E-Labels Act signed, no need to display regulator logos

Your future gadgets will no longer bear the regulatory text usually found at the back. This is according to a new E-Labels Act that said products like tablets and smartphone could provide the needed information within the software of the device. No need to include the text and symbols because companies have been asking to save some more design space.

Removing this standard procedure will benefit the tech companies because it will also save them time and resources. However in Europe, law has not been changed yet so brands are still required to include the “CE” mark. The new law was passed in the US so it doesn’t apply in the European region. This means devices released in Europe must bear the CE logo.

How important are these logos anyway? These symbols are used to inform consumers that a product is compliant with the standards set in different countries. Environmental benchmarks and safety tests are conducted and must be met first to gain those important marks. In some countries, forging the marks can result to imprisonment or fine. Usually, you’ll see the FCC and CE marks to show the gadget complies with the standards. But with the increasing demand for smaller and smarter devices, companies are having a hard time including them to the design of the product and the packing itself.

The E-Label Act reads:

As devices become smaller, compliance with physical label requirements can become more difficult and costly.

Many manufacturers and consumers of licensed devices in the United States would prefer to have the option to provide or receive important Commission labelling information digitally on the screen of the device.

The solution now is to simply include the information on the software. Physical label requirements don’t make sense now because they can become costly and digital information is the way to go.

President Barack Obama signed the E-Label Act himself. The act is aimed to alleviate the need to display logos required by US authorities. Other logos by regulators must still be displayed though.

VIA: BBC