Different quality standards of mask between EU and China

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, I would like to share some basic mask standard knowledge from the perspective of an international trader.

Background

Masks have become an important medical supplies urgently needed in many countries with the outbreak of the coronavirus.

A few days ago, the Dutch government accepted the recommendation of CDC (us centers for disease control) and approved the KN95 (Chinese standard for masks) to temporarily replace the FFP2 (EU standard for masks). A Dutch company in China has purchased 1.3 million KN95 masks from Chinese manufacturers for distribution to health care workers on the frontline of COVID 19. Surprisingly, the 600, 000 masks that have arrived have been accused of being substandard.

– The mask does not fit properly on the face

– The filter element cannot effectively block the fine particles containing virus

Lesson

As an international marketer, we can learn a lot from this accident and keep this lesson in our mind for further international business. Here, I would like to share some related information about the international trade of the mask.

Lesson 1 Basic knowledge of mask

What is the European standard for masks?

FFP mask (EU standard for mask) is to test the transmittance of solid and liquid materials with sodium chloride particles and paraffin aerosols (DOP) respectively.

FFP1: Minimum filtering effect  >/=  80%

FFP2: Minimum filtering effect  >/=  94%

FFP3: Minimum filtering effect  >/=  97%

FFP masks are used to filter harmful oily and non-oily particl substances. These harmful substances include harmful aerosols, dust, smoke, fog droplets, poisonous gases, and vapors. These harmful substances are absorbed by the filter material, preventing them from being inhaled by the human body

What is the Chinese standard for masks?

KN95 mask is mainly used for industrial use and does not require oily protection. KN95 mask is tested using only sodium chloride particlesis and the filtering effect is greater than 95%.

Now we can clearly know the difference of mask standard between EU and China.

– The qualified KN95 does not meet the standard of FFP mask –

Lesson 2 Related regulations of international trade

Who should take the main responsibility in this case? Here I reasoning three possible situations and based on those situations get three different results.

– If the name of the product purchased on the purchase contract is KN95 mask but the procurer conducts quality verification according to FFP2 mask standard after receiving the product, then the buyer shall be mainly responsible.

– If the name of the product purchased on the purchase contract is FFP2 mask but the supplier provides KN95 mask that is a commercial fraud and the supplier shall take full responsibility.

– If the purchase contract says to purchase KN95 masks but the goods do not meet the standard of KN95 masks after inspected that is a quality problem and the supplier is also fully responsible.

I hope this article could bring you another perspective on the mask international trade and feel free to leave your question and opinion in the comment below.

Welcome to contact me for any international business problem that I could give a hand via LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jing-li-7a578015b/ 

Take care and all the best!

special thanks to Tess外贸club.