Equipment and machinery

Certain products need to be CE marked so that they can be placed on the Icelandic market.

This applies, for example, to machinery, equipment, personal protection equipment and other equipment. The AOSH monitors that machinery, equipment, personal protective equipment and other devices meet the essential minimum health and safety requirements and are CE-marked.

This will involve:

• exploring whether the machine, equipment or personal protective equipment is CE-marked correctly and that the equipment is accompanied by adequate instructions.

• examining the EU declaration of conformity, which should be accessible in all sales and.

In some cases, there is reason to call for technical documentation from the manufacturer or their agent within the European Economic Area and even to require special testing.

CE markings

By CE-marking a product the manufacturer, importer or distributorthe indicates that that it meets the essential requirements for safety and general health. However, the CE-marking does not indicate the quality or durability of the product. Only that it meets the aforementioned basic requirements.

Goods passport

The CE-marking has sometimes been likened to a product passport, as CE-marking have free flow across borders within the EEA/EU. These are requirements that are standardized in the internal market of the European Economic Area and are based on EU directives on the product concerned.

Penalties

The AOSH has the authority to prohibit the marketing of machinery, equipment or personal protective equipment that is not CE-marked or does not meet the requirements made of them.

The AOSH also has the authority to temporarily prohibit sales while it is being investigated whether the product in question meets the requirements in question. The manufacturer or an authorized representative in Iceland must then carry out tests at their own expense.

If the product does not meet the requirements, the AOSH requests its withdrawal. Violation of the rules can result in fines.

Vöruvaktin

The website voruvaktin.is is intended to help consumers avoid faulty and dangerous products.

Vöruvaktin is operated by nine institutions that are responsible for monitoring products sold on the Icelandic market.

These are:

• The Housing and Construction Authority

• The State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland

• The Icelandic Radiation Safety Authority

• The Consumer Agency

• The Electronic Communications Office of Iceland (ECOI)

• The Administration of Occupational Safety and Health

• The Icelandic Transport Authority

• The Environment Agency of Iceland

• The Icelandic Medicines Agency

On the website, you can find notifications and information about hazardous products. The public can also submit their own reports or tips about dangerous or illegal products.