ILAC News 38

Developing stronger ties between IECCAB, ILAC and IAFCompanies the world over, largeIf the reassessment of a specific CBand small, are pooling resources,(Certification Body) or TL (Testingstreamlining efforts, stepping up their Laboratory) coincides with the relevant ILACattempts to be more efficient andor IAF plan, then the CA System will providecompetitive. However, saving time and costs a list of Technical Experts to choose from.and striving to offer the best products or ILAC or IAF will appoint the reassessmentservices is not just an industry prerogative. team, made up of a Lead Assessor comingNations are joining regional entities that from their ranks and a group of CA Systemare better equipped to defend their interests; technical experts. Once the reassessmentnational, regional and internationalhas been completed, the CA System willorganizations are signing agreements that administer the reassessment report as one ofgive them more weight in the global market. its own.Based on this rationale, the IEC has over theyears finalized numerous agreements andworked in tandem with other internationalor regional electrotechnical standardizationor CA (Conformity Assessment) bodies. TheIEC CAB (Conformity Assessment Board) inparticular has a long history of cooperationwith ILAC (International LaboratoryAccreditation Cooperation) and the IAF(International Accreditation Forum).This common model of cooperation ensuresthat IEC CA Systems-registered assessorsapply IEC International Standards in auniform and consistent way, maintainingconfidence in the rigour of the technicalassessment.New Steering CommitteeCAB, ILAC and IAF proposed theestablishment of a tripartite SteeringCommittee to deal with policy andstrategy issues. Ad hoc task forces will beappointed to deal with specific technical oradministrative issues and will report to theSteering Committee.The following elements will be developedfurther by the Committee:• Common understanding of therequirements laid down in ISO/IEC 17025,General requirements for the competenceof testing and calibration laboratories, andISO/IEC Guide 65 , General requirementsfor bodies operating product certificationsystems, applicable to the electrotechnicalsector (ISO stands for the InternationalOrganization for Standardization.)• Reassessments of CBs and TLs using CASystems expertise“…a new model ofassessment collaboration– the common pool model– was elaborated andagreed upon…”The working relationship between the CABand ILAC began in 2003 and was madeofficial two years later with the signing ofa MoU (memorandum of understanding)that aimed to improve efficiency and reduceassessment costs for testing laboratories.Discussions between the CAB and the IAFwere initiated in 2005 and formalizedin early 2008. CAB/ILAC and CAB/IAFTechnical Panels were established, meetingonce a year to deal with common technicaland policy issues.Reassessment taken one stepfurtherThe three organizations met on 14 October2009 in Vancouver, Canada, to take thepartnership to a new level. There, a newmodel of assessment collaboration – thecommon pool model – was elaborated andagreed upon, whereby the IEC CA Systemswill provide ILAC and IAF with theirreassessment plans for 2010.IECEE Executive Secretary Pierre de Ruvo wasappointed Chairman of the Steering Committee• Use of harmonized assessment forms• Use of harmonized assessmentpreparation guidelinesFrom left, CAB Secretary Gabriel Barta, IEC Vice-President and CAB ChairmanHiromichi Fujisawa, and IEC President Jacques RégisThe appointment of IECEE ExecutiveSecretary Pierre de Ruvo as Chairman ofthe Steering Committee was also agreed,with his three-year term of office startingon 1 January 2010. IECEE is the IEC Systemof Conformity Assessment Schemes forElectrotechnical Equipment and Components.ILAC and IAF will provide the Committee’s“Meeting Secretary”.4 Issue 38 | October 2010