DISTRIBUTION
FightingFakes in the SupplyChain
Craig Ormerod, Senior Manager at TÜVSÜD discuses coping with the rise in counterfeit components and products
intentional use can be dangerous and, at worst, deadly. While it is now simple to source electronic components and finished goods from anywhere in the world, companies that buy directly from manufacturers outside the EU and the UK must take steps to ensure compliance and cannot rely on their supply chain to take on the burden of proof. As the laws of demand and supply are
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fuelling the rise in counterfeit products, some manufacturers are deliberately choosing to disregard standards and directives, which has implications for the safety of end-users. For example, UK and European companies that outsource themanufacturing process to Asia may have directly checked the quality of their immediate supplier’s operations, but how can they be assured that component manufacturers further down the supply chain are as rigorous in their quality control? These scenarios are also impacting reputable brands, which, while they take product safety and compliance seriously,may be caught out by a failure within their supply chain.
14 SEPTEMBER 2021 | ELECTRONICS TODAY
ounterfeit products are more than just “fake goods”, as their unintentional or
Validation is key Not only can products and components be counterfeit, their testing and compliance documentation can be too. As the value of certification increases, fake certificates and malpractices by errant certification organisations are also on the rise. There are reports of “agents” claiming to be able to assist manufacturers in attaining the EU’s CE marking certification, which would normally take weeks or years to complete. Businesses that are eager to increase the
worth of their products and tomeet international demandsmay be lured by these quick-fix certifications ormay themselves be genuine victims ofmalpractice. It is recommended that a business seeking certification services should conduct proper research of the certification company to check if they are a designated Notified Body. They should be accredited according to established accreditation standards, recognised by relevant government authorities, and able to provide clear information of their scope and certification status on a publicly accessible platform, such as awebsite.
Those importing electronic products and components should go beyond just gathering evidence to ensure that their supply chain complies. They must validate that the evidence is correct, paying close attention to the certificate issued and the certification marks. The certification mark, scope of certification, certificate reference number and validity period of the certification should be properly detailed on the certificate. Some test reports may also carry a watermark of the certification mark. Unclear or blurred certification marks, lack of details or inconsistent information on the conditions of the certification, erasings or black markings on the certificate holder’s details may suggest that a certificate could have been doctored. Some established firms have also put in
place authentication systems where customers can validate the authenticity of their products through tags or QR codes on the packaging. These authenticating systems can help to protect the brands and also customers fromfraudulent products.
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