July 6, 2006

Importers of Taiwan electronic goods have more choices between QC certification labs, as competition has increased.

21 laboratories in Taiwan have received certification to perform inspections and tests on electrical and electronic equipment and components for export to the European Union countries, according to an official announcement by the Taiwan Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI)

The certification of the labs will assist Taiwan manufacturers in complying with two environmental directives from the EU, the Restrictions on Hazardous Substance directive and the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive.

Scheduled to have taken effect on July 1, the directives prohibit the export of electrical and elecronic equipment that contains mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphensyls and polybrominated diphenyl to EU countries.Taiwan exporters that have to comply with EU directives can request inspections from the qualified labs, respectively overseas buyers can direct them to do so after fee evaluations of test organizations competing for this business.

he certification tests were held by BSMI, in chich 21 out of the 5 laboratories passed the test by satisfying ISO 17025 requirements.