“Made in EU” - what kind of country is this?" Google and Yandex queries in Russia are replete with similar perplexing questions. Are Germany and France, famous for their quality, allowed their trademark to be equalized with other EU countries? Not to mention , that Germany already does much more for the Union than other countries, and that it is this country that has achieved everything through its own efforts.
Did you know that?
So, what is it and what country is Made in EU? In 2003, at the general council of the European Union, the idea was presented of bringing product labels of products manufactured by countries belonging to the European Union to a single standard. Italy and Greece happily supported the idea, but France and Germany strongly opposed it. Of course, because they are famous for the excellent quality of their products.
The label has not been accepted by the European Commission. Sometimes you can see the Made in E.C. label. (European Community), which means “Made by the European Community” or Made in E.U. (European Union) - "Made in the European Union." In this case, each country still adds its historical marking to indicate who guarantees the quality of the product.
Why are there markings?
In the European Union, there is mandatory labeling for those types of products that must meet not only the level of quality, but also safety. For example, equipment and protective systems for use in explosive environments require manufacturer marking and mandatory certification.
The safety of life and health is not something to joke about, so manufacturers of serious goods add to the Made in EU label which country produces the product and attach all the necessary quality certificates.
The mandatory "EU" marking, supplemented by individual designations, includes goods in the following areas:
- mechanical engineering;
- implants and active implantable technologies;
- children's goods and toys;
- elevators and other devices for transporting people;
- low voltage systems;
- simple pressure vessels, etc.
The idea of unification
Made in EU. What country of origin? The answer to this question cannot be found unless you go into detail, which is why the idea of creating a universal European labeling that would not indicate dubious manufacturers and would improve the quality of all goods offered for sale arose.
Another reason: if all the peoples of Europe have already been united into a single union, you need to get used to it as your homeland, and be proud of everything that is produced on its territory. This would reveal the supranational status of the union. However, this is precisely where the attitude of the most developed countries to the whole idea of uniting Europe into a single whole was manifested: Germany is too proud of the quality of the trademark to sacrifice it on the altar of the universal European Union.
Needless to say, even an inexperienced buyer will sense something is wrong when he sees the non-binding Made in EU on a product. Which country will be responsible for the marriage or negative consequences? Thus, all European countries will begin to lose the luxury of their goods, and, accordingly, consumers. Even today, such an inscription enjoys a rather dubious reputation.
Supporters
Despite all the shortcomings of such a project, this idea was still supported. European Association textile industry expresses its opinion that this label will indicate the European origin of goods and fuel the interest of consumers around the world in products manufactured in Europe. Despite the fact that the quality will be averaged by pan-European requirements, the average level of quality of goods will remain very controversial and average compared to Made in Germany.
So, according to German manufacturers and ordinary people, you shouldn’t even wonder what country it is - Made in EU. This is just a trick of unscrupulous participants in trade relations, who thus attack the German economy, which does not seek to become part of the whole of Europe. This point of view is supported by all developed EU countries, because they, like no other, are proud of their national brand and top-class products. Therefore, next to the Made in EU label you can find additional national markings.
EU domain – whose domain, what country, when the domain zone appeared, who can buy an EU domain.
EU is a top-level national domain name that was created for use in the European Union. The stated purpose of organizing a new domain zone was to maintain the unity and consolidation of Eurozone residents in a single domain space.
The domain name was launched in 2005 and within the first hour 300 thousand applicants applied for registration. The domain name is very popular in the European Union and is actively indexed by search engines.
Register a second-level domain in the zone. EU is possible by providing an address and contact in the EU, excluding Switzerland. Initially, the rules were more stringent and allowed only trademarks to register domains.
Characteristics of the European Union domain zone.
Zone.EU is popular in the European Union and is trusted throughout its territory. A potential domain owner in this zone can count on visitors to trust him, understanding that his company operates in accordance with European standards and laws. Therefore, such domains are suitable for companies that want to do business in Europe and want to establish contact with residents of the European Union.
International companies that want to attract a target audience of about 500,000 people create websites on this domain. Examples of such companies include Microsoft and Louis Vuitton.
Requirements for registering EU domain names.
EU domain registration rules:
- Allowed domain name length: The minimum number of characters in the name is 3, the maximum number of characters in the name is 63.
- Domain name restrictions: It is allowed to use letters of the Latin alphabet, numbers and hyphens. It is prohibited to use hyphens at the beginning and end of a name, in the third or fourth position in a word, as well as two hyphens in a row. The use of various geographical names, geopolitical terms, and letter codes of Eurozone countries in the domain name is prohibited. Some names are reserved by the European Commission.
- When is a domain renewal possible: renewal is allowed two days before the date of termination of registration; a domain can be renewed for up to five years.
- Procedure for termination of delegation and deletion of EU domains: termination of delegation and deregistration is carried out instantly, upon expiration of the delegation period.
Who is a EU domain name suitable for?
In the EU domain zone, you can register news sites dedicated to the European Union and intended for its residents. Domains are registered:
- Small business owners.
- Large international companies.
- Firms providing various services.
- Travel companies.
- Services for obtaining visas.
- Information sites about the EU.
Owners of travel companies register websites in this zone in order to show that they operate in the European Union. Among other things, regular sites dedicated to tourism, history and travel are also registered there.
Advantages and disadvantages of the EU domain zone.
Advantages:
- Domain recognition: Residents of the European Union trust sites located on the domain. EU, which have distribution there.
Main disadvantages:
- Price: the high price is, on the one hand, an obstacle to registration. On the other hand, this cuts off the possibility of domain registration for low-quality sites - sitelites, doorways, etc.
- Lack of whois-protect: Anyone can find out the details of the domain owner.
- Registration ban for non-residents of the European Union: Only residents of the European Union can register a website in this zone. Residents of other countries have to resort to the services of trusted persons who are residents of the Eurozone.
Where to register a domain?
Domain registration must be done with companies that have authority in the market. A characteristic indicator for such a company is its existence on the market for more than 3 years. It is important that the company has a license to register domains. A potential website owner in the .EU zone should find reviews about registrars on the Internet and, based on them, draw conclusions about further cooperation with them.
Frequently asked questions about the domain zone.EU
Are there free domains in this zone?
Upon payment tariff plan“Business”, for a period of a year or more - it is possible to register a domain worth up to 1000 rubles for free (for a period of 1 year). Shared hosting tariffs are presented. After a year, the domain name can be renewed at the standard price for the selected zone.
Is it possible to buy hosting from you?
Yes, we provide hosting services - from shared hosting to server rental.
Are there any promotional benefits when registering a domain in an expensive zone?
For promotion, it doesn’t matter whose domain it is, Russia or the European Union. A site's ranking in a search engine depends on its content, not the domain name.
barcode of a product with the inscription “Made in PRC” on the label? Which country is indicated in the code? China (690-695). It’s strange, because the inscription for goods from this country looks completely different, and even more so it sounds - Made in China. It is this formulation that we are accustomed to; this phrase is considered established and generally accepted. What's the catch, where's the inconsistency?
China
But, in principle, she doesn’t exist. Everything is extremely simple. The barcode indicates the country in which the product was actually produced, and this is indeed China, that is, made in the People's Republic of China. Made in PRC (deciphering: People's Republic of Chinese) is nothing more than a derivative on this topic. It should be noted that both the Republic of China and Taiwan fall under this abbreviation.
For the uninitiated consumer, the difference is, in principle, insignificant, but... At the moment, the politically unstable state divides itself into two, or rather three, parts: the PRC, the Republic of China, Taiwan. The nature of the controversy is not so significant in the context of manufactured goods. A completely logical question arises: why are innovations needed? The previous version was popular and well known. Who and why introduced the new acronym Made in PRC?
Which country do we associate with defects and low-grade “junk”? Agree, the answer is obvious - China. It doesn’t matter to us which political region we are talking about, we are talking exclusively about the quality of the goods supplied. How objective is it?
Celestial Empire
We dare to remind you that China is an ancient state that has a rich culture that influenced not only adjacent countries (Japan, Thailand, etc.), but also European states. It was the inventors from the Middle Kingdom who made such discoveries as gunpowder and fireworks, books and paper. By the way, the word “porcelain” in English is written and sounds identical to the word “China”, namely chine. I don’t think we should blame craftsmen for producing low-quality consumer goods. Things made by Chinese artisans last a long time and reliably.
But in fairness it must be said that the accusations are not groundless. Cheap labor and low level education played a cruel joke on the image of the state. Despite the fact that there are enough enterprises in the country that produce high-quality goods, the reputation was created by small apprentices aimed at easy profit and large turnover. They supplied a huge amount of disgusting goods to all countries of the world. Products glorifying the state (no matter how pretentious it may sound), no matter whether it was porcelain or pyrotechnics, were simply lost in a sea of “trash.” As a result, consumers stopped considering purchasing goods made in China. And they do this on principle.
New abbreviation
What does Made in PRC mean? This is not just an abbreviation, it is a way to get customers out of the shock they found themselves in due to the uncontrollable supply of “defects”. This is just a marketing ploy designed for a favorable outcome, after which the demand for consumer goods supplied from China will increase significantly. China is a country where hardworking people live who have given the world fishing hook and whiskey (invented for medicinal purposes), paper money and a toothbrush, which have a written language that has no equal in the world. They deserve respect. Their desire for success is enormous.
It was the desire to destroy stereotypes that led to the appearance of the Made in PRC abbreviation on product boxes.
What country
Who can compete with China in terms of the number of non-food consumer goods produced? I think no one. At this stage of time, the Chinese economy is on the rise, foreign investment is pouring in in powerful flows. Factories and factories are being built. Foreign investors are attracted by the country's cheap labor and loyal legislation.
You should not think that only new companies that have not yet gained momentum are building their enterprises there. No! Many large concerns have opened their subsidiaries in this region. The quality of production is monitored tirelessly. Personnel training is carried out. All processes are as automated as possible.
This is how Made PRC products are born. The manufacturing country can be any, even one that has nothing to do with China. But it is a fact that products manufactured in factories in the Celestial Empire, produced in global volumes and not in single pieces, can compete in quality with those produced in prim England or Germany. There is plenty of evidence of this.
PR stunt
They have been trying to break the stereotypes that were once created for a long time. Many have encountered products whose packaging boxes proudly displayed the names of countries that command respect as manufacturers, such as Austria or Switzerland. Upon closer examination, it turned out that the company whose product you purchased is, for example, Austrian (more precisely, the company is registered in this country), but everything was produced in China. To many, this seems like a low and indecent trick. So what to do? How to convey to consumers that something that is not very expensive can be of decent quality? That brand and place of production are, of course, important things, but far from the last?
Synonyms should be “quality” and the inscription on the packaging Made in PRC. A country that can build the Great Wall of China, has the largest diasporas around the world, and whose economy is developing by leaps and bounds, can do things worthy of respect.
Common sense
The words spoken above may be a little pretentious. Let's talk without pompous phrases and discuss everything from the point of view of banal erudition.
It's no secret that you have to pay extra for the brand and country of origin. Often the markup for these two items exceeds the 50% barrier. For many, this is an indicator of status. An item purchased at an incredibly high price speaks of wealth.
But is this really important for ordinary consumers, for whom a mixer is just a device that whips egg whites into a strong foam? The main thing that is required of him is proper service to the mistress. That's it, nothing more. So why are Made in PRC products not suitable for this? Whose production should be indicated on the packaging for the mixer to work better?
What's better?
Many housewives note the fact that a simple mixer, even a Chinese one, will last less, but its price is several times lower. That is, the price ratio is such that during the operation of an expensive, branded unit, you can buy two new ones that are not inferior in design and characteristics, without losing at all financially.
Choose the best, even if it is made in China.
For example, consumer electronics. It would seem, what can you come up with here? Dozens of stores, hundreds of models for every taste and budget. Fierce competition among sellers and manufacturers, which, as we are taught, reduces prices and sweeps unscrupulous players out of the market.
Ah, no. The Russian land is not depleted of talents. It continues to give birth to “its own Platos and quick-witted Newtons.” And this is what they came up with.
Well, our consumers love everything European. And I am ready to pay a lot of money for the quality and reliability of European goods. But he doesn’t like Chinese goods. And he buys them only because they are cheap. This is where a brilliant opening idea is born. Buy local electronics in China, bring them to Russia and sell them here as European ones. How to do this without breaking laws? It turns out to be very simple.
Here is the simple know-how of our newly minted Ostaps.
First of all, somewhere in Europe, for example in Germany, a company and a trademark of the same name are registered. For better memorization, the brand name should be “short and succinct, like a shot.” And have a German sound.
Next, the path of our heroes lies in China to one of the many factories operating under the OEM (original equipment manufacturing) system, i.e. producing consumer electronics for other companies. There, you select your favorite model of a juicer and place an order for its production under a previously registered trademark. The quality of the products will, of course, not be European, but the price will be appropriate.
And no need to count pennies! To create the complete illusion of exclusivity of future products, it is very useful to enclose the miracle of Chinese technology in some kind of high-tech case, for example, made of stainless steel. By the way, they will be happy to make it at the same factory.
Then a heart-warming story is told about how a few years ago young German engineers, the Bill Gates of home appliances, started their own company to implement their revolutionary ideas and revolutionize the world of vacuum cleaners and microwave ovens. And they turned it over. So much so that now all progressive Germans buy exclusively their products. It is clear that after this progressive Russians will freeze in anticipation of a new German miracle.
Now is the time to import juicers made in China to Russia. And throw them into retail chains, proudly informing customers that unique German luxury equipment is “now in Russia.” And there will be no deception in this! Because the trademark is registered in Germany, i.e. really is German. As for “luxury class”, what law states what it is?
True, the nameplates on the juicers will have to be re-glued. There's nothing you can do about it - art, as they say, requires sacrifice. And there is no need to write “MADE IN GERMANY” on them. This is a direct deception of the consumer, and we agreed to confiscate cash population in a relatively fair way. So write something abstract like “MADE IN EU”. Nobody really knows what “EU” is. But it looks a lot like a united Europe, which helpful sellers will be happy to confirm to an overly meticulous buyer. And they won’t be deceived either. More precisely, they will be deceived, but slightly. Indeed, in 2004, the European Union wanted to introduce such labeling on its goods. They wanted to, but they didn’t introduce it. But these, as you understand, are already details.
By the way, about the sellers. Special trainings are held for them, in which experienced psychologists teach future trade workers how to “sell” the right product to a gullible buyer.
Price? This one is simple. The higher the better. That there is some kind of BOSCH or SIEMENS. After all, with all due respect to these companies, they produce products of mass demand.
AND finishing touch. How to make the buyer believe in this whole wonderful story and shell out their hard-earned money? For this there is a trade engine, i.e. advertising. Immediately after the product appears on the shelves, a massive advertising campaign is carried out. Yes, advertising is expensive these days and you have to spend several million dollars. But the Ostaps are not upset. All their expenses are ultimately paid by the consumer, who buys Chinese consumer goods at exorbitant prices from an “elite German manufacturer.” There is no reason to worry. Domestic advertisers know their business. And Chinese equipment is quite capable of operating without breakdowns for two to three years.
That's all, actually. Make yourself comfortable. And calculate your excess profits.
Only one question remains. What should we, buyers, do?
Just remember four simple rules.
First, before making a purchase, go online and see what about the “famous German trademark"They write in Germany itself. And make sure that respectable burghers have never heard of her.
Secondly, think about where a company operating only in our market gets millions of advertising budgets that even the world’s giants cannot afford? Is it not from your and my pocket?
Third. Immediately leave the store, whose sellers surround you with a tight ring and, mercilessly criticizing all the products presented in their store, persistently offer you to buy a product from a manufacturer whose advertisements cover the entire city.
And fourthly. Don’t be lazy to ask the seller for a certificate for the goods he sells. According to the consumer protection law, they are required to show it to you. Remember that a certificate is not a nameplate stuck on a juicer or vacuum cleaner. This is a special document that indicates the country of origin. So in our example, instead of the mysterious “EU”, the certificate will contain the painfully familiar “CHINA”.
The products manufactured by Xiaomi for the domestic market differ from the export version. Let's figure out how to distinguish the global version from the Chinese one and what firmware versions exist.
Main differences
Types of firmware for Xiaomi
There are only 2 types of firmware:
- Global ROM
- China ROM
Global ROM
The global firmware has been translated into many languages and is intended for the European market. Of course, it supports the Russian language and has a full translation of all menu items. Its name contains the words “Global” or “Global” and the letters MI. Example: “MIUI Global 9.2 Stable 9.2.2.0 (MAL MI EK)".
China ROM
This version is exclusively for the Chinese domestic market. As mentioned above, it only supports Chinese and English languages. There are many services installed here that do not work in other countries. The name contains letters CN. Example: “MIUI 8.2 | Stable 8.2.6.0 (MAD CN DL)".
In turn, these firmwares are divided into 3 types:
- MIUI Developer ROM
- MIUI Stable ROM
- MIUI Ported ROM
Let's take a closer look at them.
MIUI Developer ROM
Developer is translated as developer. This firmware includes all the innovations and functions that are not available to most ordinary users. It is needed precisely for testing all these innovations, so it often has many shortcomings and bugs. Updated every week. Its name is formed by the release date, for example: “MIUI9 7.10.8 "- released in 2017 on the 10th of the month (October) on the 8th.
MIUI Stable ROM
Stable version. Almost all functions here have already been tested and work perfectly. These are the firmwares installed in smartphones for sale. They do not have a clear update schedule. The title contains the word Stable or Stable.
MIUI Ported ROM
These are mostly custom builds from third-party developers. They are not official, but this does not mean low quality. Some are done very well and work without errors. As a rule, they are released for markets where there is no support for the global version. You can tell the difference by how the device is loaded: most often the logo of the team that worked on the firmware appears.
How to view the firmware version
To do this, go to Settings > About the phone > MIUI version