CBTL Kesco is now operating under responsibility of NCB UL International Demko and is no longer operating as an associated CBTL for NCB TUV SUD Germany.

Geneva, Switzerland, 2008-04-23 – The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the leading organization in International Electrotechnical Standards and Certification for renewable energies is now the provider of a quality mark for the photovoltaic industry.

Under an agreement between the IECEE, the IEC’s worldwide system for conformity testing and certification of electrotechnical equipment and components, and PV GAP, the Global Approval Program for Photovoltaics, the IECEE is now the exclusive issuer of the PV GAP Mark. The Mark is the worldwide reference for manufacturers and suppliers of photovoltaic components and equipment. It ensures that solar equipment and components are manufactured to IEC International Standards.

PV GAP Mark








PV GAP Seal




The IEC has been an ardent supporter of renewable energies since it was founded in 1906, developing standards in areas such as wind turbines, hydroelectricity and solar energy. With this agreement, signed under the auspices of the World Bank, the IEC , through its flagship Conformity Assessment Scheme, the IECEE, is taking its commitment to solar energy one step further.

The market for photovoltaic power applications is expanding rapidly. A report published by the International Energy Agency(1) shows that the cumulative installed generating capacity in selected countries grew by 36% in 2006. The total photovoltaic cell production volume for 2006 was reported to be about 1 900 MW, an increase of 27% from 2005.

While until recently, the PV GAP Mark could also be delivered by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) in Europe and Power Mark in the USA, the agreement stipulates that from now on, the IECEE is the exclusive provider of the PV Mark through its National Certification Bodies (NCBs), PV GAP retaining overall responsibility. By the end of 2008, PV GAP will transfer ownership of the PV GAP Mark to the IEC-IECEE and the NCBs members of the IECEE. The IECEE National Certification Bodies will then be responsible for the mark in their countries, and therefore be able to issue certificates and guarantee that certified manufacturers can label products with the PV GAP Mark.

The products covered primarily include photovoltaic modules but there may be other products falling under the scope of the IEC International Standards developed by IEC Technical Committee 82: Solar photovoltaic energy systems.

IECEE Executive Secretary Pierre de Ruvo says: “The PV GAP Mark takes the conformity assessment of Photovoltaics further to the next level where safety and performance against International Standards are a reality.” Asked about the number of certificates issued, de Ruvo said: “The starting point will be once we advertise to the public and relevant parties. The number of certificates issued is not really relevant in the PV field since one certificate may cover millions of solar panels.”

(1) International Energy Agency, Trends in photovoltaic applications – Survey report of selected IEA countries between 1992 and 2006

You can find the news release in MNet at: www.iec.ch/mnet. Look under the heading "Renewable Energies", then "PV GAP Mark ".

Mr. Arduin Geenen, Chief Executive Officer of LCIE France, a Bureau Veritas Company & Chief Executive Officer of Bureau Veritas CPS France, has taken over his responsibility as of 6 February 2008.

The IECEE Community wishes Mr. Arduin Geenen every success in his new function and a fruitful and continued collaboration with the IECEE.

Our Germany NCB SLG and CBTL SLG are changing the responsible managers as of 1st of April 2008.

Mr. Mirko Brunner, will take over the responsibility at the NCB SLG from Mr. Uwe Schult as of the 1st of April 2008.
Mr. Rene Schubert, will take over the responsibility at the CBTL SLG from Mr. Mirko Brunner as of the 1st of April 2008.

The IECEE Community wishes Mr. Mirko Brunner and Mr. Rene Schubert every success in his new function and a fruitful and continued collaboration with the IECEE.

Our Korean IECEE Member Body, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) has a new Director, Mr. Yoo, Chong Chu who has taken over this responsibility from Mr. Gab-su Kang as of the 27th of March 2008.

The IECEE Community wishes Mr. Gab-su Kang every success in his new function and a fruitful and continued collaboration with the IECEE.

Please also note that KATS is the governmental organization under the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE), which is newly created on 3rd March 2008, based on Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE), in accordance with the lanuch of new administration.

CBTL emitel AG is now operating under responsibility of NCB SIQ and is no longer operating as an associated CBTL for NCB Intertek Testing & Certification Ltd.

The IEC’s worldwide system for conformity testing and certification of electrotechnical equipment and components, the IECEE, officially launched the IECEE Online CB Bulletin Database on 6 March 2008.

The new online system represents a milestone for IECEE. Henceforth, members and non-members will be able to consult the CB Bulletin online, using an interactive tool that provides a huge amount of information in a few clicks. The database replaces the old and cumbersome PDF versions of the CB Bulletin, providing the exact same information as its predecessor, only in a more user-friendly manner.

Detailed information on each standard
The database offers a comprehensive source of information on adherence to IEC standards by IECEE NCBs, including national and group differences, national deviations, special national conditions and regulatory requirements.

The list of all standards used in the CB Scheme is broken down by product category to make the search easier. Clicking on a standard number in the list displays:
- a table showing the number, title and publication date of the standard;
- which NCBs are entitled to issue and recognize (I/R) or have declared their willingness to recognize (R) the certificate of conformity to this particular standard;
- whether there are group or national differences; and
- national adoption of the standard, when applicable.

In addition, clicking on the standard number in the display opens a pop-up window that provides additional information on the publication, namely the date of inclusion in the CB Scheme and an abstract explaining briefly what it is about.

The database also provides the complete list of IECEE Members, their contact details and regulatory requirements, and their scope.

A free search function is also available, allowing searches by organisation, country or standard.

This information is accessible to anyone visiting the IECEE website. All IECEE Members have access to the restricted area that displays details of all national and group differences. Non-members can access the actual differences after purchasing a subscription from the IEC Webstore.

The new database also allows NCBs to declare their recognition to IEC standards directly as well as to upload any associated national differences through a web interface.

CBTL TUV PS Ltd Jiangsu is now operating under responsibility of NCB TUV SUD PSB Pte Ltd and is no longer operating as an associated CBTL for NCB TUV SUD PS GmbH.

CBTL TOTL - TÜV SÜD Ohtama, Ltd., Tokyo Laboratory is now operating under responsibility of NCB TUV SUD PSB Pte Ltd and is no longer operating as an associated CBTL for NCB TUV SUD PS GmbH.

CBTL KERI-ERTL is now operating under responsibility of NCB KERI and is no longer operating as an associated CBTL for KTL.

The SMT workshop took place 2007-12-04/05 was aimed primarily at NCBs operating Supervised Manufacturer's Testing, the focus is on:

- How the NCB performs SMT supervision of testing carried out by the SMT staff, e.g. definition/approval of test program, supervision, recording of the supervision, signatures of the report, forms used, registration in your Certification database and follow-up.
- How the NCB handles SMT laboratories when auditing them, e.g. general procedure, qualified auditors, audit itself and follow-up of the SMT labs.

Lead by the IECEE Executive Secretary, Pierre de Ruvo, with the highest contribution of Dr. Wolfgang Kreinberg, Mr. Don Mader, Mr. Richard Pescatore, Mr. Michel Brenon, Mr. Calogero Lana, Mr. Dieter Fietz, Ms. Jola Wroblewska, Mr. Mauro Casari, Mr. Fritz Beglinger, Mr. Muhammas Nazif Zakaria and Mr. Joe Gryn, the event focused on the technique used by the various Certification Body to supervise testing carried out by the Manufacturer's Laboratory staff as well as the Audit Technique that is currently excercised by the Certification Bodies Auditors over SMT Laboratories to check compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 and associated IECEE Operational Documents.

Special thanks are extended to the speakers for their particular contribution for the SMT workshop.

About 100 people from around the world attended the 2007 IECEE Technical Assessor Training Course the 3rd and 4th of December in the CICG, Geneva aimed at training the IECEE Technical Assessors located in the European Union and surrounding countries.

The IECEE Technical Assessor training courses are aimed at to ensure consistent assessments with common understanding of ISO/IEC Guide 65 and ISO/IEC 17025 and the Peer Assessment techniques and procedures. The IECEE System being a Multi Recognition Agreement of test results, Peer Assessment is a tool to build confidence among certification bodies and testing laboratories that participate in the IECEE’s CB Scheme and FCS Scheme.

The IECEE uses Peer Assessment to specially ensure that all certification bodies and test laboratories operating within the IECEE CB and FCS Schemes have an equal level of knowledge of the IEC standards and the appropriate competence to carry out testing with the agreed technique and methodology as this is seen necessary to maintain confidence among member national certification bodies (NCBs), who are the operators of the CB Scheme.

“Mutual Confidence” is needed for NCBs to grant their Certification Mark on the basis of the review of Test Results without repeat testing; this is what Peer Assessment achieves.

Led by the IECEE Executive Secretary, Pierre de Ruvo, with the highest contribution of Dr. Wolfgang Kreinberg, Mr. Don Mader, Mr. Ted Gaertner, Mr. Trond Sollie, Mr. Ron Vaikauski, Mr. Piet Roelof and Mr. Joe Gryn, the event focused on specific technical topics that are currently used by the Technical Assessors during the on-site IECEE Peer Assessments.

The course also allowed technical assessors to share experience related to assessment(s) techniques when assessing e.g. Measurement Uncertainties and Accuracy, preparation and use of Thermocouples, Power Supply Distribution and Harmonic Distortion etc.

IECEE Technical Assessors are seen as important contributors to the IECEE community and in the Peer Assessment program. Upon successfully passing the final examination at the end of the course the technical assessors will receive a Certificate as Registered Technical Assessor.

Special thanks are extended to the speakers for their particular contribution for the training.

NCB TÜV SÜD PSB Pte Ltd has replaced their previous logo with this new logo.

The group of companies ETS Product Service AG and ETS Product Service International will be transferred to the Eurofins Group starting from 2008-01-01.

The ETS Product Service AG will operate under that name of Eurofins ETS Product Service GmbH in future. The business of ETD with its testing laboratories and certification bodies will be continued without changes.

The contact persons and organizational structures, the measuring equipment and the quality management system will not change. The Eurofins ETS Product Service GmbH takes over all tangible and intangible assets and steps into all rights and duties of ETS.

Please note as well that the NCB Eurofins ETS Product Service GmbH has replaced their previous logo with this new above logo.