Introduction
The surveillance of electrical equipment in Finland is based on the rules provided by the Finnish Electrical Safety Act (410/1996) and other statutes given by virtue thereof. It means that the manufacturer is responsible for the safety of the product, while the relevant authority, using the available market surveillance means, attends to the general safety and conformity of the products offered for sale.
The surveillance in our country is attended to by the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes). Products with specific characteristics, however, fall within the scope of other authorities, e.g. the National Agency for Medicines (medical equipment), the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA, radio transmitters), the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority STUK (radiological and UV equipment) and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Department for Occupational Safety and Health (electrical tools and machines).
Product-related information
Whenever requested, anyone having electrical equipment for sale or giving it to somebody else shall be able to prove that the equipment is of safe design and construction. As to the products already put on the market, the most important safety information is included in the manufacturer's declaration and the possible certification documents stating the Safety Standards applied to the product. The test results indicate how the manufacturer has ascertained the safety of the product.
Manufacturers and importers may be asked for more detailed information on any product type. In this case, the enterprises are liable to specify the product types, manufacturers, the relevant testing laboratories, and the possible certificates given. If requested, they shall also name the relevant purchasing and marketing channels.
Seller's liability
Any seller too may be asked to prove the safety of the product. It is therefore worth while making sure, before taking the product into the variety, that the manufacturer or the importer is able to present a sufficient proof of the safety. You should notice that the retailers are as liable to present the evidence as are the wholesalers, importers, and manufacturers. For this purpose, the seller may acquire a copy of the declaration of conformity issued by the manufacturer.
Certification as a precondition
Plugs and socket-outlets intended for household use are subject to a certificate issued by a competent testing body operating in the EU area. The certificate, which shall be based on a Standard used in Finland, shall be acquired by the importer or Finnish manufacturer.
Testing
The surveillance authority continuously picks out various electrical equipment for testing. According to the Electrical Safety Act, Tukes is entitled to get the necessary number of product samples for testing purposes which, by request, will be compensated at the current price - unless they are proved to be in non-conformity with the regulations.
We use competent testing laboratories for the testing, and take the necessary action depending on the defects found. Among the sanctions are an admonition, ban on deliveries, a complete ban on sales (including a product recall from retailers). In severe cases, the product is to be recalled from consumers by means of newspaper ads and other necessary action. Should the product show any safety-related defect without testing, we may impose an immediate ban on sales or demand any other necessary action to be taken by the responsible party.
Should the test reveal defects calling for any restriction on sales, the testing costs will be charged to the company responsible for the product.
Disturbance-free functioning and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
Electrical products shall be safe, reliable and maintainable. They should also have disturbance-free functioning together with other electrical equipment in the intended operation neighbourhood. This means that the products must have a sufficient electromagnetic compatibility, including both the emission of disturbances and a certain immunity against them. A good electrical product neither introduces intolerable disturbances to its neighbourhood nor is disturbed by other equipment. Because of the EMC requirements, there are various maximum disturbance levels for residential and industrial areas. All equipment can be made compatible by attending to the following:
- No product introduces more disturbances than agreed upon
- All products have an adequate immunity against disturbances as agreed upon.
All electromagnetic phenomena that do not belong to the intended functioning of the equipment are considered as emission of disturbances. A distorted picture on TV, crackling in the radio, and operation failures on your computer are typical examples of disturbances caused by other electrical equipment. Technically seen, the disturbances move from one equipment to another through wiring or by radiation.
Electrical equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres
The electrical equipment intended for potentially explosive atmospheres shall meet the requirements stated in the Decision of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (1698/1993, 654/1996) or in the new ATEX Directive (Decision of the Ministry of Trade and Industry 918/1996). In the first case, the equipment is always subject to an examination certificate issued by a testing body. In the latter case, the relevant conformity presentation procedure shall be applied. As of 1 July 2003, the ATEX Directive shall become the only applicable regulation for this purpose.
Energy labelling
Pursuant to the Finnish Act on Energy Efficiency of Appliances (1241/1997) and the statutes given by virtue thereof, refrigerators, freezers and combinations of them, washing machines, tumble dryers and combinations of them, dishwashers, electrical ovens, air conditioners and lamps. This will make it easier for consumers to choose the right appliance. The surveillance of the fulfilment of the Act is attended to by Tukes and the National Consumer Administration, the latter monitoring the legal use of the labels for marketing purposes.
RoHS directive requirements
From 1 July 2006 onwards has been in force the Directive 2002/95/EC "restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment". That means that most of the household, office and equal appliances have to bee almost free from content of mercury, cadmium, lead, chromium VI, PBB and PBDE which would pose a risk to health or the environment. The allowed maximum quantities in various products are mentioned in the Directive 2002/95/EC and its many amendments. The RoHS Directive is not a CE marking directive like LVD and EMC Directives, but the products must fulfil the requirements of the directive. The manufacturers and importers of electrical appliances are currently creating a voluntary declaration of conformity with regard to the directive. This work has been going on in CENELEC. The RoHS directive refers to the WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC "on waste of electrical and electronic equipment. In the WEEE Directive you can find the list and examples on products which concerns the RoHS Directive.
The CE marking and other marks
The CE mark affixed on the product stands for the manufacturer's or importer's declaration on the conformity with the European Union regulations. The mark is mainly intended for authorities.
According to the EMC Directive, the CE marking became compulsory on 1 January 1996. In the Low-voltage Directive the marking has been required as of 1 January 1997. For the purposes of authority inspection, CE-marked electrical equipment shall be covered by an available technical documentation. As provided by the Low-voltage Directive, the documentation shall comprise the following information:
- A general description of the equipment.
- Conceptual design and manufacturing drawings, and schemes of components, sub-assemblies, circuits etc.
- Descriptions and explanations necessary for the understanding of said drawings and schemes and of the functioning of the equipment.
- A list of the Standards applied in full or in part, and descriptions of the solutions adopted where Standards were not applied.
- Results of design calculations and examinations.
- Test reports.
- A copy of the declaration of conformity.
The manufacturer or an authorised agent is liable to keep the documentation available in the EU area. It is provided by the Low-voltage Directive that the manufacturer shall use an appropriate quality control system to ascertain that each product manufactured is in conformity with the Directive and the technical documentation.
According to the EMC Directive, the technical construction file is required where harmonised EMC standards were not applied fully. However, the declaration of EMC conformity is always required.
Electrical equipment may also bear other marks showing its conformity with Standards mainly as provided by the Low-voltage Directive. Products subject to any other Directive, e.g. the Directive on Simple Pressure Vessels, must comply with that Directive before they are CE-marked.
Electrical safety statutes in Finland
The EU Directives on electrical equipment are fully implemented into Finnish legislation. On our web pages, you will find the original Directives and the relevant application rules, as well as the Finnish electrical safety statutes (in Finnish and Swedish).
The product distribution restriction decisions by Tukes, based on market surveillance testing findings, are directed to Finnish importers of foreign-made articles. If the importer no longer exists, the retailer may be made liable to the restrictions and testing expenses.