LEGE no. 7 7 of 1 July 1977 Product and service quality law
ISSUER
GREAT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Published in OFFICIAL BULLETIN no. 63 63 of 9 July 1977
Achievement of the objectives of the Romanian Communist Party Program for the development of the multilateral socialist society developed and Romania's advance towards communism, under the conditions of the strong promotion of technical progress, corresponding to the conquests of the revolution Contemporary technical-scientific, imposes a permanent and sustained activity for raising the quality of products and services in all sectors of material production. Ministries, other central and local bodies, socialist units must ensure the relentless lifting of the quality of products and services, an essential condition of increasing economic efficiency, higher valorization of social work, increasing Romania's participation in the international exchange of material values. Workers, maisters, technicians and engineers, all working people-producers, owners on the means of production, beneficiaries of social production-are directly interested in the continuous lifting of the quality of products and services, in the sight of the permanent development of the national wealth and, on this basis, the satisfaction of the requirements of the material and spiritual life of our people in higher conditions. The quality of products and services is one of the most important forms of materialization of creative capacity, discipline and socialist aptitude towards work, through which the workers of the economy participate in the improvement of the endowment technical of economic activity, increase of labor productivity, efficient use of the country's resources, satisfaction of population requirements, increase of competitiveness of Romanian products on the foreign The statute stimulates the mass opinion of all working people for the continuous improvement of the material production of society, in order to achieve products and services of high quality services, with the corresponding economic efficiency. In order to increase the contribution and strengthening of the responsibilities of ministries and other central and local bodies, economic units and their staff in the field of product and service quality, The Great National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Romania adopts this law. + Chapter 1 General provisions + Article 1 In the Socialist Republic of Romania, the improvement of the quality of products and services is a permanent obligation of all working people, economic units, ministries and other state and public bodies. The state ensures, through the single national plan of economic and social development, the necessary conditions for improving the performance and competitiveness of products and the quality of services in accordance with the latest conquests of the revolution Contemporary technical-scientific, with the requirements of increasing the efficiency of social work, superior valorization of raw materials, materials, including waste, fuels and energy. + Article 2 The qualitative level of the products and the basic rules for its verification are established, unitary, by standards, technical norms, specifications, which are approved by the bodies provided by law or contracts and are mandatory for all economic units, producing and executing works or beneficiaries of products and services, for scientific research and technological engineering units, design, technical control bodies, ministries, other central and local bodies. + Article 3 The quality of the products is achieved by observing the technical, economic, constructive-functional, aesthetic and reliability requirements, in continuous improvement, which give them a high degree of economic and social utility. The realization and delivery of products or the provision of services must correspond to the quality parameters provided in standards, technical norms, specifications and contracts. The collectives of working people, the leaders of the economic units and the control bodies, have the obligation to take all the necessary measures for no deviation from the quality norms. Any violation of quality parameters is sanctioned according to the law. + Article 4 Ministries, central and local bodies, industrial plants and enterprises have the obligation to ensure the manufacture and delivery of products with high quality parameters, at the level of the best performances achieved in the country and worldwide, in the conditions of continuous reduction of the consumption of raw materials, materials, fuel and energy, replacement of raw materials and poor materials, permanent increase in labour productivity. They are also obliged to ensure the provision of services that satisfy, at a qualitative and efficient higher level, the requirements of the population and the needs of the national economy, the introduction of modern methods in the execution of works, diversification services, increasing promptness and solicitude towards beneficiaries. + Article 5 Besides the collective management bodies in enterprises, plants, ministries, the other central bodies and the executive committees of the popular councils operate technical-economic councils. The technical-economic councils are obliged to analyze multilaterally and complex the documentation of execution of products and to carry out the works, standards, technical norms and specifications and to propose technical-economic solutions that leading to the lifting of the quality of products and services, the reduction of consumptions, the improvement of manufacturing technologies and technical control methodologies, the increase of economic efficiency. + Article 6 The scientific research and technological engineering units, together with the productive units, will develop, within the technical documentation of the execution of semi-finished products, parts, subassemblies and products, the technological control program of the quality, which will include the mode and duration of carrying out the control operations at the reception, on the manufacturing phases and in the end, of each product, the necessary means and the qualification of the personnel executing the control. Industrial plants and enterprises are obliged to introduce new products in the manufacture of new products to ensure the measuring and control devices, the sample stands and the other conditions provided in the technological quality control programs. + Article 7 The quality control of products and services is made mandatory by the workers who execute them, by the foremen and the other leaders of the production process. They are responsible for compliance with the quality standards in the execution of technological operations in each individual product and must immediately notify the hierarchical ruler of the defects in the manufacturing process on which they cannot act in a manner directly, in order to remove them operative. The commissions for quality in units, working bodies of the councils of working people, follow and analyze the qualitative level of production and are obliged to propose solutions for its continuous improvement. The technical quality control bodies exert control on the manufacturing flow and on finished products, according to control programs and methodology. + Article 8 Labour councils, trade union organizations, other mass and public organizations will act permanently in order to mobilize the creative initiative of workers, technicians, engineers, all personnel from economic units, to raise the quality of products and services. + Chapter 2 Basic conditions and normative technical documents defining the quality of industrial products + Article 9 The basic conditions of quality and normative technical documents of industrial products, mandatory for all scientific research and technological engineering, design, production, for ministries, other central organs and local, are established according to the provisions of the + Section I Basic quality conditions in the main groups of industrial products A. Machine building industry + Article 10 In the machine building industry, the products must be made with the technical-economic and reliability parameters raised; the main quality conditions for the products of wide use are: a) for castings, forgings-matrity and heat treated: shapes and dimensions in prescribed tolerances, physico-mechanical and chemical characteristics according to technical norms, homogeneous structure and corresponding appearance, minimum processing additions, loss by maselote, casting networks and reduced burrs: ... b) for complex technological machinery, thermo and hydropower equipment, thermal engines: high efficiency and safety in high operation, reliability corresponding to use, high degree of automation and anti-corrosion protection, gauge and low specific weight, minimum fuel and energy consumption, ease of maintenance and repair; ... c) for machine tools: superior dynamic qualities, machining precision, high productivity, economic working regimes, high degree of automation and equipment with auxiliary equipment, gauge and reduced mass per unit of power, obtaining some forces and large moments with small order pulses, ergonomic and superior aesthetic characteristics, minimal energy consumptions, preservation of qualitative characteristics in time, reliability and protection of man in the working process; ... d) for means of transport: optimal capacities and speeds, maximum security in operation, minimum pollution level, high anti-corrosion protection, increased comfort, ergonomic and superior aesthetic characteristics, low ratio between own weight and payload, minimum energy consumption, fuel and lubricants, low maintenance costs; ... e) for tractors: proper traction power, low fuel consumption and lubricants, adhesion to the ground, adaptability, mobility, manoeuvrability and high functionality, superior ergonomic features, low cost of maintenance; ... f) for machinery and machinery intended for agriculture and food industry: resistance in operation, adaptability, mobility, maneuverability, ease of maintenance and repair, high ergonomic characteristics, anti-corrosion protection in conditions outdoor storage; ... g) for lifting and conveying machines: optimum capacity and strength, high degree of automation, protection and safety, manoeuvrability and high functionality, low specific weight; ... h) for equipment, motors and electrical transformers: optimal yields, operational safety, protection against electrocution, minimal specific losses, miniaturization, unitary weight and consumption of reduced materials; ... i) for refrigerators, vacuum cleaners and other durable consumer goods: high level of specific parameters, yield, durability, functional safety, maneuverability, high aesthetic and ergonomic characteristics, ease of use maintenance and repair, low specific weight; ... j) for televisions, radio-receivers, magnetophones, cassette-phones and other electrical consumption goods: high reliability, sensitivity, selectivity, fidelity, shock and vibration resistance, protection and superior finishes, low costs of repairs; ... k) for active and passive electronic components: high precision and stability of specific characteristics, miniaturization; ... l) for measuring and control apparatus and automation elements: precision, shock resistance, vibration and environment, high protection class, maintenance of features in normal time, size and weight reduced. ... B. Extractive industry + Article 11 In the extractive industry, the products must ensure the rational valorization of the useful mineral substances contained in the deposit and, at the main groups of products, meet the following basic characteristics: a) in ores: the content of useful substances, purity, granulation and physicochemical characteristics corresponding to the documentation for the exploitation of those deposits; ... b) to concentrates and other prepared mining products: framing in the contents of normal useful elements and reducing the components considered as impurities; ... c) in coals: caloric power, ash content, humidity, grain size and lack of foreign bodies, according to the normative acts of valorization of the respective deposits; ... d) to crude oil and treated: impurities and low salt content, appropriate selection, according to the requirements of the processing technology; ... e) to methane gas: caloric power and impurity content according to the technical documentation for the valorization of the respective deposits. ... C. Metallurgical industry + Article 12 In the metallurgical industry the products must have an advanced degree of processing, ensure the superior valorization of the metal, reduced consumption of fuels and energy and satisfy the following basic qualitative conditions: a) for steel laminates obtained by hot plastic deformation in the form of single and trimmed profiles, wire, sheets, strip, tubular products: chemical composition within the prescribed limits for each brand of steel, mechanical characteristics, technological and structure, shape and size conditions within the limits of the tolerances provided for the destination and the processing mode; ... b) for steel products obtained by cold plastic deformation in the form of pipes, sheets, strip, bars, drawn pipes, threaded wire: high dimensional precision, technological and mechanical characteristics superior to discharge or to ambush, structural homogeneity ... c) for welded pipes and cold formed steel strip profiles: the tightness of the welded seam, in accordance with the rules on the geometric shape, dimensions and tolerances provided; ... d) for sheets, strips, pipes, bars of stainless steel or refractory: high resistance to surface and intercrystalline corrosion, maintenance of mechanical characteristics at high temperatures, low-roughness surfaces; ... e) for sheets and strip of siliceous steel: superior electrical and magnetic properties, dimensions with restricted tolerances; ... f) for sheets, strips, pipes and wire with protective coatings-galvanizing, tinkering, plumping: uniform thickness, adhesion and superior homogeneity of the protective layer, high resistance to the action of physico-chemical agents; ... g) for backgammon, strip, foil, pipe, bars, profiles, metal wire and non-ferrous alloys: high purity, chemical composition within the prescribed limits, mechanical, technological and superior structural properties, low electrical resistivity, shape and dimensions in restricted tolerances; ... h) for electrodes, strings and welding flows: chemical composition, superior weldability properties, suitable for each steel brand, increased adhesion, resistant packaging to atmospheric agents and competitive appearance; ... i) for refractory products in the form of bricks, blocks, specially shaped pieces, concrete, mortars, powders and thermo-insulating plates: homogeneous chemical composition, superior physico-chemical properties, high durability and restricted tolerances; ... j) for abrasive products in the form of discs, various profiles and abrasives on the stand: uniform grain, high adhesion and compactness, increased resistance to shock and wear; ... k) for steel electrodes and other carbunoase products: high compressive and shock resistance, low electrical resistivity, shape and dimensions in restricted tolerances, reduced specific consumptions and increased durability over time. ... D. Chemical industry + Article 13 In the chemical industry, products must have qualitative parameters that ensure a high degree of valorization of raw materials and materials; at the main groups of products the basic qualitative conditions are as follows: a) for chemical fertilizers and pesticides: high content of active substance, increased conservancy and selectivity, reduced toxicity; ... b) for basic inorganic products: useful concentration, low impurity content; ... c) for petroleum products: high yields in use, stability of physical-chemical properties; ... d) for fibres and chemical yarns: high physico-mechanical characteristics and high processing, high dyeing capacity, stability over time and humido-termice; ... e) for rubber and plastics: structure homogeneity, physico-chemical characteristics and yields increased in processing; ... f) for tires, air chambers with technical articles made of rubber and plastics: increased resistance to wear, shocks, oils and solvents, safety in operation, dimensional stability and physical-mechanical characteristics; ... g) for drugs: effective pharmacological and therapeutic action, content prescribed by the active substance, minimal side effects, high degree of purity and sterilization, corresponding to sanitary requirements; ... h) for varnishes, paints and dyes: high coating power, weather resistance, light and washing, homogeneity, drying times; ... i) for cosmetic products: hygienic-sanitary guaranteed qualities, stability in time, olfactory persistence; ... j) for washing products, soap and detergents: washing power, proper hygienic-sanitary conditions, lack of toxicity. ... E. Construction materials industry and wood processing industry + Article 14 In the construction materials industry must ensure the superior valorization of resources in the country, by manufacturing resistant, light, cheap products that replace deficient and expensive materials, lead to the realization of Economic construction and to meet the following main quality characteristics: a) for cement and asbestos-cement products: homogeneity and stable mechanical resistances over time; ... b) for precast concrete: high load bearing capacity, low weight, minimum steel-concrete consumptions and dimensional precision; ... c) for insulating materials: high capacity of thermal insulation, hydroelectric and phonic, respectively; ... d) for ceramic products for masonry: appropriate resistance to compression, low weight; ... e) for fine ceramic products: adequate shape and color, dimensional precision, uniform finishing, flatness and pores in prescribed tolerances; ... f) for heating fixtures: heat transmission coefficient and high tightness, low specific weight, corresponding finish. ... + Article 15 In the wood processing industry, furniture and other products must meet superior physical-mechanical attributes, increased durability, dimensional variety suitable for use, high degree of finishing, multiple functionality, convenience. and aesthetic appearance, given the optimal value of wood mass. Paper and paper intended for printing must meet the characteristics of normal printability, by providing a higher level of physical, mechanical and chemical parameters, minimal variations thereof, as well as a degree of High finishing that allows optimal processing in polygraphic production processes. F. Light industry and food industry + Article 16 In light industry, production must be diversified, taking into account the demands of the beneficiaries, the requirements of the population of all ages, the need for operative adaptability to fashion changes, in the conditions of superior valorization of the materials raw materials, materials and products to satisfy the following basic quality characteristics: a) to fabrics: resistance, dimensional stability, high processing degree, keeping the coloring in time and to humido-thermal treatments, coloristic variety and drawing, light weight; ... b) to confections and knitwear: high finishing degree, aesthetic appearance, durability, dimensional stability, convenience to wearing and maintenance, keeping the coloring in time, washing or cleaning; ... c) to footwear and leather goods: durability, weather resistance, aesthetic diversity, convenience to wearing, easy maintenance; ... d) to household and household articles: resistance, multifunctionality, safety in operation, easy maintenance, aesthetic appearance, finishing suitable for use. ... + Article 17 In the food industry, products must have high nutritional values, be guaranteed hygienic-sanitary, correspond to population preferences and satisfy the following basic qualitative requirements: a) to meat products: superior taste characteristics, stability of sanitary and veterinary condition throughout the warranty period, high protein properties; ... b) milk and milk products: protein, fat and bacterial load; ... c) to canned meat, vegetables, fruits, fish: optimal proportion of basic components, high taste and aromatic attributes, throughout the period of validity; ... d) to bread and other bakery products: freshness, baking degree and corresponding porosity, assortment diversity; ... e) to sugary products: nutritional, taste and superior aromatics values, attractiveness, diversity; ... f) to fruit juices and soft drinks: superior nutritional, taste and aromatic values, attractive, diversified. ... + Section II Normative technical documents defining the quality of industrial products + Article 18 The quality parameters of industrial products are provided in standards, technical branch norms, technical rules of enterprise, specifications, approved by the bodies provided by law, as well as in contracts. Through the normative technical documents provided in par. 1 the technical conditions of quality, constructive, functional and reliability, rules and methods of quality verification, special prescriptions for packaging, marking, storage and transport, of all products, as well as the rules of protection specific to the climate and environmental conditions of the countries in which they are to be exported. For the machines that are delivered in the subassemblies and assemble at the installation place, in the normative technical documents will specify the rules of assembly and commissioning, which must be observed to ensure the proper functioning and achievements of the technical-economic indicators provided, as well as the checks and samples that are made at the place of installation for this purpose. + Article 19 Ministries, other central and local bodies, industrial plants and enterprises, research and technological engineering units meet the level of quality parameters in the normative technical documents they develop and strict application of these documents after approval. They will also act for the regular review of quality parameters, in order to bring them to the level of performance achieved by similar products, in the country or worldwide. With the determination of the qualitative parameters of the basic product, the parameters of the component parts and subassemblies, which are mandatory for all the units cooperating to the realization of the respective product, will also be specified. The quality norms in the republican industry are also mandatory for local and cooperative industry units, as well as for any other socialist units that carry out productive activity. + Article 20 On the basis of the quality standards and the approved technical documentation, the manufacturing companies have the obligation to draw up the "Technical Book of the Product" for machinery, machinery and installations, as well as for appliances and other goods for use long established by the ministry or the central branch coordinating body. "" Technical book of the product ' shall include the description, parameters, duration of normal use, areas of use, maintenance and storage conditions, technical revision periods, spare parts sets and sub-assemblies. necessary for each repair category, as well as any other data on the operation to the design parameters of the product. The supplier units and, as the case may be, are obliged to deliver the products only accompanied by the "Technical Book of the Product". + Article 21 Ministries, industrial plants, enterprises have the obligation to ensure that workers, engineers, technicians, all execution and control personnel thoroughly know the provisions of standards, technical norms, specifications and contracts, to permanently raise their professional qualification, in order to carry out industrial products in strict compliance with quality norms. + Article 22 In order to increase the competitiveness of Romanian products externally, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Economic Cooperation together with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry will ensure the procurement of technical norms and other materials on product quality, used on the international market. + Chapter 3 Product quality assurance + Section I Compliance with technological discipline + Article 23 Economic ministries, industrial plants, enterprises and other economic units are responsible for strict compliance with the technological discipline in the manufacturing process. The technological discipline is carried out by carrying out the production according to the execution documentation and the technological process approved and the execution of the products under the conditions provided in standards, technical norms and regulations, specifications and contracts. + Article 24 It shall be prohibited for economic units to approve derogations from approved constructive and technological documentation, as well as from the provisions of standards, technical rules, specifications and contracts. No derogations are the measures taken to reduce consumption, increase labour productivity, modernise technological processes, typing parts, sub-assemblies and products, provided they ensure the maintenance or improvement of quality products. Derogations from the technical documentation approved, according to the law, by economic units, can be given exceptionally and in a limited time by the ministries or central branch coordinating bodies, with the opinion of the scientific research institutes and Specialist technological engineering. In the case of technical branch rules and other technical documentation approved by the ministries and the other central and local bodies, the derogations may be given exceptionally and in limited time by the coordinating ministry or the coordinating central body by the branch, with the opinion of the National Committee for Science and Technology and the General State Inspectorate for Product Quality Control. Derogations from state standards can be given only by the body that approved them, at the proposal of ministries, the other central and local bodies interested, submitted with the agreement of the National Council for Science and Technology and the Inspectorate State General for Product Quality Control. With the approval of the derogation, the organs provided in par. 2 and 3 will also determine the necessary measures to eliminate the causes that generated it. In all cases, the derogating proposals shall be made only with the agreement of the beneficiary or producer unit + Article 25 Industrial plants, enterprises and other economic units are responsible for the proper preparation and organisation of production, the provision of technical assistance in all exchanges through technical and expert management frameworks, optimising the manufacturing process and internal transport, strengthening the order and discipline at each workplace. At the same time, they are obliged to take measures for the continuous reduction of specific consumption, given the strict compliance with the normal quality. + Section II Tasks and responsibilities of ministries, other central or local bodies and economic units + Article 26 Ministries, other central and local bodies are responsible for achieving the qualitative level of production of subordinated units, in which they are obliged to take measures to: a) ensuring the endowment of manufacturing units with means of production that have the necessary precision and productivity, with measuring and control devices, laboratory equipment, the entire need of tools, devices and verifiers stands for samples, provided in the technological and quality control documentation and the promotion of the use of scientific methods of quality and reliability verification; ... b) the creation of technical and material conditions necessary to ensure the quality of the products by profiling, specialization and concentration of production; ... c) organization, guidance and verification of the activity of quality technical control and metrology in subordinate units; ... d) the establishment of the verification, before delivery, of the quality and reliability of the unique products of great complexity, to which no complete samples can be made in the manufacturing plant, with the consent of the beneficiaries and scientific research units and technological engineering; ... e) ensuring the qualitative level of all products in the branch profile of which they respond; ... f) elaboration of programs for continuous improvement of the quality of raw materials, semi-finished products, technological processes, finished products and their fulfillment; ... g) the realization of cooperation between the producer units, in conditions that ensure the qualitative level of raw materials, materials, assemblies and subassemblies that are part of the finished products; ... h) the organization and provision of technical assistance of the manufacturing units for the installation, probing, commissioning and operation of the complex technological equipment and installations, which shall be assembled and produced in the end at the place of installation; ... i) to provide the necessary conditions for the training of the skilled workforce at the level of the provisions of the technological documentation, as well as the assistance for the verification of ... j) organization of the pursuit of the exploitation of the delivered products, as well as the processing of the resulting data, in order to use them to improve and redesign products or create new products. ... + Article 27 Industrial plants, enterprises and other economic units are responsible for compliance with the provisions of standards, technical norms, specifications, other technical documentation and contracts for the manufacture and delivery of products, for which purpose they are obliged to take measures to: a) the introduction into the series manufacturing of new products only after approval and after all technical-material and organizational measures have been taken to ensure the quality of the products; ... b) to carry out, in advance, the evidence of verification of technical-functional parameters in order to comply with the qualitative conditions established by contract, in the case of products offered for the first time on export or to which the partner requires conditions Additional technical provisions to the internal rules in force; ... c) elaboration of programmes on continuous improvement of the quality of raw materials, semi-finished products, finished products, including those subject to cooperation in production and monthly analysis of their fulfilment; ... d) the use in manufacturing only of raw materials and materials corresponding to the quality conditions laid down in standards, the other technical rules, specifications and contracts; ... e) the organization and the proper functioning of the quality technical control in accordance with the technological control programs and ensuring the employment of the workers, foremen, technicians and engineers with good training professional and experienced in production; ... f) equipping laboratories and production stations with measuring and control apparatus, laboratory equipment and with sample stands necessary to determine the physical, mechanical and chemical characteristics of raw materials, materials, semi-finished products and finished products; ... g) perfecting technical documentation, technological control programs, drawing up proposals to improve standards and other technical norms in accordance with technical progress and quality requirements; ... h) operation of machinery, installations and equipment of measurement and control at the design parameters, modernization, verification, maintenance and certification, according to the law, of their operation, within the established precision limits; ... i) ensuring the necessary conditions for the training of workers and the average specialist staff for the appropriation of theoretical and practical knowledge on the quality of works and products; ... j) provision in the economic contracts of the quality characteristics of the products, corresponding to the purpose and process of processing, their methods of verification, of the reception samples, of the conditions and deadlines of guarantee, of the durations of use, of the conditions of handling, preservation, packaging, storage and transport, as well as of the conditions for the deployment of technical assistance for the installation, testing, commissioning and operation of machinery and installations; classification and marking of products by quality classes, in the cases provided for the technical rules in force; ... k) the systematic pursuit of the way of behavior for the beneficiaries of the delivered products and the establishment, on this basis, of measures to raise the qualitative level of production; ... l) periodical analysis of the activity carried out to ensure the quality of products in units, wards, workshops and jobs, presentation of reports in general meetings of the working people on the qualitative level of the products, in to promote the initiative of all staff to improve product quality. ... + Article 28 The technical-economic councils in the ministries, the other central and local bodies, from the plants and enterprises are obliged: a) analyze the qualitative level of the products in manufacturing and propose measures to improve it; ... b) ensure the adoption of technical solutions that lead to the renewal and modernization of products, under high efficiency conditions; ... c) to endorse only those execution documentation and normative technical documents to ensure the realization of superior functional and technical-economic characteristics; ... d) aim to improve control technologies. ... The draft normative technical documents and the execution documentation of the products shall be subject to the approval of the collective management bodies only accompanied by the conclusions and proposals of the technical-economic councils. + Article 29 The scientific research and technological engineering units respond to the quality of technical solutions on the design and manufacturing preparation of the products, adopted in the documentation they have developed, the provision of technical assistance, capitalizing on the results of the exploitation and continuous improvement of the products in their activity profile. + Article 30 The beneficiary units are obliged to carry out the reception of the products according to the provisions of the contracts and to take over only those that correspond to Violation of provisions of para. 1 also attracts the liability of the beneficiary units for damage to the obstesc property. + Article 31 The manufacturing units respond for any quality deficiency arising within the warranty period, as well as possible hidden defects resulting from the manufacture, occurring during the normal period of use and are obliged to establish, under the conditions provided in contracts, in agreement with beneficiaries and designers, measures and deadlines for remediation or replacement of improper products. If the suppliers do not accept the remediation or replacement of the products, the beneficiaries will refund them, requesting legal compensation. The term of guarantee shall mean the time limit within which the reconditioning or replacement of the product shall be taken into account and the expense of the manufacturing establishment, unless it is proved that the quality deficiency is not attributable to it. The warranty term flows from the date of delivery of the product In the case of complex machinery and installations carried out by cooperation in production, the term of guarantee flows, compared to all suppliers, from the date of delivery of these machinery or installations. The period of normal use means the interval within which the product, under the conditions of exploitation, storage and transport established according to the technical norms and norms, must maintain its functional characteristics unchanged. In products with limited time limits, the manufacturing units are obliged to register on the product or packaging of the product, as the case may be, the year and month during which the warranty period or the period of normal use expires. + Article 32 The commercial units respond, according to the law, to the quality of the sold goods, ensuring the remediation or replacement of improper products to the manufacturing units. The limitation period of the commercial unit's action against the manufacturing unit, for the recovery of damages resulting from the producer's failure to meet the quality conditions, flows from the date of payment of damages by the commercial unit. + Article 33 The supplier responds to the beneficiary, during the warranty period, for the damage caused by the failure of the parameters designed due to the quality deficiencies of the machinery, installations and durable goods delivered. + Article 34 Transport units, as well as those that take over keep and unwrap the products, are responsible for maintaining their integrity and quality, their correct handling and storage, from taking over to teaching. + Article 35 The manufacturing units and the foreign trade units are obliged to ensure strict compliance with the conditions regarding the quality and technical performance of the goods for export, according to the contractual provisions. The Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Economic Cooperation and foreign trade enterprises will control, through their own representation, plants and factories, how they put into production and the goods contracted for export are carried out and participate in the establishment and implementation of measures for the operational adaptation of production to the quality requirements imposed by the external market. Foreign trade enterprises are obliged to receive and take over from the manufacturing units only products that fall within the quality parameters. Foreign trade enterprises bear the full responsibility, according to the law, for taking over from the manufacturer and delivering to external customers goods that do not meet the contractual conditions. + Section III Duties and responsibilities of staff of economic units + Article 36 The directors and other leaders of the economic units are responsible for carrying out all the tasks assigned to the unit in the field of quality and have the obligation to ensure all the necessary material, technical and organizational conditions production in strict compliance with the technical documentation, the exigent execution of the technical control in the manufacturing process, the delivery of appropriate quality products. In case of deviations from the quality norms, they will take measures to stop the manufacture, remove the deficiencies in order to resume production and establish the responsibility of the guilty persons. + Article 37 The heads of departments and workshops have the obligation to provide each working group with the technical-material conditions necessary to achieve the quality of the products and to carry out the production process according to the manufacturing and control technology, to provide specialized technical assistance, take the necessary measures to eliminate the causes that can generate deviations from the quality norms and respond, together with the maistrii, of the quality of the products manufactured and delivered. + Article 38 The masters and the other leaders of the working parties have the obligation to ensure the proper organization and conduct of the production process, to take measures that at each workplace rigorously complies with the production discipline and manufacturing technologies by the workers, to control the products executed by them, not to admit the circulation of improper products on the manufacturing flow and to order the stop of the operation of operations in case of deviations from the quality norms. The Maistrii respond together with the workers for any quality deficiency resulting from the violation of technological discipline. In order to prevent such deficiencies, the foremen must analyse the causes of the deviations from the quality norms, take measures to eliminate them and organize debates on the realization of the qualitative parameters of the products within the framework the working formalities that I lead. + Article 39 The workers respond to the quality of the products made and have the obligation to strictly observe the technological discipline, to execute the operations according to the technical documentation, to verify by self-control their quality and to remedy the deficiencies found, to present the first piece or produced at the control of the foreman, to be demanding towards any deviations from the quality norms. It must also actively participate in all actions organized to raise the qualitative level of production and improve manufacturing technologies. + Article 40 Researchers, technologies and other specialists who participate in the elaboration and approval of technical documentation meet the values of quality parameters and the economic efficiency of the products designed, until their realization in production. The designer and the technologist are responsible for the introduction into projects of technical solutions established by the researchers, through the approved documentation. + Article 41 Personnel of units with foreign trade activity that are guilty of contracting the export of certain products to the specific conditions of the country of destination, as well as the provision in external contracts of qualitative characteristics different from those offered by the manufacturer, answer, according to the law, for the damage caused. + Chapter 4 Technical quality control of products + Section I Organisation, duties and responsibilities of the quality technical control staff + Article 42 The technical quality control activity is organized, according to the law, as a service, office, independent collective, control laboratories and working formations, depending on the complexity and technicality of the products, the number of workers, foremen, technicians and specialists with higher education resulting as necessary from technical and technological documentation of execution. The services, offices and independent teams of technical quality control are subordinated to the head of the county unit and inspectorates and the city of Bucharest for the quality control of the products. + Article 43 The personnel from the technical quality control activity must be authorized by the county inspectorates and the Bucharest municipality for the quality control of the products, based on the verification of the specialized knowledge. The appointment, the change in office, the disciplinary sanction or the undoing of the employment contract of the staff in the services, offices and independent technical quality control collectives shall be made by the head of the unit, with the consent the county inspectorate or Bucharest municipality for the quality control of the products For the head of these compartments it is necessary the agreement of the General State Inspectorate for Quality Control of Products and the superior hierarchical organ of the unit. + Article 44 Staff of establishments exercising technical quality control shall have the following obligations: a) check the quality of raw materials, materials, landmarks and subassemblies to their supply and introduction into manufacturing, the adjustment and precision of the means of production and of the measuring and control equipment, strict compliance with the norms of quality when packing and shipping products; ... b) reject products with quality deficiencies, notify the hierarchical head in case of serious deviations from the quality norms and propose taking the necessary measures to eliminate deficiencies; ... c) participate in the establishment of control technologies, check the endowment with measuring and control equipment, with sample stands and mounting platforms, request the management of the unit to improve the manufacturing documentation. ... + Article 45 The head of the technical quality control department shall have the obligation to ensure the smooth running of the entire quality control activity in the establishment, for which purpose: a) responds to the organization of quality control of products in all manufacturing phases, pursues compliance with technological programs of product quality control; ... b) promotes the use of modern methods of control and initiates actions to raise the professional qualification of quality controllers; ... c) notifies the management of the unit and the bodies of the General State Inspectorate for Quality Control of Products on the deviations regarding the quality of the products; proposes to stop the manufacture and stop the delivery of products that do not correspond ... d) organize and lead the activity of the laboratory in the unit intended to verify the quality of raw materials, materials, parts, subassemblies and finished products; ... e) verify, at the conclusion of economic contracts, the quality parameters of the raw materials, materials, semi-finished products, works and benefits provided for therein and concern them if they correspond to the quality norms. ... + Article 46 The personnel with technical quality control duties in ministries and plants are required to follow the performance of the measures in the programs for raising the qualitative level of the products and to control the way of ensuring the quality of the products in the subordinate units. + Section II Carrying out control and quality confirmation + Article 47 The technical quality control shall be carried out on the raw materials, materials, parts, semi-finished products, sub-assemblies, the entire manufacturing flow and the finished products, according to the methods, frequency and means provided for in the documentation. Product technique. The quality confirmation is made by applying the control visa to the products or on the documents accompanying them on the manufacturing flow and finally. Reporting as a commodity production of products rejected for quality control is prohibited. + Article 48 The beneficiary units are obliged to verify the quality of the execution of technological equipment, installations and other products of high technical complexity, on manufacturing phases and finally, to signal possible quality deficiencies and to participate in the establishment of the necessary measures to remedy them. In the case of complex installations, the control operations will also be able to be carried out by scientific research and technological engineering units, on the basis of contracts concluded with the beneficiary unit. For certain products, especially machines and machinery with a high degree of complexity, the control operations will be carried out, on the basis of contracts concluded with the beneficiary unit, by units specialized by their activity profile in the exploitation of such products. For products intended for export, foreign trade enterprises will carry out quality control with specialized control bodies, on a contract basis, according to the law. + Article 49 The products shall be delivered only accompanied by certificates of quality, warranty, analysis bulletins or other quality certification documents issued by the manufacturing units and the technical-material supply bases, under the signature of the driver the unit and head of the control compartment. If the head of the unit or head of the control department delegates to other persons the right to sign the certification document, they shall respond with them. The content and form of the quality certification documents shall be established by the central body of the manufacturing unit with the consent of the General State Inspectorate for Quality Control of Products. Confirmation of the quality of the products sold to the population is made by warranty certificates, in the case of durable products or through the quality certification documents, developed by the manufacturer, at the wholesale delivery to the Trade, for other products. + Article 50 In order to stimulate the manufacture of high-quality products with a high degree of competitiveness, the quality mark is established. The quality mark is a symbol that applies to the products, certifying by the manufacturer that they have characteristics at the level of the best performances made in the country and worldwide. The right of application of the quality mark shall be determined by the trademark certificate issued by the General State Inspectorate for Quality Control of Products. The nomenclature of the products to which the quality mark is applied is approved by the single national economic and social development plan. The unit applying on the products the symbol of the quality mark shall be responsible for the performance by these products of the characteristics of the trade mark + Article 51 The General State Inspectorate for Product Quality Control, ministries and other central bodies will control the compliance by the units with the legal requirements regarding the application of the quality mark. If the products do not comply with the provisions of the trademark certificate or their technical-economic performance are lower than those achieved worldwide, the inspectorate will withdraw the right of application of the trademark quality. + Article 52 The granting and withdrawal of the quality mark shall be made according to + Section III Duties and responsibilities of the State General Inspectorate for Quality Control of Products + Article 53 The State General Inspectorate for Quality Control of Products, together with ministries, other central and local bodies, party and state policy in the field of quality and technical quality control of products and exercise the following main tasks: a) ensure, together with the ministries and other central or local bodies, the organization and execution of product quality control, the elaboration and fulfillment of programs for quality improvement, the establishment and the realization of indicators of quality to be included in the five-year and annual plans; ... b) control the quality assurance activity of the products, perform control operations with their own personnel, initiate actions to raise the professional qualification of the technical quality control personnel in the units; ... c) guide and control the development of technological programs of product quality control, promote the use of modern methods of control; ... d) control, under the conditions provided by law, the activity of ensuring the quality of import goods; ... e) prohibits the delivery of products that do not correspond qualitatively and establishes measures to eliminate quality deficiencies and to recover damages from the guilty persons, referring to this banking bodies; ... f) elaborates normative on technical quality control of products; authorizes, directs and controls the activity of laboratories carrying out measurements, tests and analyses for product quality verification; ... g) organize, together with the heads of the units, with the commissions for quality and with the trade union and youth organizations, the debate at the workplaces of the cases of deviations from the quality norms. ... + Article 54 The General State Inspectorate for Quality Control of Products, with the prior knowledge of the relevant central or local bodies, shall stop the manufacture if: a) products not approved under the law were introduced into manufacturing; ... b) the product does not meet the quality and reliability parameters approved for approval; ... c) systematically increase the volume of rebutts and remedial operations; ... d) lack of measurement and control equipment or it works improperly; ... e) serious deficiencies persist in manufacturing and technical quality control and metrology. ... It also prohibits the transition to series manufacturing of new products if it finds that the provisions of the technological product quality control program have not been realized. The measures provided in par. 1 1 and 2 shall be entered in the unit's sole control register. Ministries, other central and local bodies, industrial plants and enterprises are obliged to apply operative measures to eliminate the causes that led to the shutdown or prohibition of manufacturing and to establish liability Guilty persons. + Article 55 Inspectors for product quality control shall be responsible for the following: a) failure to carry out the checks to be carried out; ... b) enrolment in the control documents of findings that do not correspond to reality; ... c) non-compliance with the violation of the legal provisions in force found on the occasion of the control or failure to take on time, under the conditions provided by law, the necessary measures to ensure the quality of products ... + Chapter 5 Quality assurance and control of services + Article 56 The service providers are obliged to ensure that the executed works correspond to the quality parameters provided in technical, normative or contracts, needs and preferences and to meet the following basic conditions at the main groups of benefits: a) for repairs and other maintenance works on buildings: resistance and durability in time, hydrophonic and thermal insulation, tightness, corresponding appearance; ... b) for repairs to heating, water, gas, electricity and other related works: restoration within the normal term of functionality, security, safety and continuity in operation; ... c) for custom-made confections and reconditionings of clothing, footwear and leather goods: the execution of all operations provided for in the technical norms of quality, the use of auxiliary materials in accordance with the basic raw material, which ensure the wearing resistance, the aesthetic appearance, the superior finish, the respect of the model and other conditions agreed with the beneficiaries; ... d) for maintenance and repair works on cars, refrigerators, televisions and other durable and household goods: ensuring operating conditions and safety at normal parameters; ... e) for the operations carried out by the laundries, cleaners and painters: ensuring the shape, color, aesthetics and hygiene conditions of the object. ... + Article 57 The quality technical norms for the repair and maintenance of durable goods and the rules for its verification shall be established by the unit, together with the manufacturing unit, which are obliged to provide technical documentation, spare parts, as well as the specialization of personnel. These rules shall be approved by the coordinating central or local bodies of the units concerned, with the agreement of the Council on the coordination of the production of consumer goods. For the other categories of benefits, the quality conditions and the verification rules shall be provided in the normative, approved by the bodies under which the service providers operate, with the consent of the specialized inspections or, after Case, of the General State Inspectorate for Quality Control of Products. At the request of the beneficiaries, the quality conditions shall also be established when contracting the performance. + Article 58 For the works carried out within the service benefits, the units guarantee, according to the law, their quality and are obliged to carry out the remedies complained about within the warranty period, free of charge. Quality certification and warranty terms will be entered on the payment documents. The units are obliged, at the request, the complaint or the complaint of the buyers, to execute the repair, maintenance or periodic revision, on time and of good quality, of the products sold through the commercial units. + Article 59 The workers of the service providers have the duty to perform the operations according to the provisions of the normative, contracts or orders, to verify the quality of the works, to continuously improve their professional knowledge and to participate actively in actions organised to raise the quality of services The staff of the service providers must have a civilized, dignified, respectful and correct behavior, to show solicitude in relation to the population. + Article 60 The heads of the service providers, engineers, technicians and foremen are responsible for the organization of labor, the rhythmic supply of materials and spare parts, the proper functioning of machinery and installations and the provision of services, with compliance with the quality conditions provided for in normative, contracts and orders. + Article 61 Art. 42 42-45 on the organization and duties of the technical quality control personnel shall also be applied accordingly in the technical control activity of the quality of service supplies. The technical control of the quality of the benefits shall be carried out according to the methods and with the means established by the technical norms and norms provided 57. + Article 62 Ministries, other central bodies, executive committees of popular councils, craft cooperation and consumer cooperation will take measures to meet in higher quality conditions the requirements of the population in the field of supply. of services, through the organization of specialized, fixed and mobile units, the widening and modernization of the network, both in urban and rural localities. For this purpose, the organs referred to in par. 1, with the support of the Council for the coordination and guidance of supply activity and service provision to the population, will draw up service nomenclatures and act for their regular improvement, so that they ensure modernization and diversification of services of all categories, extension of services for the relief of domestic work, reduction of durations of their provision, saving of citizens ' time. + Article 63 In the activity of transport, mail and telecommunications, trade, tourism and food, the insurance and quality control of the benefits are carried out according to their specific regulations. + Article 64 The quality control of the services shall be exercised by the specialized control bodies, by persons empowered for this purpose by the heads of the economic units and by the control personnel of the ministries and other central bodies or Local coordinator. + Chapter 6 Material liability for violation of product and service quality rules + Article 65 The staff of the socialist units respond materially, according to the law, for any damage caused as a result of the delivery or reception of products with quality deficiencies. The cost of remedies and bonuses paid to external customers, as well as the costs of remedies for products intended for domestic beneficiaries, in order to extinguish quality complaints, will be highlighted separately, the heads of the units being forced to ensure their recovery from the guilty persons. + Article 66 The head of the technical quality control department shall respond to the material, together with the director of the unit, for any damage caused as a result of the delivery of products or the execution of works with quality deficiencies. + Article 67 The staff of the ministries, the other central and local bodies and the inspectors of the General State Inspectorate for Quality Control of Products respond materially for the admission of the dispatch of products with quality deficiencies, to the extent which contributed to the occurrence of the damage or, where appropriate, proportional to the tariff retribution of the persons guilty. + Article 68 The persons employed shall respond, under the conditions of this law, for the damage caused by the violation, due to their fault, of the quality norms, by causing rebuts or partial or decried products. + Article 69 Definitive rebut shall be considered as the product which does not meet the provisions of standards, technical rules, specifications or contracts and can only be used as raw material or material for the production of other goods. Partial rebut means the product which does not meet the provisions of standards, technical rules, specifications or contracts and which, subject to remedial operations, effective in economic terms, becomes an appropriate product or may be Capitalized as product decried. Product decried is considered the product that does not meet the provisions of standards, technical norms, specifications or contracts, but can be capitalized, according to the legal norms, at reduced price. For the purposes of this Article, semi-finished products, parts, subassemblies and finished products shall be understood by products. + Article 70 The single national economic and social development plan will establish the maximum limits of technological losses for the products specific to the branch, as well as the criteria for their breakdown by units, by the ministries and central bodies Coordinator. For the purposes of this law, products whose quality defects are inherent in the technology used constitute technological losses. As amended by the specific factors, the ministries and other central coordinating bodies are obliged to reduce the maximum limits established according to par. 1. + Article 71 The drivers of the economic units, the execution staff and the staff with quality control duties, respond in full material for the damage caused by their fault, by causing rebuts or downgraded products, as a result of the violation their duties according to the law and the regulation of organization and functioning of the unit. + Article 72 Workers who by failing to comply with the production or technological discipline have caused, from their fault, rebuts or downgraded products will not be repaid for the work performed at the operation that determined the rebuttal or the left product, even if it falls within the maximum permissible limits established in accordance with art. 70. The foreman or direct ruler of the production process who found the reb or the product decried and established the person guilty of his challenge will not enroll in the working bar the value of the workmanship that would have been due to him, in the case workers who work in the agreement or will decrease the time sheet related to the operation, in the case of repaid workers in directing. + Article 73 Workers respond fully to the damage caused by their fault by causing rebuts or products left above the maximum allowable limits, established in accordance with the provisions of art. 70. The material liability is established at the proposal of the foremen or the other direct leaders of the production process, who found the rebuttal or the decried product and the person who caused them. + Article 74 Where the rebuttal or the product decried has been caused by several persons, the liability of each person shall be determined taking into account the extent to which it has contributed to the challenge of the damage. If it cannot be determined the extent to which each person has contributed to the challenge of the returned product or product, the part of the total amount of the damage, thus caused, to be answered each, shall be determined in proportion to the retribution. the tariff of employment of each, from the date of the finding of the damage. + Article 75 The assessment of damage caused by rebuttals or downgraded products shall be as follows: a) if the partial rebuttal can be remedied to meet the prescriptions of standards, technical rules, specifications or contracts, the expenses incurred for this purpose shall be taken into account; ... b) if the product decried may be valued, according to the legal provisions, at a reduced price, the difference between the price of the corresponding quality product and the price obtained by recovery shall be taken into account; ... c) if the partial recourse subject to remedial operations can be capitalized as a product downgraded, to the expenses referred to in lett. a) add the price difference calculated according to the provisions of lett. b); ... d) if the definitive rebuttal can be valued as raw material or material for the production of other goods, account shall be taken of the price difference between the production costs of the rebutted product and the price of the raw material or material which it has replaced; ... e) if the definitive rebuttal cannot be used as a raw material, the production costs of the rebutted product shall be taken into account. ... + Article 76 In application of art. 75 75 (b) and c) account shall be taken of the legal retail price established for the corresponding quality products. In the case of products that have no legal retail price established, but have a delivery price, this price is taken into account, to which the coefficient of 1.05 is applied. If the delivery price is equal to the production price, the coefficient is 1.25. In case of criminal liability, the assessment of the damage will be added to the amount established according to the provisions of par. 1 1 and 2 and art. 75, the unrealized benefits of unity. If the amount thus calculated does not cover the production costs of those goods, these costs will be taken into account. + Article 77 The material liability for the challenge of rebutts or downgraded products shall be determined by decision of imputation or payment commitment, under the conditions provided by the Labor Code. + Article 78 Liability for the challenge of rebuttals or downgraded products does not attract and apply, for the same facts, the diminution of retribution according to the law of retribution according to the quantity and quality of work. + Chapter 7 Sanctions + Article 79 Violation of the rules on the quality of products and services attracts the obligation of guilty persons to pay compensation established according to the law + Article 80 The intentional or culpable violation of the rules on the quality of products and services, which act constitutes a crime, is punishable according to criminal law. + Article 81 It constitutes contraventions to the provisions of this law and is sanctioned with a fine: I. From 3,000 to 6,000 the following facts: a) the delivery of products rejected or stolen from the technical quality control; ... b) the non-organization on the manufacturing flow of the fixed and mobile control points, as well as the final control; ... c) failure to ensure the measurement and control equipment, the sample stands and the mounting platforms, the normative technical documentation, execution and control; ... d) elaboration, endorsement and approval of technical documentation that do not include the control technologies and the conditions necessary to perform it; ... e) failure to analyse the causes of improper quality products and failure to take measures to eliminate them, as well as non-compliance with the deadlines for the application of the measures. ... II. From 1,000 to 3,000 lei the following facts: f) non-enrolment in contracts of quality parameters and methods of verification thereof; ... g) failure to make the reception of the products by the beneficiaries or the reception to the supplier, on manufacturing phases and in the end, according to the provisions of the contract; ... h) the introduction into manufacturing of components or sub-assemblies without the application of the quality of the quality technical control or without accompanying documents confirmed by it; ... i) non-compliance with the execution documentation or control methodology; ... j) failure to ensure conditions for maintaining the integrity and quality of products ... k) preventing in any form the control bodies from exercising their duties provided by law. ... III. From 500 to 1,000 lei the following facts: l) the delivery or reception of products without a quality certificate, as well as the delivery of products without a technical book or without the application on the packaging, under the law, of the manufacturing date and the duration of use or the date of validity; ... m) quality certification through an attestation not in accordance with the standards, technical norms or contracts; ... n) improper performance of samples, analyses or quality tests; preservation of the counterapprovals under conditions other than those provided for in the technical documentation; ... o) non-compliance with quality standards in the performance of service benefits; ... p) non-mention on payment documents, within the framework of services, of data on the guarantee of works. ... The facts provided for in this article constitute contraventions if they were not committed in such incit conditions, according to the criminal law, to be considered crimes. + Article 82 Finding the contraventions provided in art. 81 lit. a)-n), as well as the application of sanctions, shall be made by: a) the chief inspectors and deputy chief inspectors of the General State Inspectorate for Quality Control of Products, for the contraventions enjoyed by the staff of the ministries, the other central and local bodies, the plants and economic units; ... b) the chief inspectors and their deputies from the county inspectorates and the Bucharest municipality for the quality control of the products and inspectors of the General State Inspectorate for Quality Control of Products, for the contraventions enjoyed by the staff of the economic units, with the exception of the managing directors of industrial plants; ... c) inspectors from the county inspectorates and the city of Bucharest, for the contraventions enjoyed by the staff of the economic units, except for the general directors, directors, chief engineers and chief accountants. ... Finding the contraventions provided in art. 81 lit. o) and p) and the application of sanctions shall be made by the personnel with control powers of the specialized inspections, under the conditions provided by law, as well as by the staff of the ministries, the other central and local bodies, who have in their subordination Service providers or coordinate service activities, empowered by their leaders. + Article 83 Finding the contraventions provided in art. 81 and the application of sanctions shall be prescribed within one year from the date of the act. In the case of machinery and technological installations, the limitation period shall be 2 years. + Article 84 Against the minutes of finding the contravention you can make the complaint within 15 days from the date of its communication. The complaint, accompanied by a copy of the minutes, shall be submitted to the body to which the finding agent belongs. + Article 85 In so far as this law does not have, the contraventions provided in art. 81 the provisions of Law no. 32/1968 on establishing and sanctioning contraventions. + Article 86 The violation of the rules on the quality of products and services also attracts the application of the disciplinary sanctions In case of approval of a derogation from quality parameters, in violation of the provisions of art. 24, the penalty of disciplinary dissolution of the employment contract will be applied to the guilty person. + Chapter 8 Final provisions + Article 87 The provisions of the present law also apply to cooperative organizations and other public organizations. + Article 88 This law shall enter into force 30 days after its publication. On the date of entry into force, Law no. 2/1970 on product quality assurance and control, published in the Official Bulletin, Part I, no. 28 28 of 28 March 1970, Decree no. 282/1973 on the certification of the quality of products, works and services, published in the Official Bulletin, Part I, no. 71 71 of 17 May 1973, and Decision of the Council of Ministers no. 2502/1969 for the establishment and sanctioning of contraventions to the rules on qualitative conditions provided for import and export products, published in the Official Bulletin, Part I, no. 159 159 of 31 December 1969. ----------------------------
