What does the “EAC” on your electronics actually mean?

If you look closely at your electronic devices, you will notice various symbols, usually hidden somewhere on the back. One of them may be “EAC” spelled in squat, elongated letters. This is an example of a product certification mark and, on technology devices, it aims to assure consumers that a given product has been tested and found to be safe and reliable. These marks are issued by third-party organizations such as governments, which require manufacturers to have their products certified before they can legally import, market or sell them in a given market.

In the case of EAC, the brand is an abbreviation of Eurasian Conformity (EAC). It is issued by the Eurasian Customs Union (EAEU), a trade organization made up of five post-Soviet states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

As with other product certification marks, the EAEU has specific rules on how the EAC mark may be used and displayed. The logo must measure at least five millimeters and respect the defined font and proportions. It must also be included on the product itself (or on a label on the product) and somewhere on the packaging.

You can spot product certification marks on all kinds of technology, from video game controllers to robot vacuum cleaners, although some foreign vacuum cleaner models are now subject to a ban by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Depending on which country you are in, you may see certifications on non-tech products like toys, furniture, and measuring equipment. Specifically regarding the EAC mark, the EAEU requires it to be included on clothing, cosmetics, wine, etc. Likewise, the European Union’s CE and Great Britain’s UKCA marks are required for anything relating to health, safety or environmental regulations.

Of course, product certification marks from government agencies are regional, so if you’re in the United States, you’ll likely see the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) logo as well as the European and British logos. Additionally, you may not see the EAC branding on newer electronic devices. More than 1,000 companies withdrew from the Russian market in early 2022, at the start of the war in Ukraine, and many continue to maintain their bans or suspensions. These include Apple and Nintendo, although devices like iPhones still sell through a sort of gray market that allows certain products to be imported without the permission of the brand owner.

Additionally, although product certification marks are not mandatory or enforceable abroad, they may, in some way, impact products manufactured internationally. A perfect example is that Apple finally removed its Lightning port to comply with an EU mandate that requires various devices like smartphones to use USB-C. Without this change, new iPhones would not be able to obtain the CE mark, effectively banning Apple phones from the entire European market.