正字標記管理規則

These Regulations are established in accordance with Paragraph 2 of Article 11 of the Standards Act.

The standards authority may announce a list of products to which the designated national standards items mentioned in Article 10 of the Standards Act apply as products within the scope of the CNS Mark (hereinafter referred to as “the CNS Mark Product List”). The same shall apply when the standards authority intends to withdraw products from the list.

1Products included in the CNS Mark Product List as mentioned in the previous Article may be allowed to use the CNS Mark if they meet any one of the following requirements:

21.Where the plant has obtained the quality management system (hereinafter referred to as “QMS”) certificate issued by a QMS certification body located in Taiwan or in the same country as the plant that is recognized by the standards authority to demonstrate compliance with CNS 12681 (ISO 9001) (hereinafter referred to as the “recognized QMS certification body”), and the products meet relevant national standards after testing.

32.Where the plant has obtained the factory inspection report issued by the standards authority or a factory inspection body located in the same country as the plant (hereinafter referred to as “the factory inspection bodies”) that is recognized by the standards authority, and the products meet relevant national standards after testing.

4For each product in the CNS Mark Product List, the standards authority shall announce whether the QMS requirement or the factory inspection requirement specified in Subparagraphs 1 and 2 respectively of the preceding Paragraph is applied.

5The QMS certificate and the factory inspection report specified in Subparagraphs 1 and 2 respectively of the preceding Paragraph shall bear the accreditation logo of the accreditation body.

6The accreditation body specified in the preceding Paragraph refers to the accreditation body in Taiwan or located in the same country as the plant, which is a member of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), the International Accreditation Forum, Inc. (IAF) or the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC).

1The pattern of CNS Mark is:(Please refer to the attached file.)

2The dimensions of the above pattern shall be prescribed and announced by the standards authority.

1The CNS Mark as mentioned in the preceding Article, together with the certificate number, shall be affixed prominently to the body of the products that are granted the use of the CNS Mark (hereinafter referred to as “the CNS Mark products”). Where it is not possible to affix the CNS Mark to the body of the product, the Mark shall be affixed to the packaging or containers of the product. For products in loose packaging, the CNS Mark shall be displayed on the delivery notes.

2If the CNS Mark is not affixed to the product in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Paragraph, corrective actions shall be taken within one month, beginning from the following day, upon receipt of notices from the standards authority or commissioned legal persons or associations (hereinafter referred to as “third-party certification bodies”). The specified period may be extended on the ground of justified reasons for one more month upon approval for a single time only.

1The standards authority may commission third-party certification bodies to undertake conforming assessment, certificate issuance (or replacement), market surveillance and relevant management matters that are related to certification of CNS Mark.

2The provisions of the Regulations Governing Commission of Commodity Inspection Operations shall apply mutatis mutandis to the qualifications, conditions, application procedures, audits and relevant management matters that the third-party certification bodies mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall meet. The certification fields and other specific requirements shall be announced by the standards authority.

1The standards authority may recognize QMS certification bodies, factory inspection bodies and testing laboratories to perform QMS assessment and follow-up audits, inspection of factories, and product sampling and testing, respectively.

2An inspection body recognized as the factory inspection body for commodity inspection shall be recognized as the inspection body for CNS Mark under the condition that the scope of recognition covers products stated in the CNS Mark Product List mentioned in Paragraph 2 of Article 3 and the validity period of the recognition does not expire.

3The provisions of the Regulations Governing Recognition of Designated Testing Laboratory for Commodity Inspection shall apply mutatis mutandis to the qualifications, conditions, application procedures, assessment, the validity period of recognition, revocation, rescission, and related administrative management matters that a recognized testing laboratory mentioned in Paragraph 1 shall meet. The scope of testing and other specific requirements shall be announced by the standards authority.

1Prior to making applications for the CNS Mark, a manufacturer shall first apply to the recognized QMS certification body or factory inspection body for QMS certification or factory inspection depending on applicable requirements mentioned in Paragraph 2 of Article 3 announced by the standards authority.

2After accepting the application, the agency referred to in the preceding Paragraph shall dispatch auditors to the plant stated in the application to conduct QMS assessments or factory inspection. A a report shall be prepared and delivered to the applicant.

1Prior to making applications for the CNS Mark, a manufacturer shall first apply to the standards authority, the third-party certification bodies (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the product certification agency”) or the recognized testing laboratory for product testing.

2After accepting the application, the agency referred to in the preceding Paragraph shall sample products from the plant stated in the application and carry out testing or witness testing on the sampled items in accordance with relevant national standards. A report shall be prepared and delivered to the manufacturer.

3For products that are granted certification marks designated and announced by the standards authority and the registration is valid, the latest test report for those certification marks may be used and the same test items may be waived if they are required by the relevant national standards. Use of the latest report is limited to one time only. Other test items not waived shall be performed in accordance with the standards.

1Under any of the following circumstances, the manufacturer may apply for witness testing with reasons stated to the standards authority, other than those where witness testing is allowed by the standards authority:

21.Huge and heavy products that are not easy for delivery;

32.Delicate and fragile products that are easily damaged;

43.Dangerous products that are easy to cause dangers;

54.The testing laboratory of the manufacturer complies with the requirements of CNS 17025 and is accredited by a laboratory accreditation body of our country or of the same country as the applicant, which has signed the Mutual Recognition Agreement developed by the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, with the items and accreditation scope covered by the applicable national standards.

65.Other special circumstances approved by the standards authority.

7The standards authority may evaluate the competence of testing laboratories assigned by the applicant upon acceptance of the applications. An approval of witness testing will be granted if any of the circumstances mentioned in the preceding Paragraph is met and the applicant is equipped with adequate testing facilities and capable of performing testing items in compliance with national standards.

1Manufacturers applying for the use of CNS Mark (hereinafter referred to as “the applicants”) shall select the applicable item on the CNS Mark Product List and make separate applications for individual manufacturing plants.

2Each product is limited to one application. However, if the product is classified into categories, applications shall be made based on categories. One application is allowed for each category. Separate applications shall be made for different products manufactured by the same plant. Where the same product is manufactured by different plants of the same company, separate applications shall be made in respect of different plants.

1An applicant shall make application to the product certification agency by filling in an application form, which shall be accompanied by the following documents and the application fee:

21.A copy of the company or business registration certificate and a copy of factory registration certificate or other equivalent certificate. Manufacturers that fill in the uniform serial number of the company or business and the plant registration number in the application form are not required to provide such documents;

32.Basic information of the manufacturer;

43.Copies of QMS certificates or photocopies of factory inspection reports that conform to the applicable requirements specified in Paragraph 2 of Article 3 as announced by the standards authority; and

54.Copies of test reports issued within the most recent six months.

6When making the application mentioned in the preceding Paragraph, a foreign applicant may authorize an agent who has a business place in the Republic of China (Taiwan) to act on his/her behalf by presenting an authorization letter.

7Where any of the documents submitted are in a foreign language, their Chinese translations shall also be provided at the same time.

8

Where an application made in accordance with the previous Article complies with the relevant provisions after review, the product certification agency shall grant the use of the CNS Mark and issue CNS Mark certificates. An English certificate may be issued if it is so requested in the application. Where the application does not comply with the relevant provisions, the application shall be rejected with reasons stated.

1The product certification agency may conduct yearly non-periodical surveillance visits to manufacturers that are granted the use of the CNS Mark (hereinafter referred to as “CNS Mark registered manufacturers”).

2When non-compliance with the requirements of the previous Paragraph is found during the surveillance, corrective actions shall be taken within one month, beginning on the following day, upon receipt of notices from the product certification agency. The specified period may be extended on the ground of justified reasons for one more month upon approval for a single time only. The product certification agency may carry out surveillance again after the one-month period expires.

1CNS Mark registered manufacturers having any of the following circumstances shall take corrective actions upon receipt of notices from the product certification agency. The CNS Mark shall not be allowed to be affixed to products manufactured during the period when corrective actions are being taken.

21. The QMS certification has been suspended, terminated or its relevant scope is reduced.

32. The relevant scope of the factory inspection report has been reduced.

43. The manufacturer fails to cooperate with factory inspection bodies to receive follow-up inspection.

54. The results of the follow-up factory inspection are determined to be non-compliant.

65. The QMS certificate or factory inspection report does not meet the requirements specified in Paragraph 3 of Article 3 about the accreditation logo of the accreditation body.

1The product certification agency may take samples of CNS Mark products from the market, construction sites, or the plants of CNS Mark registered manufacturers to conduct testing on an irregular basis. The testing reports shall be prepared and provided to the CNS Mark registered manufacturers.

2For CNS Mark products that have undergone product sampling tests specified in the preceding Paragraph by a recognized testing laboratory, the testing laboratory shall notify the product certification agency of the test results. Where the test reports demonstrate compliance of the products with national standards, the testing mentioned in the preceding Paragraph may be exempted.

3If the test results mentioned in the preceding two Paragraphs does not show compliance with national standards, the CNS Mark registered manufacturers shall take corrective actions within one month, beginning on the following day, upon receipt of notices from the product certification agency and apply to the product certification agency or the recognized testing laboratory for re-testing.

4The re-testing mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall be conducted on new samples randomly selected. Where the non-compliance is only limited to labeling, the check may be implemented only for the labeling.

5The product in question shall not use the CNS Mark during the period, starting from the following day, upon receipt of notices mentioned in Paragraph 3 to the date that compliance reports of product re-testing is received.

6

For CNS Mark products that are granted certification marks designated and announced by the standards authority and the registration is valid, the test reports used for maintaining those certification marks and issued within three years may be used and the same test items may be waived if they are required by the relevant national standards. Other test items not waived shall be performed in accordance with the standards.

The CNS Mark registered manufacturers shall not evade, impede, or refuse the factory inspection, testing of sampled products, or request for relevant information conducted by the product certification agency without justified reasons.

1The CNS Mark registered manufacturers that suspend manufacturing of CNS Mark products shall report the reasons and period of suspension to the product certification agency within three months, beginning on the following day, of the date of suspension.

2The period of suspension mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall not exceed one year. An extension of six months may be granted for a single time if there are justified reasons.

3The CNS Mark shall not be applied to products manufactured during the suspension period.

4Upon the expiry of the suspension period mentioned in the second Paragraph or early resumption of manufacturing, the CNS Mark registered manufacturers may continue affix the CNS Mark to their products after they have reported to the product certification agency about resumption of manufacturing CNS Mark products, except otherwise stated in these Regulations.

1Manufacturing of CNS Mark products shall be deemed suspended if any of the following circumstances occur:

21.The factory has no record of manufacturing CNS Mark products and quality management for the most recent year, or

32.Insufficient quantity of products can be sampled for testing twice within three months since the date of previous sampling.

1Where national standards applicable to the CNS Mark are revised or rescinded, resulted in the change of applicable national standards, and the content is significantly changed, the CNS Mark registered manufacturers shall take corrective actions within six months, beginning on the following day, upon receipt of notices from the product certification agency. An extension of six months may be granted if the corrective plan is approved.

2The CNS Mark may continue to be affixed to the products that comply with national standards and are manufactured prior to the revision or rescission of national standards mentioned in the preceding Paragraph.

3The CNS Mark shall not be affixed to products manufactured during the extension period as stipulated in the proviso of Paragraph 1.

4The CNS Mark registered manufacturers that have completed corrective actions earlier and have reported to the product certification agency, or have completed corrective actions within the period prescribed in Paragraph 1 and manufacture their products against the revised or new national standards may continue to use the CNS Mark.

5The product certification agency or recognized testing laboratory shall follow the provisions of Article 16 to perform testing of sampled products in accordance with the revised or new national standards after the CNS Mark registered manufacturers have made the report mentioned in the previous Paragraph or the period of taking corrective actions expires.

1Where changes are made to the content stated in the CNS Mark certificates, the CNS Mark registered manufacturers shall apply to the product certification agency for issuing replacement certificates by submitting the original certificates and relevant documents.

2Where the changes involve the relocation of plants, the CNS Mark registered manufacturers, after having obtained factory registration document or other equivalent documents for the new plants, shall apply for replacement certificates by submitting copies of the QMS certificates or factory inspection reports of the new plants as well as compliance reports of product tests reports issued within six months.

3Where application for replacement certificates is not made in accordance with the preceding two Paragraphs, the CNS Mark registered manufacturers shall take corrective actions within one month, beginning on the following day, upon receipt of notices from the product certification agency.

The CNS Mark registered manufacturers may apply to the product certification agency for re-issuing certificates if the CNS Mark certificate is lost, damaged or destroyed,

1Where the scope of registration of a CNS Mark registered manufacturer is affected by the revocation or rescission of the recognition status or revision of recognition scope of a recognized QMS certification body or factory inspection body, the manufacturer shall apply for a change of the QMS certification body or factory inspection body by submitting a copy of the new QMS certificate or factory inspection report within three months, beginning on the following day, upon receipt of notices from the product certification agency. If the application for such changes is not made, the manufacturer shall take corrective actions within one month, beginning on the following day, upon receipt of notices from the product certification agency.

2The application mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall be approved if it complies with relevant provisions after review by the product certification agency. Non-compliant applications shall be rejected with reasons stated. The CNS Mark registered manufacturers may apply for a second review within one month, beginning on the following day, upon receipt of rejection notices.

1Where a CNS Mark registered manufacturer applies for a change of QMS certification agency or factory inspection agency, it shall submit a copy of the new QMS system certificate or factory inspection report to the product certification agency.

2Where a CNS Mark registered manufacturer applies for a change of bodies that issue the test reports, it shall submit a copy of the compliance report of sampled-product tests issued by the original body to the product certification agency. The application shall not be made during the period when corrective actions are being taken as stipulated in Paragraph 3 of Article 16.

3The application mentioned in the preceding two Paragraphs shall be approved if it complies with relevant provisions after review by the product certification agency. Non-compliant applications shall be rejected with reasons stated.

1Where the CNS Mark certificates are obtained through fraudulent means, the product certification agency shall revoke such certificates and request the certificates to be returned by the manufacturers.

2The manufactures mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall efface the CNS Mark affixed to the products manufactured prior to the revocation, their packaging, containers, delivery notes or product-related information within two months, starting from the following day, upon receipt of the revocation notice from the product certification agency. The same applies to those indicating the status of being certified with CNS Mark by showing the certificate serial numbers and other texts.

3Manufacturers shall not make a new application for the CNS Mark for the same products subjected to the revocation within one year, starting from the following day, upon the receipt of revocation notice mentioned in Paragraph 1. The same applies to those who have not effaced the CNS Mark completely in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Paragraph.

1Under any of the following circumstances, the product certification agency shall rescind the CNS Mark certificates and request the registered manufacturers to return the certificate:

21.Where the corrective actions regarding affixing the CNS Mark have not been taken within the specified period as required by Paragraph 2 of Article 5;

32.Where payment of the CNS Mark fees are not made;

43.Where the corrective actions have not been taken within the specified period or no application of product testing is made upon expiry of the specified period as required by Paragraph 2 of Article 14, Article 15, Paragraph 3 of Article 16, Paragraph 3 of Article 22, or Paragraph 1 of Article 24;

54.Where violations of Article 15, Paragraph 5 of Article 16, Paragraph 3 of Article 19, or Paragraph 3 of Article 21 are made, regarding prohibited use of CNS Mark;

65.Where the violation of Article 18 is made, regarding the prohibition of evasion, impediment, or refusal behavior;

76.Where the report was not made in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 1 of Article 19 regarding any of the circumstances mentioned in Article 20 occur, or product production does not resume upon expiry of the period prescribed mentioned in Paragraph 2 of Article 19 for reported cases;

1The CNS Mark registered manufactures shall efface the CNS Mark affixed to the products, their packaging, containers, delivery notes or product-related information within two months, starting from the following day, upon receipt of the recission notice mentioned in Subparagraphs 1 to 11 of Paragraph 1 of the preceding Article. The same applies to those indicating the status of being certified with CNS Mark by showing the certificate serial numbers and other texts.

2Manufacturers shall not make a new application for the CNS Mark for the same products subjected to the rescission within six months, starting from the following day, upon the receipt of recission notice mentioned in Subparagraphs 1 to 11 of Paragraph 1 of the preceding Article.

The standards authority shall publish the names of CNS Mark registered manufacturers, their plants, their registered CNS Mark product names and other relevant information on the Standards Gazette. The same shall apply when the CNS Mark registered manufacturers are subject to a revocation or rescission decision.

These Regulations shall take effect from the date of promulgation.