Credit cards are used internationally. In fact, some debit cards can be used internationally, but have you ever wondered how your money and your information stay safe? There are conformity standards for credit cards that have to be met by banks and merchants in order for them to participate in the management of credit cards.

There are basic compliance and validation regulations that have to be followed in order to conform the credit card standards. These standards apply to financial institutions, merchants and internet vendors. The rules dictate what security measures have to be taken to protect employers, employees and card holders. There are six categories of compliance security standards.

The interested parties have to conform to a secure network. There has to be a firewall in place, and vendor supplied passwords cannot be used within the system.

Cardholder data has to be protected with encrypted transmission of information across open, public networks.

Conformity standards require that the interested parties keep an updated anti-virus and maintain secure systems and computer applications.

Strong access control measures should be in place. This means cardholder information should be restricted to need-to-know. Each system user needs a unique password, and physical access to cardholder data has to be restricted.

Networks must be regularly tested and monitored. All access to the network should be traceable.

Finally, each organization has to have a written policy that addresses information security.

Although these standards are not fool proof, the willingness to follow conformity requirements and to regularly test and assess their effectiveness greatly protects the consumer, the merchant and the bank holding the credit card account. It also insures consumer confidence if travelers know that their financial information is secure throughout the world.

These conformity standards don’t guarantee theft won’t happen, but those who diligently follow the security criteria that is required are less likely to have a problem.

In order to manufacture and sell an automobile, motorcycle or tractor within the European Union, a company has to meet European auto conformity standards. This certificate of conformity, or COC, is an announcement that the vehicle meets with the EC’s approval and is free to be moved about and sold in the EU. This COC is specifically needed for items that are subject to registration or international standardization.

The COC carries information about the auto and its manufacturer’s information as well as technical specifications, type approval number and other necessary data. Cars manufactured in the U.S. and Japan do not automatically comply to EU conformity standards. Neither do older model European vehicles. A COC cannot be issued for converted vehicles either.

The reason conformity standards were put in place via a COC was so that technical barriers would be eliminated in the movement of vehicles from country to country. The standards are defined for noise, emissions and safety. In order for a automobile to be put into service it will have to meet the EU standards and receive its COC. This consolidation of standards within the European countries meant that 12 different states conformed into one regulatory body.

These approved vehicles can be sold within the European Community without any problem. The vehicle only needs to receive its certification in one country to be easily sold in another. To receive certification the vehicles can either go through an approved testing facility or the manufacturer can purchase testing equipment and check for compliance in the factory itself. US automobiles can be certified if they comply with the standards and are tested in an approved facility.

These changes in European auto conformity standards took place throughout the 1990′s with final agreements solidified in 1996. At that time, the EU approval system became mandatory.

Just about any electronic product you purchase has a little “CE” mark on it. In the mid 1990s this little symbol began to appear, but no one really questioned why it was there. In fact, it has a very important meaning within the European Union. It is a symbol that certifies that the product has met EU safety, health and environmental requirements.

It is a symbol of free marketability within the European Economic Area, or EEA. When a manufacturer puts the CE mark on his product, he is declaring that it meets EU standards. He is then solely responsible for the validity of that symbol. This also applies to products made outside of the EEA. The CE mark is mandatory in the EU, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein. Countries that are official candidates to join the EU are also adopting the CE symbol. Those countries include Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro.

In order to affix the CE symbol to his product, the manufacturer has to engage in conformity assessment, sign an EC declaration of conformity and set up a technical file. Importers have to follow the same rule, and they have to make sure that someone who represents the manufacturer is easily accessible should the EU legislative body wish to see documentation of conformity.

Distributors of goods have to be able to demonstrate that they have affirmation from the importers and manufacturers that standards have been met. If an importer or distributor markets a product under their own name, then they assume responsibility for the CE marking. That means they have to have sufficient information on the design and production of the product.

Products have to be marked with the CE mark before they are put on the market. The manufacturers are individually responsible for checking which EU directives apply to their products.

Conformity assessment is not a new idea. It’s been around since John F. Kennedy was president of the United States. He declared four basic consumer rights. Within these four rights, the quality, safety and price of international goods must be created in a way that satisfies and protects the consumer. Kennedy started with the following:
The right to safety
The right to be informed
The right to choose
The right to be heard

Today, these standards are the foundation of good customer service. Consumer International added four more consumer rights to the conformity assessment. That are:
The right to satisfaction of basic needs
The right to redress
The right to education
The right to a healthy environment

Conformity assessment standards help support national legislation and certification plans. As these ideas are distributed throughout Europe and the international community they help raise awareness of quality standards, safety, reliability, interchangeability and efficiency. By following the guidelines set forth through conformity assessment, the nations benefit economically, as well.

The assessment standards are developed in an open atmosphere that allow manufacturers and consumers to provide input. Whether the consumer is aware that when they exercise their rights that they are actually helping develop conformity through out the world is probably slim. In fact, it is taken for granted that credit cards work anywhere in the world, or that car controls are universal. However, it is the daily exercising of rights by the customer and responsiveness of the various industries that are responsible for the convenience of interchangeable international products.

The standards are a voluntary set of specifics, but it makes no sense not to follow them. It’s not unusual for some product that does not meet the conformity assessment guidelines within its industry to be pulled from the retail shelves, or even recalled. Consumer rights are protected, but so are financial bottom lines when international companies choose to conform to the standards agreed upon.

Anyone who has traveled between the United States and Europe has been faced with the challenge of making things like hair dryers work in the different countries. It’s common knowledge that you’ll need an adapter, but most people don’t know why electrical outlets vary between Europe and the U.S.

Probably the easiest explanation is that the development of electricity throughout the world happened at about the same time for most countries. Since there were no conformity standards or real communication on how to create and construct electrical wiring and outlets, electricity varies from the U.S. to Europe. In fact, it actually can vary from one European country to another.

The EU uses a 230V, and although the voltage can vary across countries, appliances pretty much work across all borders. In the U.S. 110V to 220V is used. The design of the sockets can vary radically, so multiple adapters are needed to move about the world with personal electrical appliances.

Another detail is that the Europeans needed to save copper after WWII, so it’s possible to see a large, square pinned plug with a built in fuse in some places. Another challenge in Europe is that various countries make use of two and three pin plugs, so not only will an adapter for European electrical wiring be needed by the American tourist, but he may need multiple adapters!

Another difference between the U.S. and Europe is the frequency of the electricity. In the U.S. the standard is 60Hz, and in Europe, it is 50Hz. If the electrical outlets can be adapted, there may still be a power problem due to the frequency differences.

It’s unlikely that the world, or even the EU will every be completely standardized, so the best thing a traveler can do is research. Know what adapters will be needed in the countries to be visited.

Not all vehicles are allowed in all urban areas in Europe. Therefore, there are low emission zones throughout the European Union. A low emission zone, or LEZ, is an area where high polluting vehicles are not allowed to go. The vehicles are either banned from the locations or charged if they go over the allowed limit.

Low Emission Zones across Europe are often the best measure a city can take to lower air pollution. Typically, the goal is to reduce fine particulates, nitrogen dioxide and substances that effect the ozone. Vehicles are classified by Euro Standards, and each LEZ may have different limits. If the vehicle has a catalytic converter or particulate filter, it will change it’s rating in a positive way. Particulate filters are used on diesel engines to reduce soot and other pollutants, and they can be fitted in the factory or retrofitted once the vehicle is in service.

It is the driver’s responsibility to find out what the emission standards are in a particular LEZ before entering it. Drivers also need to know what the emissions standards on their vehicle are, too. http://www.lowemissionzones.eu can guide people in what each LEZ expects, as well as finding out about a particular vehicle’s standards.

As a rule, LEZs affect heavy duty trucks that transport goods, buses and coaches. Some cars, small trucks and motorcycles may be affected, too. LEZs usually operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year. If in doubt, just follow that standard.

Not only will a vehicle have to meet the Low Emission Zone standards, it will also have to be registered, so that means multiple registrations if the vehicles is traveling in several countries. Some countries automatically register vehicles, and others require the purchase of a sticker. In some cases, the registration might be paid with tolls.

Visit the website provided, and look for the standards that will affect you. You’ll need to comply in all LEZs before traveling.