Holographic UL Marks for information technology equipment

NOTE: This information is from a previously printed press release, newsletter, or other dated document. It is presented here for archival purposes only.

On January 8, 1999, UL announced that holographic UL Marks would be required for manufacturers of power supplies for information technology equipment (QQGQ, QQGQ2, QQGQ7, QQGQ8), power supplies for electronic data processing equipment (QQBK, QQBK2, QQBK7, QQBK8), and class 2 power units (EBPU, EBPU2, EPBU7, EPBU8) made in China.

On March 8, 1999, UL announced that the effective date for the use of the holographic Marks was being suspended in order to allow time for a more orderly transition and to consider additional program options specific to the Information Technology Equipment (ITE) industry.

Having considered the comments of manufacturers and end users, UL will introduce the program described below. UL is concerned with the subject products and the integrity of our Mark. Due to practices of the ITE industry and the use of these components, UL has been able to identify a number of actions to address counterfeiting issues.

As indicated in the March 8, 1999, Bulletin, UL wanted to consider alternatives to holographic Marks. UL has considered the following:

• The introduction of holographic Marks on products from China, in 1996, by UL was for products that were for direct sale to consumers. However, in the case of the product categories listed above, the typical application of the products is as a component of an overall end product that is subsequently evaluated and Listed by UL.
• Since the component is evaluated as part of a Listed end product, UL has the opportunity to check the component a second time (during the initial component manufacturing and during the manufacturing of the end product).
• Education of manufacturers who assemble products without certification will help promote product safety and compliance with international safety requirements.
• Typically these components are controlled by internal systems and processes monitored by the end product manufacturers, in addition to the UL requirements.
• The mandatory use of the Recognized Component Marking on these component products (the Marking is currently optional) would enhance the identification of Recognized products.

UL will undertake the following actions based on the above statements:

• UL will increase its public awareness programs to consumers and retailers relative to counterfeiting and proper use of the UL Mark.
• UL will require the Recognition Mark on all Recognized Components in the ITE power supply and transformer categories to facilitate the identification of recognized products by end users, consumers and the distribution chain. UL will conduct more after market sampling of products to evaluate the effectiveness of these alternate approaches.

The above actions will be implemented immediately with the exception of establishment of an effective date for the mandatory use of ~U on components. UL will solicit input and work to establish an effective date for the mandatory use of the Recognized Component Marking and announce the date via a separate Bulletin.