Modern society is called a consumer society. Now a huge variety of diverse products has grown more than ever. Among such a large number and different manufacturers, it is easy for the consumer to get lost and it is very difficult to make the right choice and get exactly what you need. In order to distinguish really high-quality products from the total mass, a conformity mark was invented and developed - a special symbol that is applied to the product or its packaging and tells the consumer that this product complies with the norms of state or international standards.
How does a manufacturer get a conformity mark?
The quality mark can be obtained by the manufacturer both on a voluntary basis and without fail. Quality certification of goods is carried out by special certification commissions, which conduct an examination and confirm that this product or product complies with all the regulations necessary for this group of products. During the examination, many factors are taken into account - from technology to the ingredients that make up the product. Marks of compliance with standards can be state, international, national, or even specially designed for a specific group of goods and products. The presence of a quality mark significantly enhances customer confidence, and, ultimately, is beneficial for all manufacturers. Therefore, most companies and organizations conduct voluntary certification of their goods, even if this is not necessary.
History
In the 19th century, merchants in Russia strove to deliver goods to the imperial court, as it was very profitable. In order to achieve this high honor, their goods had to be of the highest quality, and then they put a special sign on it - the Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty. It was allowed to put the state emblem on the products, confirming compliance with the high requirements of the Emperor himself. Later, a quality mark appeared in the USSR - a pentagonal asterisk, similar to a human figure. This mark of certificate and compliance officially appeared in 1967, it guaranteed the excellent quality of the goods or products, issued by the State Certification Commission for a period of up to three years. The presence of the coveted asterisk allowed the manufacturer to make a 10% premium in price, and all enterprises sought to get it. In the last years of the USSR, this led to the fact that goods bearing signs of conformity and quality were no longer as high-quality as in previous years.
PCT
After the collapse of the USSR, the former quality mark ceased to be relevant, and new national signs of conformity replaced it. State production standards are strictly regulated and checked by the relevant authorities and enterprises. The PCT (Rostest) mark of conformity is placed only on those products and products that have received permission from the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology under the Ministry of Industry and Energy of the Russian Federation, or authorized bodies. The registration of issued marks is carried out by the State Standard of the Russian Federation, which is confirmed by a special license. If such a mark is placed on the product, the alphanumeric code of the authority that issued the certificate must be indicated under it. It is allowed to use such an image in advertising, on letterheads, in the photo of goods, etc. The PCT mark guarantees consumers the high quality of purchased products, which meets all state regulations and regulatory requirements adopted in the Russian Federation.
Russian brand
Since 1999, national competitions in product quality have been held in Russia . This mark is assigned to different groups of products that take prizes in the competitive selection. The mark of the certificate of conformity looks like a pentagonal emblem in the center of which is the image of a double-headed eagle. The Russian brand has three degrees - for the highest quality service, advanced production technology and the highest quality product. This mark is assigned by a non-profit organization and has a public status. For manufacturers who import foreign goods into the Russian market for five years or more, there is a special nomination - a supplier of products to the Russian market.
International Quality Marks
Almost all developed countries have their own quality marks, which the manufacturer receives if he complies with all national standards and requirements in the manufacture of his products or products. Different countries have adopted different rules, for example, there are food ingredients or drugs that are prohibited in some countries but may be used in other countries. In this case, the product can only have a national mark of conformity certificate, if it meets the requirements of the international level, then the manufacturer can obtain permission to use international or transnational marks.
European quality marks
One of the most recognizable and common is the CE mark - Conformite Europeenne, European Compliance.
It is important to keep in mind that labeling products with these letters indicates not so much that the product is of high quality, but rather about its safety. Such a symbol means that the product complies with the production standards accepted in the countries of the European Union. The same applies to all products manufactured not in Europe, but falling on the European market. For products that belong to the group of electronic and technical equipment, the presence of the ENEC mark - European Norms Electrical Certification is mandatory.
The presence of such a symbol on the product guarantees the safety and high quality of electrical equipment. In the UK, the BSI stands for British Quality Standards Institution. It is assigned to products by management systems and speaks of independent certification.
The TUV mark is a marking of one of the oldest German organizations certifying various goods and products. This sign can be made in any color and include a variety of inscriptions.
ISO Standards
ISO, International Organization for Sertification is an international multinational standards organization. It was created in 1946 with the direct participation of the USSR, among other 25 states.
The standards of this organization are numbered depending on the group of products, compliance with these international standards guarantees high quality products or products and is recognized in many countries of the world.
ISO certification is placed on the products, packaging or directly on the product itself.
Environmental signs
Recently, most people care about the environment, and often the choice of a particular product or product by the consumer depends on the presence of certain signs that indicate the environmental friendliness of the product. The most recognizable of these signs is a dot, which can be depicted in green or even black and white. This image means that the packaging can be recycled. Arrows located in a triangle also mean environmentally friendly packaging - waste disposal for future use. A little man with a basket means the manufacturer’s request to throw the packaging into the bin, not under his feet. This sign is applied to the types of goods that are supposed to be used outside the home - various candy wrappers, wrappers, etc. In the CIS countries, this sign is often used incorrectly by manufacturers - it can be found on the packaging of washing powder or toothpaste. Placing a symbol on these products simply does not make sense.
There is a labeling of goods of a certain group, indicating their use. For example, the Latin letter U in a circle around the world is used to denote kosher food, and the Vegan sign with chamomile, made in green, is applied to products that are only for vegetarian cuisine, and indicates that the product does not contain plant ingredients. A schematically drawn rabbit with the inscription Not tested on animals indicates that no animal experiments were carried out during the development of the technology. Such signs that carry important information help the consumer make a choice in favor of a particular product or product.
A manufacturer who has permission to use quality marks has a great competitive advantage. The conformity mark is a guarantee that, when making a purchase, the consumer will not stumble on low-grade products, that the purchased goods will not cause harm to health or the environment.