Underwriters Laboratories moves to protect seal integrity
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has instituted a program aimed at protecting the integrity of its seal relative to products manufactured in China. Since September 1997, UL labels ordered for products manufactured in China have included a month/year date. This new label makes it easier for U.S. and Canadian inspectors and customs authorities to spot unauthorized UL Marks and to ensure that products coming into the United States and Canada comply with UL requirements. The date on the labels will correlate with the date UL processes a label order.
Also, all UL clients in China that manufacture products in the categories listed below will be required to use UL Listing Marks with a new hologram. Hologram images and colors will be changed periodically to deter counterfeiting. Holographic labels are not required for products in the cord and power supply cord sets and the flexible cord categories manufactured outside China.
Other affected product categories include current taps, ceiling fans, electric fans, incandescent fixtures, portable lamps, night lights, work lights, clock-operated switches, photoelectric switches, power taps, transformers, transient voltage surge suppressors, and flexible cords.
In January, UL had announced that it was implementing a number of changes to its certification mark, including the introduction of a single UL Mark indicating compliance to both Canadian and U.S. requirements; a change in the Mark`s design, most notably, the width of the circle, which is now as wide as the letters; the elimination of variations of the UL Listing Mark with the words “Underwriters Laboratories Inc.T” or various abbreviations of those words (the complete Listing Mark for all UL Listed products now consists of “UL” in a circle with the word “LISTED” below or to the right of the Mark with the appropriate product`s identity and control number); and making mandatory the use of the UL Classified products Mark (the “UL” in a circle with the word “CLASSIFIED” above it). Its use had been optional.
Each of the changes is to be phased in over a 10-year period. In the interim, the changes for existing UL clients are optional. New clients will have to comply with some of the revisions.
UL is providing artwork for its Marks in a variety of formats, including camera-ready logo sheets, diskettes with UL Marks in encapsulated postscript (EPS) format, and graphic files that can be downloaded from UL`s Web site at www.ul.com/mark/ art.htm.
For additional information or assistance, contact Danica Walker in Northbrook, Illinois, at (847) 272-8800, ext. 43731, e-mail: walkerd@ul.com.
