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Voluntary GA Product Shop Scheme

1) Introduction

The General Acceptance (GA) system is for pre-approval of plumbing products for use in the plumbing installations. Some of the GA plumbing products are also available in the retail market for sale to the general public. Although products without GA approval are not necessarily non-compliant with Waterworks Regulations, plumbing products with GA by WSD will have assurance of complying with the statutory material standards and minimizing associated risk of water safety. To facilitate understanding and acquisition of GA plumbing products by the general public, the WSD launches Voluntary GA Product Shop Scheme to promote wider use of GA plumbing products for retail shops with significant number of GA products on sale and have GA Product Shop Label affixed at a prominent location for easy identification by the public. GA Product Shop should display on shelf the GA labels of the plumbing products and provide staff with knowledge of GA products to introduce the products to the public.

2) Eligibility for Registration as GA Product Shop

To be eligible for registration as a GA Product Shop, the participating retail merchants shall meet the following requirements – 

1. To sell GA plumbing products of not less than the following number of models of GA products (in term of number of GA reference) in at least one of the following categories within the shop:
   

   A. Valves	[min. 2 models of GA product]
   B. Pipes and Pipe Fittings	[min. 2 models of GA product]
   C. Taps and Mixers	[min. 3 models of GA product ]
   D. Soldering/Brazing Materials	[min. 1 model of GA product] [The shop may sell non-GA products of leaded or lead-free soldering/brazing materials. If the shop sells both GA and non-GA products, it shall take the following necessary measures to the satisfaction of the WSD: - To clearly separate the GA products of lead-free soldering/brazing materials and the non-GA products of leaded or lead-free soldering/brazing materials in display counter of the shop for easy identification and to minimize the risk of taking the wrong types of solders by the shop salespeople and the public. - The requirement of using lead-free solders for copper pipes at fresh water Inside Service is specified in the standard as stipulated in the Waterworks Regulations (please refer to WSD Circular Letter No, 1/2015).  A notice of this requirement shall be with reasonable size and put at a conspicuous position of the display counter of the shop for alerting the public not to buy the incorrect type of solders.]

   The GA Product Shop Label will be issued according to the category/categories that the shop has met the above requirements as illustrated below:

   

   Category: A, B, C, D

   

   Category: A, B, D
   

   Category: A, C

   

   Category: C
2. To display the GA Product Shop Label affixed with a validity period till the end of each year, at a prominent location of the shop for easy identification by the public;
3. To display the GA Labels for all plumbing products that have joined the Voluntary GA Labelling Scheme on sale within the shops and to display publicity materials, including posters, leaflets, shelf wobblers and leaflet dispensers, for the Voluntary GA Labeling Scheme in the shop;
4. To mark/print the GA Reference Numbers of the GA plumbing products on official sale receipts issued to the customers; and
5. To apply for renewal of registration every three years.

3) General Information

1. Voluntary GA Labelling Scheme for plumbing products
   Under the scheme, suppliers are required to affix a label on GA product package or display counter of GA products at shops for easy identification by the public. The public can scan the QR code on the label by a smartphone for retrieval of useful information about the product such as its country of origin and GA expiry date.
   
   
   

   "Make Smart Choice of Pipes and Fittings Enjoy Safe Drinking Water with Ease" Leaflet

   

   "Make Smart Choice of Pipes and Fittings Enjoy Safe Drinking Water with Ease" Poster

   

   "Voluntary GA Product Shop Scheme" Leaflet

   

   "Voluntary GA Product Shop Scheme" Poster

2. General Knowledge for GA Product Shop Salespersons
   
   
   

   General Knowledge for GA Product Shop Salespersons

4) Registration

1. Application for Registration
   Application for joining the Voluntary GA Product Shop Scheme will be free of charge. Interested participants may apply by completing an Application Form below. Supporting information of the GA products/models on sale shall be submitted with the application to demonstrate compliance with the registration requirements of the Scheme. The participating companies shall arrange for WSD to visit their proposed GA Product shops for processing their applications under the Scheme.
   
   

   "Voluntary GA Product Shop Scheme" Application Form

   Please send the application submission in person or by post to "Material Control Unit, Water Supplies Department" at the following address: Room 4705, 47/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Please also mark "Application for Voluntary GA Product Shop Scheme " on the envelope.

2. Surveillance and Delisting of GA Product Shops

   WSD will carry out surveillance checks on registered GA Product Shops.  If non-compliance is found, WSD will notify the shop concerned for rectification actions.  In case a shop fails to rectify the non-compliance in a timely manner and/or persistently fails to meet the registration requirements during the Scheme validity period, it will be removed from the Scheme and prohibited from using the GA Product Shop Label any longer.

5) List of Registered GA Product Shop

• List of Registered GA Product Shop