GS is Germany's voluntary product safety certification mark. Independent third-party bodies test and assess products against applicable EN or DIN standards. Certification focuses on safety in use and covers products such as household appliances, lighting, audiovisual equipment and electronic office equipment.
I. Introduction to GS Certification
GS is a voluntary certification based on the German Product Safety Act (SGS), with testing against harmonized European EN standards or German DIN standards. It is a German safety mark recognized in the European market. As a mark of product safety and reliable quality, GS is widely recognized by German and EU consumers. Products bearing it offer quality and safety beyond legal requirements. GS can receive greater recognition than CE because its certificates are issued by qualified third-party testing bodies.
The GS mark indicates that an independent, credible body has tested a product's safety in use. Although not legally mandatory, the mark subjects manufacturers to strict German and European product safety law when a product failure causes an accident. It is therefore a strong marketing tool that can increase customer confidence and purchase interest. Although GS is a German standard, it is recognized in most European countries. Products meeting GS requirements also meet European Community CE marking requirements. Unlike CE, GS is not legally mandatory, but growing consumer safety awareness can give GS-marked appliances a competitive advantage.
Differences Between GS and CE Certification
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GS Certification |
CE Certification |
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Voluntary certification |
Mandatory certification |
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Testing under applicable German safety regulations for GS |
Testing against applicable European standards (EN) |
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Testing scope: Safety standards |
Testing scope: EMC Directive + LVD Directive |
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An independent third party authorized by the German government conducts testing and issues the GS mark certificate. |
CE conformity may be self-declared when complete technical documentation, including test reports, is available. |
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Annual fees required |
No annual fees required |
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Annual factory inspection required |
No factory inspection required |
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The GS mark is issued by an authorized testing body and has high credibility and market acceptance. |
The factory self-declares product conformity, with lower credibility and market acceptance. |
2. Certification Mark
3. Product Scope
Household appliances, household electronic equipment, lighting products, audiovisual equipment, electrical and electronic office equipment, and other safety-related products.
4. Certification Standards
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Product Category |
Certification Standards |
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IT/AV power supplies and products |
EN62368-1 EN60335-1 EN60335-2-29 EN55032 EN55035 EN61000-3-2 EN61000-3-3 |
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Wireless Products |
EN62368-1 ETSIEN300220 ETSIEN300440 ETSIEN300328 ETSIEN301357 ETSIEN301511 ETSIEN301489 |
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Household Appliances |
EN60335-1 EN60335-2-29 EN60335-XX EN55014-1, EN55014-2, EN61000-3-2, EN61000-3-3 |
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Medical Products |
EN60601-1 EN55011, EN61000-6-2, EN61000-3-2, EN61000-3-3 |
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Lighting Products |
LED bulbs |
EN 62560:2012+A1:2015 |
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Self-ballasted fluorescent lamps |
EN 60968: 2015 |
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Fixed luminaires |
EN 60598-1:2015 |
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Recessed luminaires |
EN 60598-1:2015 |
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Road and street lighting |
EN 60598-1:2015 |
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Floodlights |
EN 60598-1:2015 |
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Independent LED drivers |
EN 61347-2-13:2014 |
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5. Test Items
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1. Working voltage |
2. Fault testing |
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3. Impact testing |
4. Vibration testing |
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5. Shock testing |
6. Flammability testing |
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7. Plug testing |
8. Resistance of protective bonding conductors |
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9. Input testing |
10. Power cord strain relief testing |
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11. Electrical connection and fixing tests |
12. Leakage current testing |
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13. Accessibility testing |
14. Energy hazard assessment |
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15. Limited power source testing |
16. Safety interlock testing |
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17. Printed circuit board testing |
18. Power supply protective covers |
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19. Inspection of encapsulated and sealed parts |
20. Resistance to external forces |
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21. Electrical equipment in or on buildings |
22. Electric shock testing |
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23. Dielectric strength testing |
24. Label inspection and testing |
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25. Radiation testing |
26. Temperature rise testing |
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27. SELV testing |
28. TNV testing |
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29. Current-limiting circuit testing |
30. Overload testing |
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31. Manually operated device testing |
32. Battery explosion protection testing |
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33. Spillage testing |
34. Clearances, creepage distances and distances through insulation |
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35. Terminals for external conductors |
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Test items are added or omitted according to the specific sample and the standards used for its application.
6. Required Documents
1. Complete the application form
2. Sign the general agreement
3. Documentation required for safety assessment
Provide the product's CB certificate and report, including European group differences. Alternatively, provide the documentation required for safety assessment, such as instructions for use, a component list, circuit diagrams and layouts, construction drawings, and specifications for transformers and other components.
4. Food-contact components, if applicable
5. Nameplate in German, with a correctly sized GS logo
6. Electromagnetic compatibility assessment report (EMC) and factory Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
7. Instructions in German
8. Samples representative of shipped products for construction review, type testing or ergonomic assessment
9. Noise and EN 50332 assessment reports, where applicable to the product category
10. DMF and EMF assessment reports, where applicable to the product category
7. Certification Process
1. Initial meeting: The testing body or agent explains the certification procedure and relevant standards to the applicant's product engineers and provides the required submission forms.
2. Application: The applicant submits the required documentation. For electrical products, this includes general assembly drawings, electrical schematics, a bill of materials, descriptions of intended use or instructions for use and installation, and differences between models in a series.
3. Technical meeting: After reviewing the application documents, the testing body arranges a technical meeting with the applicant's technical staff.
4. Sample testing: Testing is conducted against the applicable standards, either at the manufacturer's laboratory or at one of the inspection body's laboratories in various countries.
5. Factory inspection: GS certification requires an inspection of safety-related procedures at the production site.
6. Issue the GS certificate.
8. Certification Timeline & Validity
The GS certification timeline depends on whether product modifications are needed and how quickly the manufacturer submits the required documentation.
A GS certificate is valid for 5 years from issuance by the certification body. The factory undergoes an annual review during this period. After 5 years, the product must be retested to obtain GS certification again.
9. Factory Inspection
GS certification requires a factory inspection covering:
1. Quality management
2. Production lines for certified products
3. Raw materials, purchased parts and components
4. Measurement and calibration
5. Factory testing facilities
6. Technical documentation and information
7. Technical services
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Germany GS Certification |
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· Testing Content: Safety |
