01 Investigation
Author: Liang Zurao Chen Runnan Zheng Jiaru
2020-04-19 10:00
Last update date: 2020-04-19 10:00"Hong Kong 01" spot-checked the packaging instructions of 40 boxes of masks, and found that mask manufacturers provided false addresses of foreign manufacturers, and some even did not provide the name and address of the mask manufacturer. It is difficult for consumers to distinguish whether the masks purchased are reliable.
The reporter provides 3 simple tricks, hoping to help consumers tell whether the packaging instructions of the masks are reliable. First, make good use of mainland and foreign search sites to check the name and address of the manufacturer; second, recognize the CE-approved packaging specifications; third, understand the FDA system and recognize the appearance of suspicious certificates popular in the market.
In the early spot check masks, 17 boxes of packaging were printed with the EU CE certification trademark, but all CE certification masks did not meet the standard, because the packaging boxes did not print the information required by the EU. (Profile picture)
At present, most of the mask manufacturers sold in Hong Kong set up factories in China, and some manufacturers set up factories in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, or even European and American countries. The quality of the masks is closely related to the reputation of the manufacturer and the location of the factory.
Trick 1: Check the name and address of the manufacturer and distributor
Search in Mainland companies: www.tianyancha.com Search in
other countries: www.opencorporates.com
Most of the mask manufacturers are Chinese registered companies. The public searches on mainland websites, such as Tianyancha, Qicha and Qixinbao, to check company registration information. First of all, the public can log in to Tianyancha and other relevant websites, and enter the name of the mask manufacturer on the website. After collecting the results, you can see a lot of company information, such as important information such as the date of establishment of the enterprise, registered business, registered capital, paid-in capital.
"Registered Business" and "Operation Scope" help the public to judge the nature and production of the company's business; "Registered Capital" and "Paid-up Capital" help to understand the size of the enterprise; "Date of Establishment" helps to judge the mask manufacturer Whether the masks were put into production after the outbreak.
In addition, there are mainland companies that have been incorporated for a long time, but only changed their business scope this year. For example, the Mainland mask manufacturers who were spot-checked earlier were mainly engaged in the production of canned containers. However, they changed their business scope and produced masks 2 months ago. Relevant business scope changes can also be seen on the Tianyan check website, it will be displayed in the column of change records, labeled "Change in business scope", and will list the date of change.
Mask manufacturers in other countries can be found on the Open Corporates search website, but compared to this website there are only basic company information, including the date of establishment and the place of registration.
Consumers can also use the "Google Translate" mobile app to directly scan and translate the text on the product packaging with the camera lens if they encounter a foreign language on the packaging.
In addition to checking the basic information of the manufacturer, checking the address on the packaging can also help prying out the authenticity of the manufacturer. "Hong Kong 01" spot-checked 40 masks earlier and found that there are two European and American manufacturers listed on the mask box, which is actually a British country store and a large US supermarket chain. Therefore, consumers can search the addresses of mask manufacturers on Google and Baidu maps, and make good use of the "Street View" mode to verify the authenticity of the addresses on the packaging.
Trick 2: Check if the CE certification specifications, materials and labels are complete
Quality inspection consultant Huang Xilong pointed out that the CE certification mask packaging box must be printed with the following three batches of information: the name and address of the manufacturer, EU representative company and EU importer; ex-factory date, effective date, product batch number, product serial number, and product Description; there are specific marks and requirements. However, among the 40 boxes of masks spot-checked by the reporter earlier, 17 boxes were printed with the EU CE certification trademark, but many of them did not meet the requirements of CE boxes.
Huang Xu said that at present, if the masks are to be imported into EU countries, they must obtain EU CE certification. However, CE certification does not necessarily mean that a certificate is issued, which mainly depends on the customs declaration of the mask. For example, non-sterile medical masks, manufacturers only need to make self-declaration and prepare related medical management systems, tests and technical documents to For future EU customs or competent authorities to conduct random checks; if it is a sterilized medical mask, the manufacturer must submit to the notified body designated by the EU for CE certification audit (Compliance Audit), after which a certificate will be issued.
In addition, masks with CE certificates have a certification code, which will be printed next to the CE mark on the box, and the public can check the code at the European Union Online Database (NANDO) to identify the authenticity. Masks that are CE certified but without a certificate do not have an authentication code.
Huang Xilong, a quality inspection consultant, pointed out that the packaging of CE certified masks must be printed with the information required by EU standards and multiple labels. (Profile picture)
Mask purchase guide (Hong Kong 01 drawing)
Trick 3: FDA has no certificate, check the suspicious certificate sample on the EU website
In addition to the EU's CE certification, the US FDA certification is also widely known. FDA certification is reviewed, approved, and registered by the US Drug and Food Administration. However, Huang Xilong reminded that FDA certification will not issue certificates for products. The FDA certificates circulating in the market are not related to the quality of masks. If a manufacturer or merchant presents the relevant certificates and sells the batch of masks, the public needs to pay attention. There is also a group member who specializes in mask research on the Internet jokingly saying that if you find a FDA "certificate" when buying a mask, they are not related to quality, and you don't need to ignore it.
In addition, in response to the large number of counterfeit “EU certification” mask certificates on the market, the European Union ’s European Union has listed dozens of samples of suspicious certificates on its website. The public can check whether the certificates are similar in appearance.
A group member on the Internet who specializes in masks joked that buying masks requires "recognizing the eagle." As long as it is a certificate with an image of an eagle and the American flag, it has nothing to do with quality. (Online picture)
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Mask Teaching and Quotes
