INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION WORLDWIDE SYSTEM FOR CONFORMITY TESTING AND CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND COMPONENTS IECEE IEC-ILAC-IAF Tripartite MoU CB-FCS Scheme and Market Control By Pierre de Ruvo IECEE Executive Secretary 2011-05-06 Copyright IEC, Geneva, Switzerland
IEC-ILAC-IAF Tripartite agreement The International Electrotechnical Commission is the world's leading organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies. The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation is the international cooperation of laboratory and inspection accreditation bodies The International Accreditation Forum is the world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies and others interested in management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programmes of conformity assessment.
IEC-ILAC-IAF Tripartite agreement Bilateral Memorandums of Understanding between ILAC and IEC and between IAF and IEC were signed respectively on February 2005 and October 2008. The three Organizations have been cooperating on a number of technical and administrative issues to maximize the efficiencies of the parties when dealing with common testing laboratories and certification body clients. This cooperation has included: the establishment of a Joint ILAC and IAF / IEC Technical Panels to explore possibilities for recognition of the respective organization s assessments and related activities, plans for conduct of a pilot programme of joint assessments, common understanding of e.g. ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC Guide 65, use of common assessment documentation, etc..
IEC-ILAC-IAF Memorandum of Understanding As a result of the confidence established between ILAC and IAF Members and the IEC C.A. Systems (essentially the IECEE), the Parties have agreed to formalise their future cooperation by signing a tripartite MoU with common target and goals in order to increase the efficiency of the discussions, facilitate the future conduct of relevant testing laboratories and certification bodies assessments, reduce duplication of activities and maximize the harmony in technical evaluations conducted by ILAC, IAF and the IEC C.A. Systems.
MoU Terms of Reference Maintaining a high level Steering Committee to facilitate coordinated interpretation and application of standards and guidance documents for the purpose of assessment of product and management system certification bodies and testing laboratories operating in the IEC Conformity Assessment Systems, including development and sharing of common understanding of the technical issues and duly harmonizing the respective assessment procedures. Wherever possible and reasonable, and with the agreement of the concerned certification bodies and testing laboratories, conducting common unified reassessments. Developing joint training and workshops for the best accomplishment of on site unified re-assessments. Where practicable, conducting joint work on development of harmonised procedures and policies.
IEC C.A. System Secretariat Unified Reassessment model Example for Testing Laboratory ILAC Member AB Testing Laboratory accredited by COFRAC and accepted by the IECEE Data Base of a Common Pool of Registered Technical Assessors Short list of pre-selected Technical Assessor(s) Selection and appointment of: + ON-SITE Technical Assessor Lead Assessor COMMON REPORT COMMON REPORT
IEC C.A. System Secretariat Unified Reassessment model Example for Certification Body IAF Member AB Certification Body accredited by NATA and registered by the IECEE System Data Base of a Common Pool of Registered Technical Assessors Short list of pre-selected Technical Assessor(s) Selection and appointment of: + Australia ON-SITE Technical Assessor Lead Assessor COMMON REPORT COMMON REPORT
IECEE CB-FCS Scheme in action Certification Body A issuing Analyzing Conformity Assessment Type test Certificate program Conformity Assessment National differences Report Factory (if (if Factory applicable) Inspection Audit Report National differences (if applicable) Test Report National differences (if applicable) Laboratory Testing Application documents APPLICANT Conformity Assessment Factory Certificate Audit Report Conformity Assessment Report Factory Audit Report National differences (if applicable) Auditing Samples Factory Regulators 15 working days Certification Body B1 recognizing Certification Body B2 Certification Body B3 Market Retailers/Vendors Buyers
Market surveillance Samples Production line Certification Body A issuing Inspector Samples Stock Test Report Laboratory Testing Samples Retailers
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION WORLDWIDE SYSTEM FOR CONFORMITY TESTING AND CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND COMPONENTS IECEE: taking Conformity Assessment further www.iecee.org Copyright IEC, Geneva, Switzerland