Certification body		TUV Rheinland	TUV SUD	Intertek ETL SEMKO	UL Demko	Nemko	SGS Fimko	VDE
Mark
Nature		Voluntary	Voluntary	Voluntary	Voluntary	Voluntary	Voluntary	Voluntary
The Required Standard		Safety	Safety	Safety	Safety	Safety	Safety	Safety
Factory inspection		Prerequisite	Prerequisite	Prerequisite	Prerequisite	Prerequisite	Prerequisite	Prerequisite
CB Scheme Member Country		YES
Technical Information
Voltage	230Vac
Frequency	50Hz
Plug	European standards CEE 7/7 & 7/16

GS mark is the voluntary safety mark of Germany. It holds high recognition by consumers. Many products, including electric tools, IT equipments and household appliance, etc. are difficult to sell in and around Germany with GS mark.
 
Product evaluation, certification, and pre-license inspection
       Product evaluation is on the basic of harmonized European Standard, and refers to the Low-voltage directive, EMC directive and Machinery directive. If the GS required product does not have the related European standard, it would issue the IEC standard certificate. The use-life of the certificate is five years.
        Pre-license inspection is the necessary requirement. After this, it is the annual factory inspection.
Besides in accords with European harmonized standard and German National Deviations, product evaluation should also refer to ZEK document issued by ZEK, and documentation established by Exchange of Experience Forum 1 (EK1). Some products also need Ergonomic testing.
        According to ZEK 01-08, from April 1 2008 on, products applied for GS certification should has the PAHs evaluation, thus to complied with the regulation and avoid health hazard. This compulsory requirement adapts to all the possible PAHs materials that can be touched by human being or put into mouth in ordinary use or reasonable anticipative misusing. Products accessed GS certificate before April 1 2008 should accomplished the PAHs evaluation before March 31 2009.
         Revised edition ZEK 01.1-08 of ZEK 01-08 has been published on June 25 2008.
         Ergonomic testing required by GS mark containing multi-sorts of IT products, including LCD/CRT display services, computers, laptops, and other computer peripheral equipment (such as keyboards, mices, printers, scanners, etc.), must be complied with the related ergonomics standard within EK1-ITB 2000.