01 Investigation
Written by: Chen Runnan
2020-04-15 07:51
Date of last update: 2020-04-15 07:51The global outbreak of New Coronary Pneumonia has made masks a key word in international trade, and unscrupulous businessmen have taken the opportunity to create fake certificates to deceive buyers. The reporter found multiple companies claiming to provide foreign certification services for masks on the mainland website. Some companies sell at low prices and fast verification, but in fact they do not have the relevant EU certification qualifications.
Suspicious certificates are circulating around the world, and mask manufacturers, traders, and even ordinary citizens have the same opportunity to recruit. Reporters have sorted out various suspicious certificates from European regulators for public reference, many of which have been circulated in Hong Kong.
Quality inspection consultant Huang Xilong reminded that the masks currently certified by the European Union can only be partially issued with certificates after being reviewed and tested by the notified body, and can be queried online. The US FDA will not issue certificates for masks.
The EU CE certification is a guarantee of product confidence. In addition to exporting masks to Europe, the EU CE certification must be obtained. Many Hong Kong pharmacies are soliciting customers to buy masks. However, the authenticity of the certificate is difficult for the mask manufacturers to discern.
Mainland companies pretend to be eligible for EU verification
The reporter found multiple companies claiming to provide EU certification services for masks on the mainland website. Some companies sell at low prices and fast verification, but in fact they do not have relevant EU verification qualifications. As a mask trader, the reporter contacted two Shenzhen intermediaries through WeChat, saying that there are a number of masks in his hand that he wants to export to foreign countries, hoping to do a good job in EU CE certification.
Some companies in the mainland have claimed to reporters that they can apply for European CE certification. (Screenshot from WeChat)
A female agent claimed that CE certification could be completed within two weeks at a price of RMB 18,000. However, the sample certificate provided by her was not a formal CE certificate after verification. The reporter asked whether the certificate could ensure that the mask could be exported to Europe. The other party actually said: "100% cannot be guaranteed!" In contrast, another regular intermediary company said that it will take five weeks to obtain CE certification. The price is 136,000 yuan.
Unscrupulous businessmen deceive consumers with fake certificates
Due to the strong demand for masks in various countries, the mask trade is very prosperous for a while, and many manufacturers will try their best to obtain certifications in order to clear customs and make buyers confident. Many unscrupulous businessmen took the opportunity to forge mask certificates and sold them to manufacturers. At the same time, some unscrupulous manufacturers also mixed their eyes and attracted buyers with forged mask certificates.
Italy became the hardest hit by the European epidemic, and the authorities decided to implement a national closure of the city in an attempt to prevent the epidemic from spreading further. (Reuters)
One of the world's largest certification bodies, the British BSI has discovered a large number of fake certificates on its website. The European Safety Federation, a non-profit-making standard organization composed of European factories, importers and distributors, has also published a series of suspicious certificates on the website. ). The public can browse the suspicious certificate in the photo album.
Suspicious certificates listed on the website by European Safety Federation ↓↓↓
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Quality inspection consultant: CE certification does not necessarily mean that a certificate is issued
Quality inspection consultant Huang Xilong said that he has received about 50 inquiries about masks in the past two months. He explained that the current masks must be certified by EU CE if they are to be imported into EU countries. However, obtaining CE certification does not necessarily mean that a certificate is issued, which mainly depends on the purpose of customs declaration of the mask.
The masks imported to Europe are mainly divided into medical masks (MDD / MDR) and personal protective equipment (PPE). For example, if it is a non-sterile medical mask, the manufacturer only needs to make a self-declaration and prepare the relevant medical management system, test and technical documents for future EU customs or competent authorities to conduct random checks; if it is a sterilized medical mask, Manufacturers must submit to the notified body designated by the European Union for CE certification audit (Compliance Audit), after which they will be issued a certificate.
Consumers can check the authenticity of the announcement number of the certificate
As for the many certificates circulating in the market, many of them have nothing to do with the quality of masks or whether the legal manufacturer meets the requirements of importing into the EU. Some may just ensure the quality of plant operations, or other CE-certified administrative certificates and other unrelated mask quality certificates, or even be issued by organizations that are not qualified for auditing (Competent NB). He said that consumers can use the notified body number next to the CE mark on the mask box or the relevant certificate to go to the EU online database NANDO to check whether the notified body is qualified.
In addition, Huang reminded that FDA certification is reviewed, approved, and registered by the US Drug and Food Administration, and no certificates will be issued for products. Therefore, the FDA certificates circulated in the market have nothing to do with the quality of masks, the public needs to pay attention.
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Huang Xilong said that not all masks certified by CE will be issued with certificates. (Photo by Chen Runnan)
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