Hi All, At a H&S group meeting yesterday evening, a colleague raised the issue of another type of CE marking called Chinese Export (CE) Any idea whether this problem / confusion has been identified by Trading Standards etc? (Is this another made in the town not Country of Usa ?) Regards,Paul

The incorrect CE mark is a clear attempt to fool unwary retailers and shoppers alike, It is intended to make people think that it is a genuine CE mark when it isn't. The term Chinese Export is merely an attempt to confuse the issue as the term has no official standing. There is the slight problem that virtually every 'genuine' CE mark does not actually meet the marking standard but that's another story. Regards Simon

Thanks Seamus, This confusing marking seems to be known in the construction insustry i.e. COSTAIN & your quote but not noticed it in SHP etc? Regards,Paul

From a workplace safety and PUWER compliance perspective, the employer cannot simply rely on the CE mark anyway - he should be looking for a copy of the declaration of conformity from the EU supplier or importer. Similar for retail goods. Trading standards do (as I recall) spend considerable sums checking out claims for imported consumer items to which safety directives apply, and do prosecute. Nothing is perfect mind. Not so long ago we had the myriad recall of Mattel toys due to excess heavy metal in paint pigments -all properly CE marked and compliant at time of initial type-testing no doubt. Problem with some far east manufacturers is that they stick the mark on with limited or no real knowledge of what it means - they only know its required. Problems rest with the importer or supplier into EU market. I would suggest the similarity shown in the web-link seamus gives us would be enough cause for breach of trademark. Expensive legal proceeding though! Or is it just an inaccurate "chinese copy"?