It is widely anticipated that the CE scheme will continue to apply to products marketed in the UK after Brexit - and certainly the CE mark is still acceptable for many goods being sold in the UK market during the transition period. However, a ‘no deal’ scenario is likely to see the CE marking scheme in the UK replaced from 1st January 2021 by a new national conformity system, equivalent to the CE scheme, but known as the UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark.…

Some of the world’s largest economies may have started to re-open, but the coronavirus pandemic isn’t over yet. And the European Commission has taken stock: Member States, health institutions and economic operators will now prioritise the fight against the virus, thanks to a recent decision to postpone the application date of new Medical Devices Regulation. This new regulation was meant to come into force on 26 May 2020. The decision to postpone the new regulation by one year takes into account the unprecedented challenges that the pandemic is posing to health authorities around Europe. It also reflects the need for a rapid increase in the availability of vitally important medical devices across the union, whilst continuing to ensure patient health and safety until the new legislation becomes applicable.…

With so many voltages and AC/DC plugs worldwide, the need for universal power supply and battery charger solutions is clear. However, despite this statement of fact, many buyers fail to perform a proper check of this important criterion prior to purchase.…

Products for certain industries demand special attention, with the medical sector arguably top of the list. Medical equipment and devices are clearly high priority at present as the world continues to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the best treatment for all who need it, medical systems must offer optimised, reliable performance, which in turn necessitates a high reliance on power. For this reason, when it comes to devices that could conceivably save lives, power supplies and battery chargers are not immune to the application of rigorous quality standards.…

Within just a year or so, manufacturers of ICT and AV equipment will have to conform to a new standard for product safety, the IEC 62368-1. The date of withdrawal for the outgoing standards IEC 60950-1 and IEC 60065, is December 20, 2020.…