RAL - What is it?
The letters RAL represent the quality mark and the stamp of the RAL Institute. The RAL name and quality label are recognized in Germany, but also in other countries, as a symbol of superior quality of products and services.
The name RAL has been in use since 1925, when the German private sector and the German government established the “Reichs-Ausschuss für Lieferbedingungen” (RAL) or the State Committee for Delivery Conditions. The common goal was to define and standardize technical delivery conditions. The established quality requirements and their monitoring were necessary for this purpose. The institute was to adopt rules and regulations, independently and fully responsibly. The goal was not only to streamline delivery, but first to ensure quality standards. Importance is attached to maintaining and ensuring quality, by promoting honesty in business through fair, clear and reliable labeling of products and services, all in the interest of the customer. With an increased focus on quality assurance, the name RAL has been extended to the State Committee for Delivery Conditions and Quality Assurance (Reichs-Ausschuss für Lieferbedingungen und Gütesicherung).
After the war, the RAL was annexed to the German Committee for Standardization, the Deutscher Normenausschuss (DNA). With no legal status, the RAL was managed by the president of DNA, but he continued to operate independently and autonomously. Due to the increase in tasks and responsibilities, a legal form was soon agreed upon that led to the establishment of the RAL e.V. in the 70s. Since 1980, the institute has been called the "RAL Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung und Kennzeichnung e. V."
The area of responsibility of RAL covers the departments of RAL quality marks, RAL agreements, RAL registrations, RAL test specifications and Geographical determination of the origin of the brand. In addition, since 2008, RAL GmbH, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of RAL e.V., has also been responsible for RAL paints, RAL environmental label and the European environmental label.
