The IEC 62368-1 standard for Information Technology Equipment (ITE) and Audio/Visual (A/V) devices will go into effect December 20, 2020 for the E.U., U.S., and Canada.
On that date, the hazard-based standard
62368-1 will replace two existing standards: IEC/EN/UL/CSA 60065, Audio, Video
& Similar Electronic Apparatus and IEC/EN/UL/CSA 60950-1, Information
Technology Equipment.
Not All Countries Handle 62368-1
the Same Way
There are a few different approaches to 62368-1 around the world.
Some countries, like the U.S. and Canada, have adopted standards that match this new hazard-based approach. The U.S. (UL62368-1) and Canada (CAN/CSA 62368-1) standards will go into effect December 20, 2020, replacing the outgoing standards at the same time as the EU.
Other regions, like Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and Japan, have a corresponding local standard, but the timeline for withdrawing the old standards is longer. That means multiple standards could be in play in these markets, at least for an interim transition period.
Other regions, like China, Korea, and South America, are still considering the 62368-1 standard and have not announced any formal transition plans.
If you sell into regions with differing transition
timelines, consult a compliance expert to make sure you choose a cost-effective
path to compliance with 62368-1.
Past Changes to the 62368-1 Effective Date
This effective date is the outcome of a few developments and discrepancies identified over the past 12+ months. At one time, there were two different dates for the withdrawal of the old standards (60950-1 and 60065) and the presumption that existing products conformed to old standards. This led to confusion among manufacturers and a complicated global compliance situation.
Now that the dates are one and the same,
manufacturers should expect all countries that are adopting the 62368-1
standard right away to do so December 20, 2020. All products within the scope
of 62368-1 must be tested according to that standard going forward. Even if a
product’s primary market is not currently the EU or the US, the sooner products
are compliant with this new standard, the better-positioned they will be if and
when the hazard-based approach is adopted in those markets.
Contact G&M Compliance for Expert Guidance on the Transition to 62368-1
While a uniform effective date makes the transition to 62368-1 less convoluted, that does not mean the transition is easy. Your approach to compliance with 62368-1 will depend on the product, the expected lifespan of the product, your target regions, and the transition timeline of these regions.
Contact G&M Compliance to come up with a global plan that makes sense for your product and target markets.