Packaging
G&D Introduces Certified Control Unit for Cash Registers
Friday 18. December 2009 - Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) has introduced an innovative control unit for the Swedish market, which fulfils the requirements of the Swedish Tax Agencys new regulations for cash registers used by businesses in Sweden.
G&Ds Cash Control Unit 1.0 (CCU) simply plugs into existing cash registration systems via a data cable. It meets all currently applicable Swedish requirements for security and conformity, and has been certified by Cert2you Europe AB. The product is equipped with the latest smart card technology, which will allow it to be adapted to any future changes in security requirements.
The CCU is being marketed by Giesecke & Devrient Secure Flash Solutions. “The Cash Control Unit is a strategically important addition to our portfolio. Dealers and resellers in Sweden have already demonstrated considerable interest in this solution, which is now available for immediate order,” reports Marcus Rosin, the managing director of G&D sales company Giesecke & Devrient Secure Flash Solutions. Various other countries are also currently assessing the need to introduce similar measures to prevent the manipulation of sensitive data.
Under current Swedish legislation, companies selling goods and services in return for cash payment have until July 1, 2010 to ensure that their businesses are equipped with certified cash registers and control units. The law applies not only to conventional retailers but also to service providers such as dentists in private practice. The purpose of the new legislation is to protect serious business owners against unfair competition.
As well as requiring the use of certified cash registers that meet specific functional requirements, the law also stipulates that they must be connected to a certified control unit that stores information from the cash register. Giesecke & Devrient is now offering a suitable control system, the new Cash Control Unit 1.0 (CCU). The product complies with the legislation enacted by the Swedish parliament (2007:592) and also fully meets the requirements of the latest Swedish Tax Agency regulations (SKVFS 2009:2). This has been confirmed by Cert2you, a certification body accredited by SWEDAC (Swedish Board for Accreditation and Conformity Assessment). “We have certified G&Ds control unit to comply with the Swedish Tax Agency regulations and the Swedish law on cash registers,” says May-Lis Farnes, the founder and CEO of the certification body Cert2You Europe AB.
The CCU stores information on the transactions performed using the cash register using an encryption key that ensures that the data cannot be subsequently manipulated. Once stored, the data can only be read by the Swedish Tax Agency. An SD card slot integrated in the control unit permits tax inspectors to read out the registered data when they visit the premises. The card slot is equipped with a tamper-proof security seal to prevent unauthorized access. A data cable with a serial RS232 interface is used to connect the CCU 1.0 to the cash register; a suitable USB adapter is also available as an option.
The control unit is designed in the form of a small box (outer dimensions 115 x 85 x 25 millimeters) that can be placed discretely on the sales counter. It is capable of withstanding wide variations in temperature and humidity and complies with all currently applicable European standards with respect to electromagnetic compatibility and security, notably EN 55022 Category B, EN 55024, and EN 60950-1. The CCU 1.0 has an internal flash memory with a storage capacity of 2 GB – enough for up to seven million transactions.
G&Ds sales partner, Giesecke & Devrient Secure Flash Solutions, is already accepting orders from Swedish customers for the new product.