GS means "German Sicherheit" (safety certified) in German, and also means "German Safety". GS certification is a voluntary certification based on the German product safety law and tested according to the European Union unified standard EN or the German industrial standard DIN, which is recognized as the German safety certification mark in the European market.

The GS mark indicates that the use safety of this product has passed the test of an independent public authority. Although the GS mark is not mandatory by law, it can make the manufacturer subject to strict German (European) product safety laws in case of accidents caused by product failures. Therefore, GS logo is a powerful market tool, which can enhance customers' confidence and purchase desire. Although GS is a German standard, most European countries agree with it. In addition, while meeting the GS certification, the products will also meet the requirements of the CE mark of the European Community. Unlike CE, the GS mark has no mandatory legal requirements. However, since the safety awareness has been deeply rooted in ordinary consumers, an appliance with the GS mark may be more competitive than ordinary products in the market.

The GS sign is a voluntary safety sign in Germany, but it is highly valued by consumers. Many products, including electric tools, information technology equipment and household appliances, are difficult to sell in Germany or surrounding areas without the GS logo.

For product evaluation, certification and pre license inspection, the product evaluation is based on harmonized European standards, with reference to low-voltage directive, EMC directive and machinery directive. If there is no relevant European standard for products meeting GS requirements, IEC standard certificate will be issued, and the validity period of the certificate is five years. Pre license inspection is a necessary condition, followed by annual factory inspection. In addition to the electrical safety specifications of the European Harmonized Standards and German National Deviations, the product evaluation shall also be conducted according to the ZEK documents prepared by ZEK and the documents prepared by the GS interpretation team EK1 (Exchange of Experience Forum 1). Some products are subject to ergonomic testing.

According to ZEK 01-08 document, since April 1, 2008, products applying for GS certification must be assessed by PAHs to meet regulatory requirements and avoid health hazards. This mandatory requirement applies to all materials that may contain PAHs that may come into contact with human body or be put into the mouth under normal use or foreseeable reasonable misuse. The ZEK 01-08 document on PAHs assessment has undergone several revisions. On May 15, 2019, the German Product Safety Committee (AfPS) announced the new standard AfPS GS 2019:01 PAK (the old version is AfPS GS 2014:01 PAK) for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) requiring GS certification products. The new standard came into effect on July 1, 2020, and the AfPS GS 2014:01 PAK will become invalid after June 30, 2020.

The new standard has the following restrictions on PAHs:

Ergonomic testing required by the German GS logo covers a wide range of information technology products, including LCD/CRT display devices, computers, notebook computers, and other computer peripherals (such as keyboards, mice, printers, scanners, etc.), all of which must comply with the relevant ergonomic specifications in the EK1-ITB 2000 standard.