TÜV Rheinland: Global Market Development Outlook from CB Certificate Analysis

Feb. 1, 2013 - PRLog -- TUV Rheinland issued more than 12,000 CB certificates in 2011, and has been the top CB issuer for seven consecutive years. We have NCBs and CBTLs in all key developing regions around the world and are able to provide efficient and convenient services for exporters with our robust international certification network.

According to the statistical data exported from the official website of Worldwide System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrotechnical Equipment and Components (IECEE), between 2007 and 2011, nearly 20,000 CB certificates were issued worldwide. Please refer to Chart 1. This demonstrates the trend toward increasing international trade activity and the integration of regional economies, which enhances the globalization process. China is one of the most important processing bases in the world; Chinese manufactories have a huge demand of CB certificates. The CB Scheme offers manufacturers a simplified way of obtaining multiple national safety certifications for their products - providing entry into over 50 countries. For manufacturers whose target markets mostly are CB members, obtaining CB certificates paves the way for gaining quick access to the global market.

The IECEE is a multilateral agreement among participating countries and certification organizations. The IECEE-CB Scheme is the world's first truly international system for mutual acceptance of test reports and certificates dealing with the safety of electrical and electronic components, equipment and products. Currently there are 52 member bodies in the IECEE, and 65 NCBs (National Certification Bodies) support the Scheme with 276 CB Testing Laboratories (CBTL). A manufacturer utilizing a CB test certificate issued by one of the accepted National Certification Bodies can obtain the certification marks of the latter, within their scope of adherence, in the countries where the accepted NCBs are located. CB Scheme members include all of China's most important export markets: the United States, Japan, Western Europe, Scandinavia, Poland, Russia, ASEAN, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

The top five product categories for CB certificates are IT and Office Equipment (OFF), Household and Similar Appliances (HOUS), Electronics, Entertainment (TRON), Lighting (LITE), and Electrical Equipment for Medical Use (MED). Please refer to Chart 2. The demand for CB certificates for Batteries (BATT), Photovoltaics (PV), Lighting (LITE), and Electrical Equipment for Medical Use (MED) is growing, especially in the Batteries and Photovoltaics categories, which grew significantly compared with other categories. Since the first application for a battery CB certificate was made by a Chinese manufacturer in 2008, battery-related applications have doubled each year since 2009. Please refer to Chart 3.

In terms of applicant location, most IT and Office Equipment (OFF) CB certificate applicants were based in Taiwan, Japan and the United States, accounting for around 70%. Chinese, South Korean and Italian companies were the major applicants for Household and Similar Appliances (HOUS) CB certificates. Applications from China have been growing in double digits since 2007, and topped the list for 5 consecutive years. Many of the applicants for Electronics, Entertainment (TRON) certificates were from Asian countries and territories, with South Korea and Japan often competing for first place, and with China and Taiwan ranking third and fourth, respectively. Either China or Switzerland made applications for CB certificates for Lighting (LITE) products. Applications from South Korea, Taiwan and the United States increased markedly, especially for South Korea, with the number soaring from 4 to 163 between 2007 and 2011. For Electrical Equipment for Medical Use (MED), the United States, Japan, Germany, and Taiwan were the top four applicant countries/territories, and applications from newly emerging economies such as China and South Korea accelerated, with a nearly fourfold increase in five years. Please refer to Chart 4.

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TUV Rheinland: Global Market Development Outlook from CB Certificate Analysis