vastavusspetsifikatsioone

vastavusspetsifikatsioone, often abbreviated as vsps, is a term used primarily in Estonia to refer to conformity specifications. These documents describe the technical, functional and safety requirements that a product or system must meet in order to satisfy regulatory or contractual obligations. They are commonly adopted in sectors such as construction, information technology, telecommunications and health care where compliance with national or European directives is mandatory.

The concept of vsps evolved from the need to harmonise manufacturing practices with the European Union's harmonisation mechanisms. In the early 1990s, Estonia began developing its own set of conformity specifications following accession to the EU. Since then, the state agency responsible for technical standards, the Estonian Standardisation Association, has maintained a database of the most current vsps. The documents are usually published in Estonian and sometimes in English to support cross-border trade.

An vsps typically lists essential characteristics, test methods and measurement results that are accepted as proof of compliance. After a product passes the stipulated criteria, the manufacturer may affix a declaration of conformity, often using a standard document format called DCO. The presence of a valid vsps declaration informs buyers and regulators that the item can be used within the intended market without further testing.

Internationally, similar systems exist, such as the European Union’s CE marking, the U.S. FDA cGMP guidelines or the ISO/IEC 17025 certification for testing laboratories. In all cases, the purpose of conformity specifications is to provide transparency, ensure safety and foster consumer trust.