Product Safety Mark (S-Mark) Certification

S-Mark is the common name for product safety marks used in various countries; its best-known examples are Argentina's mandatory S-Mark regime and national safety marks such as IMQ in Italy. Their common thread is that the product is tested against the relevant safety standard and the mark is licensed by a certification body.

• Manufacturers selling electrical products into the Argentine and Latin American market
• Firms exporting to markets requiring a national safety mark
• Suppliers whose retail chains require a local safety mark

It varies by country: mandatory in Argentina for electrical products within scope, and a voluntary safety mark in some countries. The target market's regime needs to be separately confirmed.

• Determining the safety standard applied by the target country
• Product type testing
• A factory audit (if required by the scheme)
• Application through a local representative or importer
• Licensing the mark and its use rules
• Periodic surveillance and renewal

1. 1Application and Product DescriptionThe product family, model list, technical specifications and target market are determined. The applicable standard and certification route become clear at this step.
2. 2Technical File ReviewDesign documents, the bill of materials, critical-component certificates and the instructions for use are examined.
3. 3Product TestingThe tests the relevant standard requires are carried out. The test report is the fundamental basis for the certification decision.
4. 4Factory AuditIf the scheme requires it, the continuity of manufacturing and factory production control (FPC) are verified on site.
5. 5Issuing the Certificate and MarkingOnce conformity is verified, the certificate is issued; the marking rules for the product and packaging are applied.
6. 6Follow-up AuditsDepending on the scheme, periodic factory audits and/or follow-up testing on samples taken from the market are carried out.

The validity period varies by scheme: some product certificates are indefinite and rely on periodic factory audits, while some schemes (e.g. country market marks) require annual or per-shipment renewal. Every design change to the product requires the certificate to be reviewed.

• The list of product models and variants
• Technical drawings, diagrams and the bill of materials
• Certificates for critical components
• The instructions for use and a sample label
• Existing test reports, if any
• Production-site details

There is no fixed list price; the cost is calculated based on the following variables and provided in writing in the quote.

• The number of models and variants in the product family
• The test scope the applicable standard requires
• Whether a factory audit is required
• The number of target markets and whether each requires separate testing
• Whether existing test reports can be accepted

Product certification is carried out under ISO/IEC 17065; The tests that form the basis for certification are carried out in laboratories with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. The two scopes are separate. Recognition between accreditation bodies is provided through IAF and ILAC agreements.

The scope under which this scheme can be offered varies according to your product and activity; it is confirmed in writing at the quote stage.

• CEEU Product Conformity
• UKCAUnited Kingdom Conformity
• ENECElectrical Product Safety
• GSGermany Product Safety
• ULNorth America Product Safety
• ETLNorth America Product Safety
• CSACanada Product Safety
• FCCRadio/EMC