marketing, you are making expressing that your company is committed to quality and safety. Positioning yourself as a company which is dedicated to safety enables you to increase your sales – because safety sells.The S Mark also simplifies market access within the EU, since authorities and port authorites, importers and retailers trust Intertek as an independent testing laboratory.

The certification includes several testsThe S Mark has been an icon for product safety since 1926. You can find the S Mark, which is only issued by Intertek, on consumer products such as lighting, household appliances and home electronics, and also on industrial appliances, medical devices, components etc. When the safety of electrical and electronic products is certified, the products are tested for the following risks, as specified in the European safety standards:

Fire, electric shock, mechanical injuries, radiation injuries and burns and certain types of environmental damage.

European safety standards cover: Intended or expected time of use and manner of use, expected fault conditions and expected, reasonable misuse.

Customer CASE: Sharp“The S Mark strengthens our brand”At Sharp several benefits can be seen from having the S Mark on the company’s products. “The S Mark ensures that our products conform to legal product-safety requirements in the EU and we also acquire a good basis for our CE marking”, says Thomas Lejergård, Manager, Safety, Environment & Quality at Sharp Electronics (Nordic) AB. “If a question of liability should arise, the certification is good evidence of how seriously we have taken our responsibility.”

Investing in the S Mark is also in line with other undertakings which are important to Sharp, such as assuming responsibility for the environment. “For Sharp, which is an old and stable brand, the S Mark strengthens the brand from the standpoint of quality and safety. The S Mark can also be used as a sales argument when Sharp is competing with non-certified alternatives, often low-price products”, says Thomas Lejergård at Sharp.

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