CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT BOARD (CAB) Meeting 22, Paris,

Transcription

1 For IEC use only CAB/697/INF INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT BOARD (CAB) Meeting 22, Paris, SUBJECT Agenda Item 6.1 CAB Policy: Approved CAB strategy and Implementation Plan 2007 BACKGROUND The CAB strategy and Implementation Plan 2007 was developed by CAB Working Group 10, amended by the CAB at its meeting in Sydney and subsequently approved by the CAB, by correspondence on Taking into account the comments made during the voting process some minor editorial amendments have been made to the document submitted for voting and the Progress to date column has been updated. This document will be included in the listing of CAB Policy Documents. ACTION The CAB Strategy and Implementation Plan will be submitted to the Council Board for endorsement. Further action on Plan implementation will be considered at the CAB Meeting in Paris. gb/cab/doc/697e.doc 1 / 11

2 CAB STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2007 Masterplan Reference CAB strategy items CAB implementation Progress to date A MARKET RELEVANCE A 0. Market relevance Identify new areas where a demonstrated demand for CA exists within the existing Schemes: new services for existing customers, new product categories new customers which may imply extending the scopes. CAB to encourage the Schemes to: (a) implement regular reviews (which may include customer and end-user surveys) to maintain currency & relevance; (b) extend range of services; (c) develop new services; (d) apply business & technical tests to services already offered or contemplated. CAB to monitor Scheme initiatives in (a) to (d), approve as necessary, and guarantee observance of scopes and non-duplication. The CAB should also seek other sources (e.g. sectoral or regional) of advice on existing and potential IEC CA activity. 2 / 11 CAB/697/INF

3 Articulate (develop), communicate and implement IEC CA policy for all cases which lie outside the existing IEC CA Schemes (among other reasons in order to protect the IEC s good name). Respond to and satisfy market needs for IEC publications and services in connection with conformity assessment using IEC standards, in areas where no IEC Scheme exists. This may include revisiting the approval and/or appeals process for ISO/IEC standards published in ISO/CASCO, and approving rather than just advising on standards published in the IEC. Assess the market needs which have been communicated to the CAB; see policy (once it s written) for how to satisfy them. Enhance the exchange of views with ICSCA and other industry stakeholders. 3 / 11 CAB/697/INF

4 A 1. In promoting maximum adoption and use of IEC standards and services world wide, the IEC management will make every effort to ensure that member National Commmittees (NCs) represent all relevant national interests in both the private and the public sectors. These include manufacturers and utilities, suppliers, distributors, users and consumers, researchers, academics, standards development organizations (SDOs) and regulators. Apply the criterion of representing all relevant interests to CAB membership & Scheme MCs membership. Encourage all NCs: to establish conformity assessment and/or Scheme mirror committees to achieve a common view; to include all interested parties in their national delegations as far as possible. (Note: national representation at Scheme level may differ from NC.) Scheme Basic Rules should encourage at least one National Delegate to the MC to be a representative of industry or other stakeholders. Each Scheme to propose methods and publicity for tech. committee/wg industry recruitment. Harmonize Basic Rules; make proposals to each Scheme for changes to Rules of Procedure. Letter from General Secretary to NC Presidents ( ) concerning representation of all relevant national interests in NC delegations to Scheme management committees. CAB WG 11, Scheme Issues is considering appropriate amendments to Scheme Basic Rules A 3. The IEC will emphasize the democratic and transparent nature of its organization and operations, which offers equal opportunity to all members to benefit in line with their contributions to the IEC s technical activity. Enhance transparency in the operation of the Schemes so that existing & potential users will have full access to information. Make the operation of the Schemes consistent, so the members can decide & benefit optimally. CAB WG 11 on Scheme issues to be empowered to identify desirable changes in individual Scheme policies and practices and make recommendations for CAB and Scheme consideration. CAB WG 11 on Scheme issues already exists with coverage of a limited range of issues. 4 / 11 CAB/697/INF

5 A 6. The IEC will strive to increase its acceptance as a global platform for a full range of technical publications from limited-consensus documents to full-consensus International Standards, as well as for conformity assessment schemes and standards-related services. Coverage will include emerging, converging and fast-moving as well as traditional and mature technologies, systems and horizontal work for the public (regulated) and private sectors. (i) Enable schemes to offer services in response to emerging & fast-moving technologies and needs. (ii) Develop a plan to promote global acceptance of IEC Schemes. (iii) Consider active promotion of IEC standards and limited-consensus publications for use in CA. a) Develop rules & criteria for new services to expedite and improve the Schemes response. b) IECQ to harmonize its basic rules with those of the other Schemes. c) Encourage Schemes to include ITAs and PASs in scope, as needed. d) The future offering of publications other than standards may have an impact on IECQ, which to date generates many of its own component specifications. It may be useful to consider endorsing IECQ specifications as IEC normative documents. IEC Guide 102 being revised as an IECQ document. TC 111 is working to develop relevant standards for hazardous substances. 5 / 11 CAB/697/INF

6 B IEC STANDARDIZATION AS A STRATEGIC TOOL B 1. The IEC will enhance its promotion, marketing and communications efforts with decision makers in industry, governments, regulators and intergovernmental organizations on the strategic benefits of IEC products and services, and of participating in their development and use. Among regulators and developing countries, particular emphasis will be given to the importance of adopting and referring to IEC standards and of using IEC s conformity assessment schemes. (i) Further develop and promote, on the basis of peer assessment, the concept of one IEC standard, one test performed anywhere, and one conformity assessment result accepted everywhere and anywhere. (ii) Promote the world-wide acceptance by IEC Member and non-iec Member countries through interaction with WTO and intergovernmental bodies, based on the [CAB WG 8] previously reached conclusions on promotion and publicity. (iii) Develop an approach to communicating with regulators around the world, with emphasis on regions where regulatory acceptance is an issue. Develop means to promote the benefits of both standards and conformity assessment by demonstrating the link between the two. Point out the benefits of avoiding/limiting national differences. CAB to consult with the Schemes on best approach. Schemes to identify those countries and regions where regulatory acceptance is an issue. 6 / 11 CAB/697/INF

7 B 2. In addition, the IEC will extend its co-operation with and communication efforts in academic circles as well as in industry to develop and provide educational materials for technical personnel and managers. These programmes will focus on the development, use and strategic value to business of IEC International Standards, conformity assessment schemes and other services. B 3. The IEC will provide leadership in assessing emerging and converging technologies and identifying new areas for standards development. Based on the [CAB WG 8] promotion and publicity conclusions, develop approaches to: communicating with stakeholders around the world. educational institutions to make their teaching more relevant to standards and CA as used in the real world. As a result of input from relevant contacts, CAB and the Schemes may recommend new standards development emerging from industry demand for CA. Note: The goal is to establish IEC standards for the emerging technologies and not to encourage a Scheme to undertake standardization work. Write one or more CA educational packages (slides, notes,...), using in particular the Schemes knowledge and experience. CAB to regularly review potential areas where CA experience has identified a need for standards. Strengthen the link between standardization and CA, in order to make the standardization field aware at an early stage of standardization needs from the CA point of view. Some standard presentations already exist. IECQ already provides services to deal with new and emerging technologies by way of IECQ specifications, prior to development of standards. IECEE s WG 2 Business Development recommends new programmes and identifies the need for new standards. 7 / 11 CAB/697/INF

8 C GLOBAL REACH C 0. Global reach Develop the Schemes to meet the needs of the global marketplace and be compatible with other national, regional and international schemes while offering more advantages. C 2. In order to achieve its Mission of facilitating international trade, the IEC will implement its global relevance policy to maximize worldwide acceptance and adoption of globally harmonized IEC standards that meet the needs of all major markets. C 3. In order to maximize global harmonization of standards and to support IEC confomity assessment schemes, the IEC will develop and/or enhance relationships with other relevant SDOs and with international conformity assessment bodies. Develop a plan to achieve global acceptance of the Schemes, i.e. acceptance by non-iec members & non-scheme members. The CAB and the Schemes: to analyze and report on other existing schemes and their services; to do gap analysis; to recommend relevant actions. Identify areas where increased cooperation with ILAC, IAF and other relevant CA providers will provide benefits in improving global reach. CAB and the Schemes to carry out a study of global acceptance of IEC Schemes, incl. acceptance beyond the present member economies (given costbenefit analysis is favourable). Enhance the exchange of views with ILAC, IAF, regional bodies (e.g. PASC,...),... Existing Mou with ILAC; Joint Technical Panels established with both ILAC and IAF; Proposal for MoU with IAF. 8 / 11 CAB/697/INF

9 D INNOVATE AND ADD VALUE D 2. In particular, the IEC will co-operate with National Committees to provide leadership in the development and provision of innovative and effective IT tools needed by the entire standardization community. D 3. In seeking to add value for the market while safeguarding revenue streams for the future, the IEC in conjunction with National Committees will research and evaluate a number of new information services. The aim will be to facilitate access by the market to electrotechnical standards-related information from multiple sources, especially National Committees, through a single integrated user interface. Of interest to Schemes, e.g. on-line certificate systems. Ensure that IEC s IT facilities meet the needs of the Schemes and the industries they serve, and the general needs of the standards and CA community. Investigate (as relevant) providing CA-related information in conjunction with the standards-related information services. CAB / Schemes to assess IT needs for conformity assessment. CAB to act in a coordination role. CAB and the Schemes to work together (WG?) to consider new information services, including identifying the nature, source and availability of relevant CA information. Already partly implemented by the information available on the home pages, the interactive databases and the on-line certificate systems of the Schemes. C.O. IT services have developed excellent tools, which now need ongoing support. E SUSTAIN AND IMPROVE E 1. The IEC will continue its prudent financial management, maintaining the balance of revenues from sales and royalties between the National Committees and Central Office to safeguard the financial stability of the membership while ensuring the resources needed for central operations and investments. CAB to continue to monitor the financial policies and practices of the Schemes. Schemes to be encouraged to develop strategic / business plans. Establish financial health criteria for IEC Schemes. Schemes required to continue to report regularly to CAB on financial results and budgets (for approval) and financial policies / business plans. In support of prudent financial management, the CAB acknowledges the Schemes report concerning cost minimization while maintaining a professional and timely service (CAB/483/INF). IECQ business plans were introduced in / 11 CAB/697/INF

10 E 2. In the interest of efficiency, the IEC will further enhance co-operation with ISO and ITU on policy, procedures and processes. It will also identify and pursue new areas for cooperation with ISO (e.g. subcontracting services or tasks between IEC and ISO secretariats) that would increase the secretariats efficiency and benefit the organizations communities as a whole while respecting the integrity of each organization and maintaining an efficient, independent IEC operation to best serve IEC markets. CAB to continue to cooperate fully with ISO/CASCO in development of CA related standards and guides. Review responsibilities for approval of ISO/IEC standards on CA (refer also to A.0, CAB Implementation). CAB to conduct ongoing monitoring of ISO/CASCO work. CAB Officers to participate actively in CASCO CPC and Plenary. CAB to ensure adequate IEC representation on all relevant CASCO WGs and other committees. CAB to monitor any effects of CASCO work on Scheme activity. CAB to take steps to increase NC interest in participation in and voting on CASCO work. Cooperation with ISO/CASCO is functioning well. CAB Officers actively participate in CASCO CPC and Plenary. IEC currently represented on all relevant CASCO WGs. CAB nomination of Mr Don Mader for consideration as a co-convenor of CASCO WG / 11 CAB/697/INF

11 E 7. The IEC will study means by which it may continue to optimize the structure, governance, management and efficient operation of its conformity assessment schemes to meet market needs, to secure the schemes resources and to support the standardization work on which they are based. See also A 3. In conjunction with the Schemes review existing governance and management structures and identify appropriate polices (management, financial) to ensure effectiveness and future stability, consistent with industry s expectations. The Schemes continue to be responsible for their financial management and day-to-day operations. These are expected to be managed in an effective manner, which implies among other things that national delegations represent the national view reflecting all stakeholders (see A 1). Schemes to reduce dependence on surcharges and other unreliable sources of income. See also A 3. CAB WG 11 to be empowered to explore Scheme governance and management issues, financial policies etc. (see A 3, E 1) and make recommendations for CAB and Scheme consideration. CAB WG 11 already exists with coverage of a limited range of issues. 11 / 11 CAB/697/INF