Europe grows together - even in the product marking.
Since January 2002 the consumer can carry out his purchases in one currency in Europe. Now he can be sure as well that products, marked with the KEYMARK, comply with uniform European (EN) Quality Standards.
On recommendation of the European Council to improve the consumer protection and to counteract the uncertainty of consumers by a mark variety, the European Standards Organizations CEN and CENELEC have developed a harmonised European Mark System for standardized products.
The KEYMARK is the European Certification Mark showing the conformity of products with European Standards.
Whereas CE-marking shows the observance of legal minimum requirements, the KEYMARK provides a real surplus value for the consumer: tested and certified observance of uniform European Quality Standards. The legally requested CE-marking for certain products can be completed thereby in a meaningful way.
A product may only be marked with the KEYMARK, if it was tested and certified before by a neutral, independent and competent body. The factory inspection and Initial Type Testing (ITT), apart from the regular inspection, constitute an important element of the procedure for granting the KEYMARK.
Beyond that, the manufacturer has to carry out a Factory Production Control (FPC) in consideration of the relevant product standards and the elements of the EN ISO 9000 series. This quality system is controlled by an annual inspection and is completed by type testing which takes place at least every 2 years.
Testing laboratories, inspection and certification bodies, taking part in the procedure, have to prove an accreditation and to be empowered by CEN Certification Board. On its behalf the CEN National Members (standards bodies) and affiliates issue licences for granting the KEYMARK. In Germany this function is undertaken by DIN CERTCO on behalf of DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. .
To improve the confidence in the KEYMARK it will be granted only in combination with marks of existing national certification systems which are based on the conformity with European Standards. In Germany the KEYMARK is granted, for example, together with the well known Certification Mark "DIN-Geprüft" (= DIN-Tested)
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