In 1999, the responsible legal metrology authorities in Sweden (SWEDAC), Denmark (EFS) and Finland (TUKES) started a joint market surveillance project on e-marked products. The objectives of the project were to develop an efficient method of monitoring products, to evaluate the benefits of cooperation and to investigate the current market situation of e-marked products, both in respect of accordance with the Directives concerning e-marking (75/106/EEC and 76/211/EEC) and the use of the e-mark. The surveillance carried out included 23 e-marked prepackaged brands of products of seven different product categories. The net content of the packages was examined in order to determine the compliance with the Directives concerning e-marking. The results of the tests showed that all products, except one, clearly fulfil the requirements of net content. Accredited laboratories carried out the tests, using the screening test method. Sample sizes were determined in a discretionary manner and then statistically evaluated (Student t-test). The screening test method used proved to be reliable and cost-efficient. The method could be useful in market surveillance to detect non-complying brands from among a large number for further examination. The use of the e-mark on product labels was also investigated to evaluate the general knowledge of how to use the e-mark. 224 e-marked products of several product categories were examined. In 124 of these cases, the e-mark was found to be used incorrectly. The surveillance indicates that there may be confusion or lack of knowledge as to how to use the e-mark. Furthermore, it was found that the requirements concerning marking for identification of the packer were not fulfilled. It is important that responsible bodies inform industry and packers about the rules concerning the e-mark in order to prevent incorrect use or even misuse. An equivalent level of surveillance in the EU countries would consolidate the status of the e-mark and, thereby, indirectly improve consumer protection and fair trade. Cooperation of Nordic countries in market surveillance is a beneficial and cost-efficient way to gather information on the current market situation in this field. The markets in the Nordic countries are generally alike, therefore results obtained in one country can be used by another. Thus, cooperation and the exchange of information will also reduce the risk of doing the same work twice.
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