European harmonised standards detail technical tests and design requirements to meet the essential requirements of more than 20 European Union (EU) directives. This is so that products and components, including electrical and electronic items, can display the CE marking and be sold in the EU. The affixing of the CE marking to a product is the manufacturer's declaration that it meets the necessary requirements. This is supported by the Declaration of Conformity (DoC), which must be signed by a responsible person within the organisation. Interestingly neither of these stages is evidence of compliance. The third stage of the process - the technical file - is often overlooked, despite providing this proof. Electrical products being tested in TÜV SÜD's laboratories are regularly failing the simplest of tests. Non-compliant products identified by Trading Standards are just the tip of the iceberg as they, and other surveillance authorities across Europe, do not have the resources to check the millions of shipments that enter the EU and UK every year.
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