Martial Arts, Online Briefing Session on 'US, China, Europe Mask Overseas Certification' Held

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] The Korea International Trade Association FTA Comprehensive Support Center announced on the 17th that it held an online seminar titled 'US, China, and Europe Mask and Personal Protective Equipment Overseas Certification Briefing.'

The special lecture was organized to provide information on technical regulations and certification procedures for masks and personal protective equipment in major export countries such as the United States, China, and Europe, as inquiries about overseas certification for masks and personal protective equipment from Korean export companies continued amid the ongoing spread of COVID-19.

At the mask overseas certification briefing session hosted by the Korea International Trade Association, Lee Joon-sung, principal researcher at the Korea Chemical Convergence Testing Institute, is explaining the European mask and personal protective equipment technical regulations and certification procedures. Photo by Korea International Trade Association

Junsung Lee, Senior Researcher in charge of the Europe region presentation, said, "Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) broadly refers to equipment worn or used by humans to protect against hazards," adding, "Although various items such as masks and helmets are included, since the purpose of 'protection from hazards' must be clear, it is necessary to first identify which category of PPE your product falls under before proceeding with the certification process."

He continued, "Since around 2018, the 'guidelines' regarding PPE have been elevated to 'regulations,' making conformity assessment procedures more sophisticated and adding risk assessment processes, so certification procedures have become more stringent than before, requiring more detailed preparation."

Regarding the mask certification procedures in the US and China, Seungsung Ko, Senior Researcher, explained, "Both the US and China classify medical device grades according to the potential risk to the human body," adding, "The standards required during registration and certification procedures differ depending on the grade, so it is essential to actively seek expert assistance."

Meanwhile, the special lecture can be viewed again on the Trade Association's YouTube channel, and inquiries about the FTA Comprehensive Support Center's non-tariff response support projects can be made via phone or the FTA Integrated Platform.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.