CAB/697/INF

For IEC use only

2007-09-04
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT BOARD (CAB)

Meeting 22, Paris, 2007-10-24

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 2007-05-31 and subsequently approved by the
CAB, by correspondence on 2007-08-31. 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

CAB STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2007

Masterplan Reference

CAB strategy items

CAB implementation

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.

Progress to date

A MARKET RELEVANCE
A 0.

Market relevance

2 / 11

CAB/697/INF

Masterplan Reference

CAB strategy items

CAB implementation

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 IECs
good name).

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.

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.

Assess the market needs

which have been communicated to the CAB; see
policy (once its written) for
how to satisfy them.

3 / 11

Progress to date

Enhance the exchange of

views with ICSCA and
other industry stakeholders.

CAB/697/INF

A 1.

A 3.

Masterplan Reference

CAB strategy items

CAB implementation

Progress to date

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.

Letter from General Secretary to NC Presidents

(2007-08-21) concerning
representation of all relevant national interests in
NC delegations to Scheme
management committees.

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 IECs 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.

4 / 11

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.

CAB WG 11, Scheme Issues is considering appropriate amendments to

Scheme Basic Rules

CAB WG 11 on Scheme
issues already exists with
coverage of a limited range
of issues.

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/697/INF

A 6.

Masterplan Reference

CAB strategy items

CAB implementation

Progress to date

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.

5 / 11

TC 111 is working to develop relevant standards

for hazardous substances.

CAB/697/INF

Masterplan Reference

CAB strategy items

CAB implementation

Progress to date

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 IECs 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.

6 / 11

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.

CAB/697/INF

Masterplan Reference

CAB strategy items

CAB implementation

Progress to date

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.

Write one or more CA educational packages (slides,

notes, ...), using in particular the Schemes knowledge and experience.

Some standard presentations already exist.

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.

CAB to regularly review

potential areas where CA
experience has identified a
need for standards.

IECQ already provides

services to deal with new
and emerging technologies
by way of IECQ specifications, prior to development
of standards.

Note: The goal is to establish IEC standards for the

emerging technologies and
not to encourage a Scheme
to undertake standardization work.

7 / 11

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.

IECEEs WG 2 Business
Development recommends
new programmes and identifies the need for new standards.

CAB/697/INF

Masterplan Reference

CAB strategy items

CAB implementation

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).

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.

Develop a plan to achieve

global acceptance of the
Schemes, i.e. acceptance
by non-IEC members &
non-Scheme members.

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.

Enhance the exchange of

views with ILAC, IAF, regional bodies (e.g.
PASC, ...), ...

8 / 11

Progress to date

Existing Mou with ILAC;

Joint Technical Panels
established with both ILAC
and IAF; Proposal for MoU
with IAF.

CAB/697/INF

Masterplan Reference

CAB strategy items

CAB implementation

Progress to date

Of interest to Schemes,
e.g. on-line certificate systems.

CAB / Schemes to assess

IT needs for conformity
assessment. CAB to act in
a coordination role.

Already partly implemented

by the information available
on the home pages, the
interactive databases and
the on-line certificate systems of the Schemes.

CAB and the Schemes to

work together (WG?) to
consider new information
services, including identifying the nature, source and
availability of relevant CA
information.

C.O. IT services have developed excellent tools,

which now need ongoing
support.

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 2004.

D INNOVATE AND ADD VALUE

D 2.

D 3.

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.

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.

Ensure that IECs 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.

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.

9 / 11

CAB/697/INF

E 2.

Masterplan Reference

CAB strategy items

CAB implementation

Progress to date

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.

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 29

Review responsibilities for

approval of ISO/IEC standards on CA (refer also to
A.0, CAB Implementation).

10 / 11

CAB/697/INF

Masterplan Reference
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.

CAB strategy items

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 industrys expectations.

CAB implementation

Progress to date

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).

CAB WG 11 already exists

with coverage of a limited
range of issues.

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.

11 / 11

CAB/697/INF