In the context of the EMC Directive, "Distributor" is defined within the directive’s (2014/30/EU) Article 3, Definitions. Item (14) states "‘distributor’ means any natural or legal person in the supply chain, other than the manufacturer or the importer, who makes apparatus available on the market;".
It is also interesting to note that the directive's Definitions specifically differentiate between "placing on the market" and "making available on the market". Article 3, Definitions, item (9) states "‘making available on the market’ means any supply of apparatus for distribution, consumption or use on the Union market in the course of a commercial activity, whether in return for payment or free of charge;". Note the circular reference. Distributors can ‘make available’ to other distributors (or for consumption/use). It is therefore possible to have multiple distributors in the supply chain, which includes the final distributor supplying the apparatus to the end user, or in directive speak 'making available on the market for consumption or use', i.e. whoever sells or supplies it last. So according to the directive we could have: Manufacturer ==> Shipper ==> [EU] Importer ==> Distributor 1 =//=> Distributor n ==> Consumer/End User. Now it gets interesting. Article 10 of the directive sets out the "Obligations of distributors" which essentially states that the 'distributor' shall ensure that: * Apparatus bears the CE mark * Required documents are present * Article 18 is met (information regarding precautions, restrictions, intended use) * Annex I, Essential Requirements are met (the technical stuff) * Stored & transported such that Annex I requirements are not compromised * Any non-compliant goods already sold are fixed or recalled * Have documentation available demonstrating compliance (TCF ?) So all you wholesalers, trade distributors, chain-store buyers, mail order companies, internet retailers, market traders, stall holders, eBay sellers, small shop owners and fencers of stolen goods... you'd better make sure you understand and fulfil your obligations under Directive 2014/30/EU of the European Parliament. What could possibly go wrong? T ----- Original Message ----- From: John Woodgate Sent: 04/25/14 07:14 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [PSES] SV: [PSES] New EMC Directive In message <[email protected]>, dated Fri, 25 Apr 2014, T. Sato <[email protected]> writes: >I thought all retailers are also distributors under the new EMC >directive, as they are in the supply chain. > >Am I missing something? The two words have different meanings. As I said, some companies do both. Just as an example, a distributor might or might not have a 'trade counter' where professionals can go to buy stuff, but they normally take orders by phone or on-line and send stuff from their warehouses, whereas retailers have shops/stores where the general public go. -- OOO - Own Opinions Only. With best wishes. See www.jmwa.demon.co.uk Nondum ex silvis sumus John Woodgate, J M Woodgate and Associates, Rayleigh, Essex UK - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]! > All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: > http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the > IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ > can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: > http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html > (including how to unsubscribe) List rules: > http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list > administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell > <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: > <[email protected]> David Heald: <[email protected]> - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to unsubscribe) List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <[email protected]> David Heald: <[email protected]>
