TRANSATLANTIC ECONOMIC COUNCIL

EU proposals for early results by November 2007

Reduce unnecessary costs for transatlantic trade: recognition of

Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity for electrical and ICT

equipment

Most of the world relies on self-certification by manufacturers (backed
up by market

surveillance) for the safety of electrical equipment (including
information technology and

telecommunications equipment). The US is the only major economy that
requires third

party certification by Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories
(NRTLSs). This is

probably the single most burdensome entry barrier for European
electrical equipment and

appliances. The onerous US conformity assessment regime, which includes
repetitive

tests and factory audits, creates high costs for suppliers to the US
market without benefits

to consumers; available statistics show that Europe has a better track
record in electrical

accidents than the US.

This is a point of great interest both to European and American
manufacturers of

electrical equipment. A solution to this problem would generate annual
savings of EUR

1.3 bn for EU exporters alone and would have an even greater effect on
the US industry.

The regulator OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration)
considered the idea

of changing the US system to self-certification, but withdrew its
proposal in January

2007. During the meeting in Berlin, Al Hubbard’s team indicated that
Labour Secretary

Elaine Chao, who has the political responsibility for OSHA, might be
willing to help

finding a solution. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is
another agency

with jurisdiction over certain categories of electrical equipment.

