When you are dealing with a bureaucracy as fluid as the European Union, it is important to be flexible and adapt. Keeping an eye out for these changes is a great way to stay ahead of the game and start planning for alterations you need to make to your products and documentation.
Phoenix Technical Group likes to stay on top of these changes and pass them along to our subscribers. We’ve recently heard about proposed changes to nine different industry sectors. You can find the press release here. The most important thing to figure out is if these changes are going to affect your industry (follow the link to the press release to get an idea).
We think it’s important to stay on top of these things because it can be a big advantage over your competitors if you do. Implementing the necessary changes can prevent you from some of the delays your competitors might face if they lag behind on adapting.
Umm... Yeah... We have sort of a problem… with your Technical File. Did you get the memo?
Imagine the joy you will feel when your product slides seamlessly through customs inspection while your competitor is shut out because they didn’t have their papers in order. Just imagine a scene where some pompous bureaucrat hassles your competitor while your product gets double the market exposure.
That’s not to mention the positive impression you will leave with compliance officers when they see that your documentation is in order. Why would they want to spend the time and hassle going through your documentation when you have clearly spent a good deal of time and energy into its compilation? They could much more easily go after a company who isn’t up-to-date and doesn’t seem like they put forth the extra effort.
For a great video primer and to learn more about the Technical File, be sure to register for our CE Marking Free Video Series.
There are more ways that staying on top of regulations can put you ahead. If you were planning to send a new product to the EU and they come out with updates that will actually affect your product, you might be able to make the changes pre-production or pre-shipment. You’ll be ready to move on to the next step in the process while your competitors are moving backwards.
Remember that EU consumers expect a product that is compliant with the regulations. Can you remember a time when a passing motorbike would disrupt your television’s picture? Well, that doesn’t happen anymore because of things such as EMC (electro-magnetic compliance) regulations have worked to rid the minor annoyances that most consumers take for granted. In today’s world, most consumers would be flabbergasted if using the microwave made their computer screen go on the fritz.
This is what regulations do. They act as a filter to all the damaging products that might be sold to uninformed consumers. They set a certain standard/expectation that the European consumer can rely on. Doesn’t it make sense as a producer to stay on top of what the regulations will or will not filter?
Most updates/changes shouldn’t affect your product (especially if you’ve done your due diligence in ensuring product compliance), but that doesn’t mean that they won’t affect your product. Plus, you could make your product to the exact specifications of the regulations and still not get your documentation right. Stay on top of regulations and stay on top of the market.
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