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The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (Thursday) announced certain implementation details relating to "certificates of safety compliance" requirements under the Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation (EPSR).

This followed recent concern expressed by parallel importers of electrical products and subsequent meetings with the newly formed Hong Kong Electrical Appliance I/E Association.

"The arrangements have been worked out taking into consideration the recent concern expressed by the trade, but without compromising our prime objective to protect the safety of consumers," an EMSD spokesman stressed.

Under the EPSR, a "certificate of safety compliance" has to be issued in respect of any electrical product designed for household use before it can be supplied in the market. The certificate can take several forms. For example, it can be a certificate issued by a certification or testing body or a declaration of conformity by a manufacturer.

The main concern of parallel importers has been that they would be unable to obtain certificates for their electrical products, which are imported through channels other than the authorised agents of the manufacturer.

"Most of the products imported by parallel importers are 110V audio/visual products which are not suitable for direct connection to the 220V electricity supply system in Hong Kong. As improper use of such products may lead to personal injury or damage to property, the EPSR requires that a warning label be affixed to these 110V products to remind consumers of these safety considerations," the spokesman said.

"However, in relation to the "certificate of safety compliance" requirement, Government considers it acceptable for a local importer of electrical products which are parallel imports and not designed to operate at the local supply voltage, to issue his own declaration of conformity to local wholesalers and retailers if he is satisfied that adequate testing to overseas safety standards has been conducted and the relevant certificates are traceable, together with supporting documentation from the overseas exporters, national certification bodies or overseas authorities to substantiate his declaration," he explained.

For parallelly imported electrical products suitable for operating at the local supply voltage of 220V, the importer or his agent has to support his declaration with a proper certificate of safety compliance to show that the products comply with the prescribed safety requirements and suit the local supply system.

"The certificates could be arranged through recognised certification bodies who would be able to trace and confirm that such products had already been tested and certified by relevant overseas certification bodies/authorities, and then conduct verification tests to check the compatibility of these products with the local electrical supply system," the spokesman said.

"We have also decided to exercise flexibility in enforcing the requirement for second-hand electrical products whose original certificates may be difficult to trace," he noted.

Suppliers are expected to make all efforts to keep the relevant documentation of proof that such products are second-hand. They should arrange for qualified persons, such as registered electrical workers or experienced electricians, to carry out necessary tests to certify the safety condition of these products before supplying them to consumers.

"Suitable guidelines on the testing and certification of second-hand electrical products are being developed in consultation with the trade," the spokesman said.

As for locally fabricated personal computers, suppliers could arrange a type test by accredited laboratories to cover a series of computer models of the same make but with a variety of different component combinations.

"Suppliers, however, should ensure that the associated components of their computer equipment are up to the relevant safety standards and that their computers are safely connected and assembled," the spokesman cautioned.

"The main objective of the EPSR is to protect the public from possible hazards arising from the use of sub-standard electrical products. Its intention has never been to prohibit the parallel import of electrical products," he stressed.

The above transitional arrangements will be reviewed one year after the Certificate of Safety Compliance requirements are put into operation.

"We will maintain regular dialogue with relevant trade associations to ensure the smooth operation of the EPSR. But we also urge all electrical products suppliers to take reasonable steps and exercise due diligence to ensure compliance with the EPSR to protect the safety of consumers," the spokesman added.

The administration plans to gazette the remaining provisions of the EPSR, relating to the certificate of safety compliance requirements, in the latter half of January 1999, with a view to bringing the provisions into effect in February 1999.

END/Thursday, December 31, 1998

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