Using product categories

Using a product category will help narrow down the applicable requirements for your product and helps you determine where a product sits in the market. It is important to note that selecting the right product category makes working with requirements lists smoother and easier.

Feature access

All ProductIP users with permission to create or edit technical files can access this feature. This feature is available for all plans.

Before you begin

Product categories are listed in English only—searching in other languages might not give you the right results. We therefore recommend searching in English.

Video instructions

A short step-by-step guide will follow soon!

Steps

For instructions on selecting and adding product categories, visit the following link: Select a product category

Tips and best practices

If multiple results appear, refine your search by choosing a subgroup (e.g., Chemicals > Aerosol). Hover over blue question mark for category details. When unsure, cross-check your selection using Google or an existing product file. 

Using multiple product categories for one product is not advisory and will result in more requirements on the requirements list. Your supplier needs more resources to be gathered i.e. documents and information before responding and sending the resources. These resources are need to mark these (extra) requirements as completed and thus complying with the current legislation stated by the EU.

In some rare cases you can decide to select more than one product category. When this is needed, our advise is to select no more than two categories at any given time per product. Selecting more product categories will increase the chance of mistakes and will increase the requirements list. This in turn creates an longer list that you send out to you supplier which in turn takes longer in gathering the required documents.

Troubleshooting

A product category might not show up immediately. Trying a different search word or combination helps to see other options to select from.

Linking multiple product categories to a single product can increase the risk of errors. By critically examining the product, its intended target audience, and how it can be used, it’s almost always possible to select a single product category.

Still having issues? Contact ProductIP via helpdesk@productip.com. 

FAQ

• Can I select and use more than one product category?
  Using multiple product categories for one product is not advisory and will result in more requirements on the requirements list. Your supplier needs more resources to be gathered i.e. documents and information before responding and sending the resources. These resources are need to mark these (extra) requirements as completed and thus complying with the current legislation stated by the EU.

• And what if I want more than one product category for my product?
  In some rare cases more than one product category can be selected. Our advise in this is to select no more than two categories at any given time per product. Selecting more product categories will increase the chance of mistakes and will increase the liability of the requirements that need to be marked completed.

• Will my supplier need more time to gather the required information and/or resources when selecting more than one product category?
  Yes, your supplier may need more time to collect all the necessary information and/or resources needed for you to mark the requirements as completed.

Related articles

Creating a technical file 

Manage the requirements list

Select a product category