Country of manufacture (outline factory with a country code)
The standard’s wording, as the sources below reproduce it:
“To identify the country of manufacture of products.”
ISO 15223-1:2021, 5.1.11 · IEC 60417-6049
What it means for you
The letters are the country where the device was made, as an ISO 3166 country code: DE is Germany, IE Ireland, MX Mexico, CN China. With a date next to it, the same outline factory also gives the date of manufacture.
Whether a device is right for you is a question for your pharmacist, nurse or doctor.
- What it looks like
- The outline factory of the date-of-manufacture mark with a two- or three-letter country code (the CC) written inside or under it, and often a date beside it.
- Where you see it
- Outer boxes and pouch labels of devices sold in several markets, next to the manufacturer’s name and address.
- Other names
- made in; country of origin factory; factory with CC
What it does not tell you
It does not name the company that made the device (that is the filled factory, the manufacturer mark) and says nothing about quality or where the parts came from.
Often confused with
Indicates the date when the medical device was manufactured.
More symbols in “A factory”
Sources
ISO 15223-1 is a paid standard, so the wording above is quoted as 3 publishers’ public documents reproduce it. Each was fetched and read on the date shown:
- NE Scientific: Master Symbol Glossary (CTF-100011 Rev 01) — Shows the outline factory with “CC” for reference no. 5.1.11 (IEC 60417-6049): “Country of manufacture — To identify the country of manufacture of products.” Checked 2026-09-28.
- STERIS: STERIS Product Labeling, SCS-145, Exhibit A: Symbol Glossary — Lists “Country of manufacture — To identify the country of manufacture of products”, I.S. EN ISO 15223-1:2021 5.1.11, with the factory-and-CC drawing. Checked 2026-09-28.
- Hillrom: Symbols Glossary (80022945 Ver. J) — Lists “Country of manufacture — Identifies the country of manufacture of products”, ISO 15223-1, 5.1.11. Checked 2026-09-28.
Plain-language parts are in our own words; quotations are the sources’ wording.