Certification Mark
Accredited Distributor
The pressure was intense. Understanding this and the intrinsic complexities of the supply chain, our members knew it was impossible, in the short term, to satisfy all orders. Instead of hiking prices and chasing the highest payer, they stayed loyal to their long-term customers, rationing supply where and when necessary.
The unscrupulous see an opportunity
In contrast, others just saw an enormous opportunity. For some, it was a way to generate much needed turnover when their nominal income streams dried up. It’s understandable, but worrying when you remember they don’t know the market, the regulations, or what constitutes a fit for purpose product. Others saw a golden opportunity they didn’t want to miss, whatever the consequences.
They set up new companies overnight, claiming expertise while unable to check or audit their suppliers. They imported product unseen and sold them online, often with a high mark-up.
More troubling were the dubious claims of product efficacy and the way many products simply did not meet the regulatory requirements. This was not helped by the Brexit fog of transferring EU regulations back onto UK statute books.
The UK hand sanitiser market has been described as a ‘wild west’. Medical alcohol supply became tight, so the Government relaxed the rules on alcohol content from 70% to 60%. All sorts of organisations, with no relevant track record, turned to the production of alcohol hand gels.
Extraordinary claims were made for cleaning chemicals. These included keeping an area clean and sterile for days – if not months. In the uncertainty and fear around the virus, it’s no wonder buyers were grabbing at these products. Yet they were not the panacea they claimed.
We all remember the shortages of PPE (personal protective equipment) at the beginning of the pandemic. Some companies with experience of importing products from the Far East but no track record in this sector quickly placed
www.tomorrowscleaning.com
orders for containers of these products but when they arrived in the UK, the products had fake or no CE marks.
This is the certification mark that indicates conformance with the European Union directives on health and safety and environmental protection. Buying product from new, unknown suppliers claiming good stocks of compliant or effective products might have sounded good, but with no guarantee they offered any protection from the virus, the goods were rejected as not fit for purpose.
Seeking credibility, these companies applied for CHSA membership. The due diligence we undertook proved crucial. It meant only those companies with a clear track record and making valid, evidence-based claims for their products were accepted for an audit by our Independent Inspector.
Advice for buyers
By maintaining the integrity of our membership in this way, we have been able to give buyers under extreme pressure the assurances they need. They can continue to trust the Accreditation Scheme mark.
Beyond recommending buyers of cleaning and hygiene products look for the Accreditation Scheme mark, our advice is simple: be cautious.
1. Be sceptical about product claims. It if sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Ask for evidence to back up product claims. A reputable manufacturer will be pleased and able to show you data sheets or other relevant evidence to support the claims made for the product.
3. Ask for the CE declaration and any other test reports to show conformance to specification. Check if the testing was carried out in the UK or Europe.
4. Buy from a reputable supplier with a track record. Getting customer references is always a good idea.
www.chsa.co.uk FEATURE | 33
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