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Report on Study Visits of Experts to the Netherlands INCOLAB conference NMi-VSL, the Netherlands Prague, 4 December 2003 Oswin Kerkhof George Teunisse Cor van der Ploeg Eric van der Ham. LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands. With special thanks to:
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Report on Study Visits of Experts to the Netherlands INCOLAB conference NMi-VSL, the Netherlands Prague, 4 December 2003 Oswin Kerkhof George Teunisse Cor van der Ploeg Eric van der Ham NMi - the Art of Measurement
LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands With specialthanks to: TNO EPS (LVD testing laboratory) Philips medical Systems and Household appliances Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Wealth and Sports Dutch market Inspection (Food and Commodity Act) Cor van der Ploeg (NMi VSL) George Teunisse (NMi VSL) Eric van der Ham (NMi VSL) And of course… the visitors from Slovenia, Bulgaria, Estonia And the Czech Republic. NMi - the Art of Measurement
LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands Outline • Aim of study visits • Business opportunities for testlabs • Awareness for liability • Market surveillance • Other issues • Future and conclusions NMi - the Art of Measurement
LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands The aim of the study visit Building networks (national and international) Exchange of information with experts from the Netherlands NMi - the Art of Measurement
LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands Discussion 1 Business for the independent test labs How can Test laboratories make Business within the LVD system or with the New Approach Directives in general? NMi - the Art of Measurement
LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands Discussion 1 Business for the independent test labs • Awareness of liability must stimulate producers to gain information from independent third party. • Estonia has public test laboratories, but on the other hand finances are insufficient. • Laboratories can perform tests for MS inspections. • Laboratories can not survive with testing alone. • Alternative services (conformity assessment,consultancy, market access support) • Specialisation and cooperation. NMi - the Art of Measurement
LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands Discussion 2 LVD depends on awareness of liability Manufacturers are legally liable in case of accidents NMi - the Art of Measurement
LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands Discussion 2 LVD depends on awareness of liability • Awareness is on a good level in Czech Republic and Slovenia. • Is the manufacturer liable even after an accredited test laboratory has approved their product? • Bulgaria: quality manufacturers are aware, but some importers and tradesmen do not provide information on who is original importer or manufacturer. • Bulgaria: Producers have incomplete understanding of “Declaration for conformity” and their responsibility. • Estonia: some awareness campaigns, could be better. • Awareness of consumers is equally important. NMi - the Art of Measurement
LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands Discussion 3 LVD depends on effective market surveillance The member state must provide the necessary legal and administrative means to assure the compliance of the products on the market with the directives. NMi - the Art of Measurement
LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands Discussion 3 LVD depends on effective market surveillance • CZ: MS authorization determined by special law in 1997. • Market inspection is business opportunity for test labs. • BG, EE, SI: Insufficient funding for carrying out effective Market surveillance. • Methodology of Risk Assessment => MS strategy. • System for reporting and analysing information on accidents. • Information to the public. NMi - the Art of Measurement
LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands More discussion Czech participants: - Closer cooperation needed between parties in the institutional triangle. - Process of running information on unsafe products to the public can be improved. - Exchange of practical experiences and procedures desirable. NMi - the Art of Measurement
LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands More discussion Bulgarian participants: - International recognition of test results. - Process of implementing EU regulations (delays, frequent revisions, no translations) - Cases where “Co” marking was affixed without a conformity assessment having been carried out. (lay down by law: “information duty”) - No notified bodies available. NMi - the Art of Measurement
LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands More discussion Estonian participants: - Who is responsible for conformity assessment. - What is the role of a notified body. - What sanctions can market surveillance take. NMi - the Art of Measurement
LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands More discussion Slovenian participants: - Enough expertise; insufficient funding in the field of testing and market surveillance. - Ambiguities in standards. - Market surveillance policies. NMi - the Art of Measurement
LVD Study Visit to the Netherlands Future and conclusions Today: Implementing the ideas from study visit Jan 2004: Opening a forum for questions Dec 2004 Workshop in Sofia Dec 2005 Closing conference in Ljubljana NMi - the Art of Measurement