English
Italiano
CELAB spends attention and support to companies in the Import-Export field, both Italian companies that import and distribute goods from China and Chinese companies wishing to export to Europe.
Importers and distributors have a key responsibility in the distribution of products that comply with European safety requirements, storage of declarations of conformity and technical documentation, which must remain at the disposal of the authorities responsible for market surveillance. They are, in fact, the ones to assume legal, ethical and economic liability whether it is imported and distributed an unsafe product and therefore does not comply with European laws.
To support these companies in their import-export activities, CELAB, thanks to his experience in certifications, inspections and laboratory tests, as well as partnership agreements with appropriate testing and certification bodies in China, can offer different services.
Pre-shipment inspections
The pre-shipment service checks the consistency between the statement and the goods exported, so that the goods loaded in the container meets the requirements set by the client (for example, with regard to the safety features, quantity, type, workmanship, functionality, color, size, packaging, labeling, size and range of products). After all checks a detailed report is issued.
For purchasing managers, the release of an audit report is an important tool to guarantee the compliance of the batch and also offers an authoritative support for the control activities of the customs authorities. Verification protects both the importing companies, helping them to reduce the risk of fraud and any negligence, both exporting companies, in case of a legal dispute related to goods arriving at their destination damaged or missing parts.
The pre-shipment inspections are proposed for all product categories and not just to those of traditional CELAB expertise.
Control over the production process of the manufacturer
Italian companies that import products from China want to run more checks on the production process of their suppliers.
CELAB is able to offer, through qualified partners, various control services and support, at the request of the customer.
First of all the service of on-site provider audit, which allows you to have first confirmation of the real existence of the company in China, and then it has followed the activities required by the customer.
Voluntary Certification
CELAB performs inspections on technical dossiers of the manufacturers or their suppliers. The activity is voluntary and is not carried out as a notified body.
It has the aim to verify if:
Standards used are harmonized with the Directive
Reports contain evidence with respect to the harmonized standards
Declaration of conformity mentions properly harmonized standards
There is a user manual
The product label provides the CE marking
There is the model of declaration of conformity
The outcome of this verification is an opinion expressed by CELAB in the traceable and reliable form of a certificate. Verification is an activity carried out on a voluntary basis, as an independent third party, and in no event can be considered an advice. For these reasons, it is called “voluntary certificate”, identifiable with the name: “Certificate of Conformity/Inspection“.
These certificates are used only in the following cases:
to show your customers that you have made the required technical tests and that there is a technical file concerning the CE marking, but without the need to let them to see your documentation
to assess the adequacy of your documentation with respect to the requirements of the directives
to assess the technical file of your supplier when you have no technical skills or when it does not want to show you directly
Notified Body
CELAB also offers Notified Body activity, that is a third evaluation of the technical files which certifies that products conform to the provisions established by the European Directives with competence, transparency, neutrality and independence. Such activity, in some cases, is expressly required by the Directives, but it can always be done on a voluntary basis.
For each Directive are set specific limits of work, see in detail the activities of Notified Body for each one of the following:
Notified Body EMC
Notified Body R&TTE
Testing activities
For companies with a production site in China, thanks to approved partners laboratories and qualified personnel on-site, CELAB is able to offer testing activities on the spot.
Technical assistance to import products from China
CELAB can provide technical assistance to identify and understand correctly the standards and the European Directives applicable to the products, and the tests necessary to verify their compliance with these requirements, as well as the legal and technical documentation required by the main directives.
Useful Documents
European Commission – Guide to EU exporters
European Commission – Free movement of goods
European Commission – Market Access Database
Celab services for importers