Business

Announcing PCA LVE Notified Body status for SGS

SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, is delighted to announce that SGS Gulf Limited (SGS) has been appointed as a Notified Body for the certification of low voltage electrical equipment (LVE) in Oman by the Directorate General for Standards and Metrology of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman (DGSM).

Oman’s product conformity program requires that specific regulated product categories are be certified for compliance with the country’s technical regulations and standards, or their approved equivalents. SGS can carry out assessments for the products listed under Stage 1 LVE, which are washing machines (with a capacity exceeding 10 kg and up to 25kg), dishwashers and vacuum cleaners. Products categorized under Stage 2 and 3 will be announced later this year and in 2024.

In addition to this, SGS has also been approved for the certification of the DGSM’s energy efficiency rating scheme of air conditioners and for G Mark Certification of LVEs. The latter covers categories such as refrigerators, food grinders and mixers, ovens, plugs, socket outlets, cord extension sets, air-conditioners, microwave ovens, washing machines, electric water heaters, electric fans, electric irons, hair straighteners and curlers etc.

Certificates of Conformity are issued by SGS following an assessment and testing process which includes design and sample evaluation, as well as analysis in DGSM-approved laboratories. The type examination process involves safety and electromagnetic compatibility tests, and manufacturers must prepare product design and risk analysis documentation. Once the products have been approved by SGS and registered with the DGSM, a certificate of conformity can be issued.

Oman’s product conformity assessment (PCA) program regulates products sold in the country, in order to protect public health and the environment. SGS’s services help manufacturers and retailers gain access to Omani markets, avoid delays in customs clearance and reduce loss from potential penalties.

More information is available in SGS’s PCA Newsletter, Q2 2023.

For further information, please contact:

Sithara Hatim
Certification Center Manager, SGS
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About SGS
We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for sustainability, quality and integrity. Our 97,000 employees operate a network of 2,650 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.

Expert PCA services for Ivory Coasts growing import market from SGS

SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, is delighted to provide details of Ivory Coast’s verification of conformity (VoC) standards program, giving businesses expert guidance on accessing this growing market.

Statistics from the International Trade Centre demonstrate that products exported to Ivory Coast were worth USD 14 billion in 2021, with a growth rate between 2020 and 2021 of 34%. China, France and Nigeria were the top three export supply markets for the country.

Ivory Coast’s VoC program began in July 2019, aiming to ensure that only high-quality products would reach this lucrative market. Its standards are set by the country’s regulatory authority.

With a minimum threshold for applicable products of XOF 1,000 or EUR 1,525, Ivory Coast’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Promotion of SMEs (MCIPPME) has published a list of product categories which are regulated by the VOC program. This is available on the website of the Ministry of Commerce: http://www.commerce.gouv.ci.

SGS provides full product conformity assessment (PCA) services for exporters wishing to obtain certificates of conformity for VoC clearance. Full documentation must be submitted to SGS, including a Request for Certification, proforma/final invoice, quality management system certification details and other conformity documents such as test reports, quality and analysis certificates and technical data sheets. Products must have undergone one, or a combination, of documentary verification and physical inspection, as well as testing in approved laboratories. If the verification process has been completed satisfactorily, and conformity assessment fees are paid by the exporter, then a Certificate of Conformity can be issued.

With many years of experience in the monitoring of maritime traffic in Africa and the Middle East, SGS’s ACI technical center in Ivory Coast also provides access to expert assessment of the necessary commercial and transport documents. There are three available certification assessment routes to demonstrate product compliance. Details of these and SGS’s full PCA services for Ivory Coast, plus a list of products which are exempt from the VOC program, are available in SGS’s PCA Newsletter, Q2 2023.

For further information, please contact:

Sosthene Compaore
Contract Manager, Trade Facilitation Services, SGS
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sunshine Restoration is Charlotte Most Trusted Full Service Restoration Company

CHARLOTTE - Sunshine Restoration is proud to announce that we are a 24/7 full-service water, fire, and mold damage restoration company serving the Charlotte, NC, area. We have been providing top-quality services to the Charlotte area for over ten years and are dedicated to helping our clients restore their homes and businesses after any disaster. We understand how stressful dealing with a disaster in your home or business can be.

That’s why we have made it our mission to provide you with the best possible service to help restore your property to its original condition. Our highly trained professionals will diligently clean, dry, and restore your property to normal after any disaster. We use only the latest technology and equipment certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) to ensure that your property is restored correctly.

Sunshine Restoration takes pride in providing exceptional customer service while using quality products and materials. We strive to give each customer a personalized experience tailored to their property needs. In addition, we believe in providing a safe environment for our customers and taking the time to answer any questions they may have about the restoration process. We also work directly with your insurance company to ensure you receive the maximum coverage for your claim.

Our goal is to make sure that all of our customers feel comfortable throughout the entire restoration process. You should know that you can trust us with your home or business and feel confident that we can return it to its pre-disaster state quickly and safely. With Sunshine Restoration, you know your property is in experienced hands.

As mentioned, we do full-service home restorations; no matter the issue, we can handle:

A broad range of water damage restoration services includes flood damage, leak detection, sewage cleanup, water extraction, and even structural drying.
We can handle comprehensive fire damage services such as restoration and fire and smoke cleanup.
Since water damage can lead to mold formation, we also handle removals, remediations, inspections, and testing.
While not as much of a request on the residential side of things, we also offer commercial biohazard cleanup for businesses.

If you’re looking for a full-service restoration company in Charlotte, NC, look no further than our family-owned home restoration company. At Sunshine Restoration, our team of experienced professionals is here for you every step of the way, from start to finish. Contact us today for more information about how we can help restore your property after any disaster.

SGS Issues SafeGuardS on New Brazilian Standard for Pigments in Food Contact Cellulosic Materials and Articles

SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has published SafeGuardS 064.23 to help stakeholders gain a better understanding of the new Brazilian standard for pigments in food contact cellulosic materials and articles.

The Brazilian Ministry of Health/National Health Surveillance Agency/Collegiate Board issued Resolution – RDC No. 798 of May 19, 2023 (RDC 798/2023) – on May 22, 2023. This revises Resolution A - RDC No. 88, of June 29, 2016, in regard to the technical regulation on cellulosic materials, packaging and equipment intended to come into contact with food and other measures.

It sets a grayscale requirement when testing for pigments and dyes in food contact cellulosic materials and articles to BS EN 646 - Paper and board intended to come into contact with foodstuffs – Determination of colorfastness of dyed paper and board.

RDC 798/2023 entered into force on May 22, 2023, and will come into effect on November 22, 2023.

For more information, stakeholders are advised to review SGS’s original SafeGuardS 064.23.

SGS Food Contact Material Services
SGS’s technical experts have extensive experience of testing materials and articles in contact with food. They can ensure that your products meet the appropriate regulations for food contact materials and pave the way for compliance. SGS offers the full range of testing, including migration tests, along with expert advice on emerging regulations, compliance issues and documentation review. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS’s Food Contact Material Services.

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the Brazil Sets Standard for Pigments in Food Contact Cellulosic Materials and Articles SafeGuardS.

Subscribe here to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information contact:

Dr. HingWo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel: (+852) 2774 7420

Alessandra Shimizu
Technical Manager
Tel: (+55) 11 3883-8880 Ext. 8785

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines
LinkedIn: SGS Connectivity & Products

SGS expands global network of ZDHC Foundation approved softlines laboratories

SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, is delighted to announce that its softlines laboratories in Hong Kong and Istanbul have been approved by the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Foundation to operate as ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) certification bodies for conformance to Levels 1, 2 and 3 of MRSL V3.1.

The number of SGS’s ZDHC approved facilities has now reached eight following the recent upgrade of laboratories in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kaohsiung, Chennai, Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong. SGS is now the only ZDHC Foundation recognized company operating in Kaohsiung, Chennai, Hai Phong and Hong Kong approved to Levels 1, 2 and 3.

With a focus on supporting the fashion industry to reach its zero discharge goals, the announcement supports SGS’s long-term strategy to expand its global sustainability service capabilities. SGS Chemical MRSL 3.0 conformance certification, enables manufacturers and brands to demonstrate their commitment to zero discharge in complex supply chains.

The ZDHC Foundation, an industry-led collaboration committed to eliminating hazardous chemicals from textile and footwear supply chains, published its first MRSL in 2014. The companion document, MRSL Conformance Guidance, followed in 2017. MRSL provides brands and suppliers with a single, harmonized list of chemical substances that are banned from intentional use during manufacturing and related processes. In November 2022, V3.0 of the MRSL and V2.0 of the MRSL Conformance Guidance were released by the ZDHC Foundation; MRSL V3.1 was published in March 2023.

SGS Chemical MRSL 3.0 conformance certification
SGS offers a simple and effective process for verifying the compliance of supplied chemical formulations with the criteria for ZDHC MRSL Levels 1, 2 or 3 through laboratory testing, document review and on-site assessment.

Learn more about SGS’s Zero Discharge Holistic Solutions

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