Today a product’s added value is its level of innovation or perceived quality. Firms wishing to highlight the qualitative and safety values of their products, and to offer their consumers a production above the minimum reliability requirements by law, require with growing frequency product certification.

In general, one should distinguish between compulsory certification and voluntary certification; compulsory certification is when it’s required by law: for example the European Community imposes the EC marking in relation to certain products, particularly dangerous or associated to serious risks, as listed in the "New Approach" Directives. For these products, the EC marking is fundamental for free circulation within the single market. Voluntary certification is on the other hand a free choice of the manufacturer who decides to certify a product or process to a determined technical standard both as a firm’s internal guarantee and as strategic factor of competitiveness, by presenting consumers with a symbol of quality; the resulting mark is a distinctive sign which offers added guarantees on the quality of the product, beyond possession of essential requirements set by communitarian directives.

Certification may be carried out by a Certification Body (for voluntary activities) or Notified Body (for cogent EC marking) such as ECO Certificazioni, acting as third party in accordance with credits and notifications received by Sincert and competent Ministries.