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Overview of KC Mark System
Background
To protect public health and safety, companies are required to obtain prior certification from authorized bodies before they can put certain products on the market. Items subject to legally compulsory certification are specified in related laws and ordinances pertaining to safety, health, environment and quality.
Diverse certification marks have caused confusion among consumers, and have also proven costly and time consuming for businesses.
To resolve such problems, KATS revised the Framework Act on National Standards and it's Enforcement Decree and will introduce its national integrated certification mark on July 1, 2009.
Summary of Revision
Introduces one single Korea Certification mark (“KC mark” in its abbreviated form), which integrates and unifies all 13 existing legally compulsory certification marks.
Reduces the number of standard certification audit systems to nine from 20, based on international standards (ISO/IEC Guide 67).
The Ministry of Knowledge Economy will introduce the KC mark system on July 1, 2009.
The system will be fully implemented by January 1, 2011, with the participation of other responsible ministries.
The system will be fully implemented by January 1, 2011, with the participation of other responsible ministries.
| July 1, 2009 |  |
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| January 1, 2011 |  |
Expected Outcome
Consumers will be able to select products certified for safety, quality, health and environmental friendliness by checking for a single KC mark.
Enterprises can avoid the time and expense associated with duplicative testing. Simplified certification auditing procedures will increase efficiency and create a better business environment.
Phase-In Period
The KC mark system will be phased in over two years. This means products that have already been certified in accordance with the relevant laws and ordinances can continue to bear existing certification marks, and these marks can be used alongside the KC mark until June 30, 2011. However, as of July 1, 2009, companies will be required to attach the KC mark to all new products which are subject to legally compulsory certification.
There will be no change to the existing certification bodies or to the list of items required to be certified.
Standard certification auditing procedures remain essentially the same as before.
The KC mark is a legally compulsory certification mark that will appear on products specified in related laws and ordinances as stated above. The KS mark, however, is a voluntary certification mark that companies may choose to use if their products conform to criteria specified in the Korean Industrial Standards concerning dimensions and quality.
