Since the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) became a leader in industrial standards, their safety programs have been followed by other European Community (EC) countries. Accordingly, successful voluntary testing in the FRG generally assists the approval process in other countries. VDE is well known as one of the premier electrical testing and certification agencies in the FRG. VDE's value in aiding the sale of products throughout the EC is presently recognized by American exporters. Many European customers now insist on VDE certification of a product or component before purchasing products from domestic suppliers.