technical
name sake
Douglas Masterson provides an update on own branding
M
any architectural ironmongery businesses rebrand products from manufacturers under their own brand name. This is a process which is known as ‘own branding’ but also known as “rebranding” by the European Commission and CEN. However, many companies are unaware of the legal implications of this process. A guidance document was released by the Group of Notified Bodies during November 2017 which specifically related to the rebranding of product
and the certification requirements which accompany it. There has now been further Approved Guidance issued in November 2019 and this article will make readers aware of its implications. Douglas Masterson
Current situation Currently, a notified body certificate covers only construction products placed on the market by the original certificate holder to whom the certificate is issued to and their brand and not that of the rebrand. Based
on the above point the physical producer cannot refer to a notified body certificate for products that are supplied for the purpose of rebranding. A rebranding manufacturer cannot in their Declaration of Performance (DoP) or a CE marking make reference to the notified body that issued a certificate to the physical producer for construction products under AVCP systems 1+, 1, or 2+. This means that the rebranding manufacturer will need a notified body certificate of their own for their rebrand.
30 • architectural ironmongery journal
30_31.AIJSPR20.tech.indd 30
20/03/2020 15:00
