Languages on consumer goods packaging
Question
Regarding the regulatory compliance requirements for smooth passage of kitchen products into a specific country, I have the following question:
What are the specific product regulatory compliance requirements, particularly in terms of EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), that our battery electric kitchen products need to meet to ensure smooth entry into your country?
Answer
In order to protect the consumers, there is mandatory to use the state language as regards labelling of products, instructions for use, etc. Scope and conditions are specified by relevant/respective regulations.
As regards consumer products, we suppose you are interested in products covered by General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC). In this case, we recommend you to address the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance Section, contact person.
For products covered by specific legislation within the area of conformity assessment (New Legislative Framework (previously New Approach) – e.g. radio equipment, machinery, electrical products within LVD, etc.) general requirements for use of language are stipulated by the Act No 56/2018 Coll. on conformity assessment of products, making available of a determined product on the market. According to this act the manufacturer is obliged to attach to the product instructions for use and safety instructions in the national language (it means in Slovak) which are clear and comprehensible to the consumer or to another end-user of the product, unless the technical regulation on conformity assessment states otherwise. This requirement also applies for the authorised representative, importer or supplier.
As regards languages included on packaging, the manufacturer is obliged to indicate on the product his trade name or trade mark, in the state language the place where he is established, the place of business or the address at which he can be contacted if it is not identical with the place where he is established or the place of business and it contains word characters in a non-Latin script and other than Arabic or Roman numerals. If this is not possible, the required information must be provided on the packaging or in the accompanying documentation of the product.
The same requirement is also stated in each technical regulation on conformity assessment.
The bilingual (Slovak-English) list of products from the area of conformity assessment according to the Act No 56/2018 Coll and applicable regulations is available at the following link: List of Technical regulations from the area of conformity assessment according to the Act No 56/2018 Coll and European legislation of the New Approach).