Worldwide System for
Conformity Testing and Certification 
of Electrical Equipment (IECEE)

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What's New Archives

2004-10-01

Change of name of NCB/CBTL FM Approvals

 

The name of NCB/CBTL FM Approvals has recently been changed to FM Global Technologies LLC (also known as FM Approvals).

2004-09-27

TRANSFER OF OPERATIONS OF CBTL UL International Services Ltd. Taiwan Branch
 

UL International Services Ltd. Taiwan Branch now is operating under the responsibility of UL International Demko A/S for the Product Category OFF.

 

2004-09-01

BP Solar is first solar module manufacturer to receive international product conformity certificate – Allows for commercial acceptance in global markets
 
 

 

BP Solar has received the first conformity assessment certificate from the IECEE Full Certification Scheme (CB-FCS) for its solar electric modules manufactured in India, China, Spain and Australia. The certificate allows BP Solar to sell its product without further testing in countries where the certificate is recognized and accepted. This contributes significantly to getting products to market more quickly and at less cost.

The IECEE CB Scheme is the world’s first truly international system for acceptance of test reports dealing with the safety of electrical and electronic products. It is a multilateral agreement among participating countries and certification organizations. A manufacturer using a CB test report issued by one of these organizations can obtain national certification in all other member countries of the CB Scheme.

According to BP Solar Product Line Director Dr. Jean Posbic, "BP Solar chose to seek this certification because it allows us to simplify the external certification process of our solar modules as this certificate combines performance, quality and safety certifications."

IECEE Executive Secretary Pierre de Ruvo says, "It is significant that a major player has chosen to certify its modules within the IECEE PV Programme and seek the international CB-FCS certificate. We take a business approach to providing market players with what they need to help them compete and we are proud that BP Solar has given us the opportunity to deliver the first CB-FCS certificate to them."

The certificate was issued by Underwriters’ Laboratories in the USA , one of the leading certification bodies and testing laboratories that participates in the IECEE PV CB-FCS programme. UL’s services extend to helping companies achieve global acceptance, whether for an electrical device, a programmable system, or an organization's quality process.

BP Solar is a global company with over 2 000 employees focused on harnessing the sun's energy to produce solar electricity. This includes the design, manufacture and marketing of quality solar electric systems for a wide range of applications in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. With over 30 years of experience and installations in over 160 countries, BP Solar is one of the world's largest solar companies and has manufacturing facilities in the USA, Spain, India and Australia. BP Solar is part of BP, one of the world's leading energy companies. To learn more, visit www.bpsolar.com.

The IECEE’s CB-FCS provides one test and one (or even multiple) certification(s) for manufacturers wishing to export their products to international markets. It substantially benefits manufacturers by significantly reducing the number of steps required to obtain certification at the national level worldwide. It helps to reduce trade barriers caused by different certification criteria in various countries and help industry to open up new markets. It also helps to ensure a fair global trading system in accordance with the World Trade Organization’s objectives.

Eight certification bodies and associated testing laboratories in seven member countries participate in the IECEE PV CB-FCS programme, which is based on mutual recognition of the conformity assessment certificates issued by its members. These serve as the basis for certifying electrical products at the national and international level and is recognized by PV GAP to grant its International Seal. It is an extension of the CB Scheme, which is operated by the International Electrotechnical Commission’s Worldwide System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrical Equipment ( IECEE).

PV GAP is a not-for-profit organization, registered in Switzerland, that certifies the quality of photovoltaic systems and components. PV GAP also promotes the development and use of internationally accepted standards that promote integrating quality into all aspects of PV energy delivery. The organization encourages international reciprocity of national specifications for manufacturers, testing laboratories and accreditation of training programs in installation, operation and maintenance for PV practitioners.

(September 2004)

 
 

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2004-08-04

WITHDRAWAL OF UK CBTL ERA Technology Ltd.
 

Upon request of the NCB ASTABEAB, the following CBTL has been withdrawn from the CB Scheme:

ERA Technology Ltd.
Electrical Engineering Centre, Test & Assessment Department
Cleeve Road
Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7SA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1372 367 067
Fax: +44 (0) 1372 367 040
E-mail: bob.dean@era.co.uk

 

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2004-08-04

NEWS FROM THE CMC 2004 MEETING HELD IN KYOTO, JAPAN ON 2004-06-24/25

 

The 7th IECEE Certification Management Committee (CMC) General Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, from 24 to 25 June 2004, led to a number of actions and decisions of particular importance to manufacturers, national certification bodies (NCBs) and IECEE members.

Organized by the Japanese National Committee of the IECEE, its associated national certification bodies and the Japanese Standards Association, the meeting brought together approximately 100 international experts and representatives from some 43 member countries. Sixteen participants also attended the meeting as observers from five Asian countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. These countries are taking part in training sessions sponsored by the Japanese government for the Certification Body (CB) Scheme in Japan.

Meeting photos can be viewed by clicking here.

Photos taken at the Offiical Dinner can be viewed by following this link.

In his address to the CMC, Prof. MASADA in his capacity as Chairman of the Japanese National Committee of the IECEE, stated that in the operation and management of the IECEE CB Scheme, the Certification Management Committee plays a critical role in directing the efforts of the IECEE directed toward the advancement of trade among the countries of the world through the mutual recognition of test data from participating certification bodies. He added that the reduction in redundant testing time achieved by the mutual recognition and acceptance of test data contributes to greater efficiencies in conformity assessment and enables products to be placed on the international market in much less time at lower cost than otherwise would be possible without benefit of the operations of the IECEE CB Scheme.
He mentioned that the CB Scheme was providing invaluable assistance to the Japanese electrical and electronic industry for their trade activities.
Prof. MASADA said that in recent years the global distribution of products and utilization of services had significantly increased and that social interest on safety and security, the conformity assessment of products, and services to assess conformity to regulations and technical standards are more and more expected by industries and the public at large.
Concluding his address to the CMC, Prof. MASADA recounted that Japan had joined the CEE, the forerunner of IECEE in 1983, participated effectively in the CB Scheme since 1985 and that JISC (Japan Industrial Standards Council), the Japanese IECEE Member Body, would strongly support the IECEE in its contribution to serve the electrical and electronic industry and all concerned parties to produce and trade safe products.
On behalf of JISC, Prof. MASADA welcomed all the participants and wished them to have a fruitful meeting and a pleasant stay in Kyoto and in Japan.

The CMC formally re-elected Mr. Pierre de RUVO as Secretary of the IECEE for appointment by the CAB.

The second term of office will commence on the 1st of January 2005 and will end on the 31st of December 2009.

Among the many decisions taken during the meeting, five main ones stand out.

Level of reciprocity over the NCBs
The CMC agreed to change the rules of procedure to allow testing laboratories (CBTLs) to operate from any country or any place under the direct responsibility of its associated NCB. The latter is directly responsible, together with its IECEE member body, to declare adherence to the relevant IEC standards as well as to commit to recognizing CB test certificates issued by other member NCBs that are at least equivalent to their accepted scope.

New product category: electromagnetic compatibility
With 92% of voting members approving the inclusion of EMC within the IECEE scope, the CMC formally approved this quasi-unanimous result. As a result of the voting, the CMC agreed to include non-safety related EMC to the IECEE’s scope as a new product category.

Recognized manufacturers’ testing
The IECEE accepted to include in its services the Recognized Manufacturers’ Testing, a procedure by which an NCB assesses on an on-going basis the capability and expertise of a manufacturer’s own laboratory (or laboratories) according to ISO/IEC 17025 and any other relevant IECEE operational documents. This includes the laboratory’s quality management system and testing processes. The IECEE secretariat will circulate a questionnaire to NCB members to see how many of them are willing to accept CB Test Certificates based on this new procedure.

Official signature of the Master Multilateral Agreement (MLA)
 The MLA members agreed to sign the Master CB-FCS MLA with the understanding that, whilst awaiting the approval of the Rules of Procedure IECEE 03 Edition 2004, the IECEE 03 Edition 1995 would apply. For photos taken at the IECEE-CMC WG 10 "Revision of the Rules", please click here.


The Legal Master MLA, with due agreed amendments, will be circulated at a later stage to allow “legal representatives” of MLA members to sign the Agreement for those Members present who expressed this particular need for the companies they represent. For photos taken at the signing, please click here.

Component recognition program
The IECEE agreed to move ahead with creating a Component Recognition Program and expects to finalize a document to this effect and circulate it for voting in the third quarter of 2004. A database should be developed which will facilitate the administration and integration of all related information to the program.

The IECEE is the IEC’s Worldwide System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrical Equipment, which operates the well-known CB Scheme.

 

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2004-06-16

News from the 41st Committee of Testing Laboratories (CTL) Meeting held in Singapore

 

 

For more pictures, please click here

With PSB Corporation playing host, the 41st Committee of Testing Laboratories (CTL) Meeting successfully took place in Singapore on 24 to 27 May. Over 70 expert representatives, coming from 165 laboratories worldwide, attended this annual IECEE (International Electrotechnical Commission System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrical Equipment) event. The 41st CTL Meeting was a significant event for PSB Corporation as this was the first time in the CTL history that the annual meeting has been held in Singapore.  

The CTL Meeting served as an exchange platform whereby delegates of various international laboratories congregated to discuss and develop solutions to testing problems, as well as to decide how tests should best be executed in order to achieve reproducibility of results. 

The CTL Meeting promoted the common understanding of IECEE standards and sealed members’ commitment in working towards harmonized testing practices. Most importantly, mutual confidence was reaffirmed among all member laboratories.  

Business aside, delegates enjoyed the eventful four-day meeting as PSB Corporation also introduced them to popular local interest spots and showed them what was ‘uniquely Singapore’. Pleased to say, PSB Corp’s hospitality was well received by all the international participants.   

About the CTL

The CTL is the technical branch of the IECEE and the biggest forum of technical experts representing over 120 CB Testing Laboratories, located in over 40 different countries, and operating under the responsibility of the relevant National Certification Bodies (NCBs) members of the IECEE. 

The CTL seeks to achieve reproducible test results and to establish a close collaborative network among all testing laboratories. It harmonizes the design and use of test equipment referred to in standards, makes recommendations to the relevant IEC technical committees to improve on these standards and is also dedicated to monitoring the proficiency of testing programmes of member laboratories. As the NCB for Singapore, PSB Corporation can perform third-party product certification for IECEE. 

 
 

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2004-06-16

Testing & Certification Conference 2004: Global Compliance for IT, AV and Telecom Products

 

For more pictures, please click here

Enjoying its fourth successful run, PSB Corporation's Testing & Certification Conference extended its fine track record by providing timely compliance updates for the information technology, electrotechnology and telecommunication industries. The conference theme this year, “Global Compliance for IT, AV and Telecom Products” presented an opportunity for companies to reevaluate their product development stages and approval requirements in light of the current industry challenges and competitive realities.

Besides experts from PSB Corp and its subsidiary, Sibercert, revered veterans - Mr Pierre de Ruvo, Executive Secretary of the IECEE and Mr Robert Wunderer, Convener of the CTL Expert Task Force 2 – were the featured speakers. The sessions were devoted to the following topics: 

  • What the IECEE-CB Scheme can do for you - Mr Pierre de Ruvo, Executive Secretary of the IECEE

  • IEC 60950 and IEC 60065: What you need to know about the new hazard-based standards - Mr Robert Wunderer, Convener of the CTL Expert Task Force 2

  • Approvals for electrical / electronic and telecommunication products in Singapore and then region: What PSB Corp as designated CAB can do for you - Ms Tan Chiew Wan, Vice President (Certification and Inspection), Testing Group, PSB Corporation

  • International Compliance: Meeting product certification/approval requirements of key export markets for electrical and electronic products - Ms Jenny Chen, Compliance Manager and Ms Sharon Hsiung, Sales Manager, Sibercert 

  • Qualification of Bluetooth Products: A Bluetooth Qualification Test Facility (BQTF) Perspective - Mr Colin Gan, Vice President (Telecoms and Electromagnetic Compatibility), Testing Group, PSB Corporation

To stay competitive, a product must not only be good enough for local consumption, but robust enough for international export. Certain minimum performance specifications and characteristics of products and services are required before it can be sold or be imported into a country.  Hence, the harmonisation of standards and testing to these standards have become key components of the world economic equation. This is particularly true in electrical manufacturing – including IT, AV and telecommunications products. Standards, coupled with the increasing demand for quality and safe goods, has led to the growing importance of conformity testing, and more importantly, the mutual recognition of test results.

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the worldwide organisation for standardisation comprising all national electrotechnical committees, is working to make standards for electrical products global. As a designated Conformity Assessment Body, PSB Corp works closely with the IEC to help make the process of meeting regulatory requirements less expensive and less time consuming for industry.
 

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2004-06-07

Change of name of CBTL GTIES

 

GTIES, Guangzhou Testing & Inspection Station for Electrical Safety
No. 3 Taishanmiaoquian, Nancun Road, Haizhu District, 510220 Guangzhou, China
Tel: +86-20-34095806
Fax: +86-20-34095876
Contact:
ZHOU, Wencheng
E-mail: cest@mx2.gd.cei.gov.cn
cestgz@public.guangzhou.gd.cn

has changed its name and address to:

Guangzhou Electrical Safety Testing Institute(CEST)
Haizhu Scientific and Technology Park , No. 2437 East Xingang Road, Guangzhou, 510330 P. R. China
Tel: +86-20-84420606
Fax: +86-20-84420604
E-mail: cest@cest.cn
Contact: 
Mr. Huang Haikun: jyc@cest.cn 
Mr. Lin Zhili: dy@cest.cn

 

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2004-06-02

Standards and conformity assessment: two halves, one whole

 

IEC International Standards are one half of an equation whose other side reads “Conformity Assessment” (CA). In a world of global trade where buyers want to have confidence in what manufacturers are selling, IEC standards and its three CA schemes stand as independent brokers of quality and trust. The reason they go together is simple: it is one thing to make a claim about the quality of a product; it is another thing to prove it. A manufacturer may boast that his product meets all the requirements of an IEC International Standard. A testing lab within one of the IEC’s CA schemes can verify whether or not this claim is true. This verification has important consequences for global trade.

While the IEC has been preparing standards for nearly 100 years, its conformity assessment schemes are much more recent. The IECQ (today known as the IECQ-CECC) appeared in the 1970s, the IECEE emerged in the 1980s and the IECEx began operating at the very end of the 1990s. All three service different branches of electrotechnology, but all three help to do the same job: help to provide independent verification of claims about quality.

Essentially, the role of conformity assessment is to check to see if a product adheres to a standard. There are three types of checking:
- first party (the seller), who provides supplier’s declaration of  
conformity; in other words, the manufacturer does in-house testing;
- second party (the buyer); in this case, the purchaser does his own testing;
- third party, who is neither the seller nor the buyer but is an independent testing service.

IEC CA is 3rd party but the schemes do not carry out testing themselves. Instead, they provide a valuable service to global trade by organizing independent testing laboratories into worldwide systems of mutual recognition of each other’s test certificates. This serves three different purposes. Governments want to protect consumers, so conformity assessment testing helps to ensure safety. Buyers (usually wholesalers) want to ensure quality, so IEC CA helps to ensure performance. As to interoperability, CA testing helps other manufacturers to know that their product will work correctly with the one being assessed.

Goals

The IECEE, the IECQ-CECC and the IECEx have several goals in mind. The first is to achieve a system that provides one test, one certification and one mark (where relevant). They also aim to remove delays and costs of multiple testing and approval so that industry can get its products to market more quickly and with less expense. They also help to reduce trade barriers caused by different certification criteria in various countries and help industry to open up new markets. Finally, they help to ensure a fair global trading system in accordance with WTO.

Taking the example of the IECEE, in very simple term here is how it works. A manufacturer makes an electrical product and sends it for testing so he can get it certified. A laboratory tests the product for conformity to IEC standards and issues a test certificate. The manufacturer now wishes to sell the product in another country. He sends the certificate to a test lab in the second country. The second lab issues its certification mark without testing the equipment because it recognizes the testing and assessment that has already been done. The manufacturer may now affix the national mark of conformity of the second country (e.g. CE mark or UL mark) to the product and may export the product to that country.

The IECEE is seen as the flagship IEC CA scheme partly because of its rate of growth, but most significantly as revealed by the rate of recognition and acceptance by users in the global market. This is best demonstrated by CB Test Certificates, issued by the IECEE’s CB Scheme, which have risen from 16 000 in 1999 to 34 000 in 2003.

In fact, each of the IEC’s CA schemes are widely respected and widely used throughout the world. In addition to the CB Scheme’s success rate, the IECEx has seen participating countries grow by nearly 40% between 1999 and 2004. As for the IECQ-CECC’s approvals, nearly 80% of them are issued by manufacturers.

Advantages to all

The great advantage to manufacturers offered by the IECEE is that it helps to reduce manufacturing costs by eliminating the cost of multiple testing. What’s more, a single test opens up new markets faster. And every manufacturer knows that being faster to market gives competitive edge.

For importing countries, there are also clear advantages. IECEE testing helps to ensure the widest range of acceptable products for sale in a domestic market. Then there is the issue of favouritism: because the IECEE is neutral, no one gets special treatment. All suppliers, whatever their origins, are treated equally within the IECEE. This means that their products must stand or fail on their own merits and not for some other reason.

Also worth noting is that importing countries are assured that the laboratory issuing a test certificate has what is called “adequate and enduring technical competence”. This comes from paragraph 6.1.1 of World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. Because the IEC has a close working relationship with the WTO, and because IEC standards and its CA Schemes help to serve as the basis for the TBT Agreement, all test labs in the IECEE must be of the right level of competence. Without this requirement, the quality of testing could be in doubt. Since the IEC’s reputation rests on its products and services, these must be – and are – of the highest quality. The means to ensuring this is peer assessment, where one laboratory in the IECEE performs an audit on another one that is either hoping to join or that is already a member. Peer assessment is seen as the single best way to achieve the highest level of confidence in the quality of service that a laboratory offers.

Finally, the IECEE provides importing countries with confidence in the compliance of the products they import. This means no dumping of poor-quality goods and no “hiding” behind false origins (e.g. a product built in one place but trans-shipped through another).

All in all, IEC International Standards and its CA schemes offer the global market products and services that help industry do business and reassure governments about the quality of imports and exports. But in the final count, the IEC’s focus is on the consumer. As the last link in the chain, the consumer is the key figure because, as end purchaser, the consumer remains the final arbiter when it comes to products and services. Those that past the test of quality and that provide consumers with what they want remain in the market. Those that don’t will ultimately disappear.
 

IEC General Secretary Aharon Amit
 

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2004-05-27

New CB Bulletins available electronically

 

CB Bulletin No 107A, May 2004
Main Subject covered: Adherence to IEC Standards. Product Categories: MEAS, MED, OFF, TRON, INST, PROT, SAFE, CABL, CAP, CONT, POW, BATT & MISC

This publication is available for sale at the IEC Webstore

 

CB Bulletin No 107B, May 2004
Main Subject covered: Adherence to IEC Standards. Product Categories: HOUS, LITE, PV & TOOL

This publication is available for sale at the IEC Webstore
 

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2004-05-03

CERTIFICATION CHANGES IN POLAND

 

Starting from 2004-05-01 the mandatory certification for B mark in Poland is abolished.

Hitherto used obligatory Polish safety mark B in triangle becomes a voluntary safety mark in the same shape, similar to the other voluntary national marks.
 

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2004-04-02

Conference "Development and Realization National strategy for Quality improvement"

 

From left to right: 
Mr. Amir Nurkovic, Minister of Internal economic affairs of Serbia and Montenegro, Mr. Pierre de Ruvo, Executive Secretary of IECEE
& Mr. Aleksandar Stamenkovic, General Manager KVALITET.

For more pictures, please click here

Serbia & Montenegro government minister declares full support for CB Scheme
Amir Nurkovic, Minister of Internal Economic Affairs for Serbia and Montenegro, declared his country's full support for participation in the IECEE CB Scheme as he chaired the opening ceremony of a two-day conference in the city of Nis. The conference, which took place on 25 and 26 March 2004, was hosted by KVALITET, the Serbian Member NCB/CBTL of the IECEE, whose General Manager is Aleksandar Stamenkovic. During the conference, IECEE Executive Secretary Pierre de Ruvo gave a lecture entitled "The Role of the CB Scheme in the Global Market" to an audience of hundred people from industry, Government, Academia, Certification Bodies and Testing Laboratories. The Scheme is widely considered by industry to be the benchmark for third-party worldwide certification for electrotechnical products and components.

 

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2004-03-12

Merger of ASTA and BEAB

 

Effective January 1st 2004, the NCBs ASTA and BEAB have merged to form one NCB ASTA BEAB Certification Services. 

 

For the new contact information, please click here
 

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2004-03-11

IECEE Secretary Nomination

 

NOMINATIONS RECEIVED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE 
IECEE SECRETARY

PHOTO, NAME & ORGANIZATION

NOMINATED BY

NOMINATION SUPPORTED BY THE MEMBER BODY COUNTRIES

Mr. Pierre de Ruvo, IECEE

IECEE Officers

Brazil

Slovenia

Argentina

China

France

Hungary

South Africa

Japan

Singapore

Portugal

Czech Republic

Greece

Serbia and Montenegro

Germany

Slovakia

United Kingdom

Norway

Finland

Denmark

Israel

Turkey

Italy

USA

Canada

Russia

Romania

Mexico

New Zealand

Austria

Ukraine

Korea

Australia

Sweden

Poland

Switzerland

Netherlands

Belarus

Malaysia

Dear Sir/Madam,

APPOINTMENT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE CERTIFICATION MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE IECEE(CMC) 

As part of the IECEE Basic Rules (IECEE 01) The Secretary of the IECEE is appointed for a period of five years by the CAB, on nomination by the CMC. He is eligible for re-appointment without restriction.

In October 1999, in Kyoto, the CAB appointed Mr. Pierre de RUVO as Secretary of the IECEE for the period from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2004 (see CAB Decision 15/1999) on a unanimous nomination by the IECEE-CMC during the meeting held in Singapore, June 1999.

Therefore, in Kyoto on 25th June 2004, the Certification Management Committee will have to proceed with the nomination of the Secretary of the IECEE for the period from 1st January 2005 to 31st December 2009

In this regard, it is recalled that the present Secretary will be terminating his first term and that he is eligible for immediate re-appointment without restriction.

Pierre de RUVO has declared his willingness to continue to serve the IECEE Community and to stand for re-appointment for another 5 year term.

Of course, Member Bodies of the IECEE may nominate any other person of their choice.

Proposals may be sent to the IECEE Secretary, Pierre de RUVO, by E-mail, to pro@iec.ch

At the latest by April 22, 2004

Mr. Gösta FREDRIKSSON
Chairman IECEE

Mr. Jun XIE
Vice-Chairman IECEE

Mr. Fritz BEGLINGER
Treasurer IECEE

 

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2004-01-19

Change of name of CBTL SGS KES

 

SGS KES
C-3405, Dongil Techno Town, Kwanyang Dong, Dongan-Ku, Anyang-City, Kyonggi-do, 
Korea 431-060
Tel: +82 31 424 9600
Fax: +82 31 424 9688
E-mail: steve_park@sgs.com

has changed its name and address to:

SGS Testing Korea Co., Ltd.
18-34, Sanbon-dong, Gunpo-si, Kyongki-do,
Korea 435-041
Tel: +82-(0)31-428-5720
Fax: +82-(0)31-427-2370
e-mail: steve_park@sgs.com

 

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2004-01-13

New IECEE Chairman's hopes for the CB Scheme

My hopes for the CB scheme

I have had the privilege of working with testing and conformity assessment for forty years now, and the development that has taken place over these years has been quite amazing; from small, local and often isolated markets to regional markets, and now increasingly towards a global market. 

The CB Scheme is a successful example of the solutions that have been created to make global trade easier by using one test as the basis for market entry in several countries. Although most countries agree about the importance of joint standards as a way of creating trade without borders, we still have some way to go before this becomes reality.

We need to have a scheme with high credibility, being flexible and market oriented. It is easy to say, but the challenge is to use various elements consistently to keep the trust among the acceptance interests, such as certification bodies, authorities, buyers and sellers, whether the testing is done in a third party laboratory assessed by the scheme or at the manufacturer’s premises through the certification body.

I am looking forward to ensure that IECEE continue to develop the scheme to reduce obstacles often experienced by our customers in approaching the global market place. The success of the IECEE is truly evident by the exponential growth in CB certificates issued over the years and the number of participating countries. More manufacturers are selling products globally because of the dedication of the IECEE and its worldwide members. At the moment, 43 countries are part of the CB scheme for one or more product safety standards and in 2003, a total of 31'000 CB certificates were issued.

We have several important working groups that are evaluating expansion development of the scheme as well as simplifications. We have the full certification scheme that also will include some factory inspection elements and we also have started promising activities with ILAC to co-operate in assessments to utilize the competence and capabilities of both the CB scheme and the national accreditation scheme.

I am excited to be in a position to work on developing the CB Scheme further and to be able to promote important issues that will make life easier for manufacturers and retailers by speeding up the process of accessing the world’s markets.

If you have any ideas on how we can continue to develop the CB scheme to better meet your needs, I will be happy to hear from you.

Gösta Fredriksson
IECEE Chairman       
 

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2004-01-06

Cost related to Peer Assessment Services
 

Operational Procedure OP-AAG 005 Ed. 1.0 "COST RELATED TO PEER ASSESSMENT SERVICES" provides assessors with useful information and guidelines on costs to be invoiced when perform IECEE assessments as well as the form to be used when sending estimate (expenses) to the assessed organization.

Assessors shall carefully read this document and use the relevant form prior to carrying out the assessments.

IECEE Members can access this document by clicking here.
 

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