When is a product compliant?

Product conformity refers to the process of ensuring that products fulfil the specific legal requirements. You can find out what these are in this article from our EFS RegCom Academy.

Marks of conformity

When a product consistently complies with the relevant regulations throughout its life cycle, it acquires a mark of conformity. This mark not only guarantees the safety and quality of the product, but also promotes customer confidence. It also protects the company from legal consequences and makes conformity an indispensable element in the complex dance of successful product development.

Product compliance throughout the entire life cycle

The conformity process of a product extends over several decisive phases, which together ensure that product compliance requirements are met.

In the first phase, all product-specific requirements are determined and evaluated. In the design phase, the product is designed with compliance in mind from the outset, taking into account all relevant standards and regulations. During the testing phase, the product undergoes rigorous testing to ensure that it fulfils the required standards – this includes performance testing, safety testing and quality control. Once these tests have been successfully completed, certification by a recognised body may be required to prove compliance. Compliance must also be maintained during the production phase, which includes regular quality checks and adherence to ethical production practices. Even after market launch, the compliance status of the product remains critical. Monitoring products on the market includes regular audits, analysing customer feedback and, if necessary, product recalls to ensure that the product continues to meet the required standards.

What does this mean in a nutshell?

Product conformity is not only relevant during the development and marketing phases, but throughout the entire life cycle of a product. This applies not only to the physical characteristics of the product itself, but also to the associated labelling and certifications. Consequently, manufacturers must ensure that their products still fulfil the legal requirements and the current state of the art even years later. This requires continuous monitoring of the market and, if necessary, recall measures.