Conformity Assessment Information To view documents which are , Adobe Acrobat's Reader is required. This software may be downloaded without charge. The software is identified in order to assist users of this information service. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Conformity assessment includes all activities concerned with determining directly or indirectly that relevant requirements in standards or regulations are fulfilled. Conformity assessment procedures provide a means of ensuring that the products, services, or systems produced or operated have the required characteristics, and that these characteristics are consistent from product to product, service to service, or system to system. Conformity assessment includes: sampling and testing; inspection; certification; management system assessment and registration; accreditation of the competence of those activities and recognition of an accreditation program's capability. A specific conformity assessment process may include one or more of these conformity assessment activities. While each of these activities is a distinct operation, they are closely interrelated. In addition, standards are interwoven into all aspects of these activities and can have a major impact on the outcome of a conformity assessment process. Conformity assessment activities form a vital link between standards (which define necessary characteristics or requirements for products) and the products themselves. Together standards and conformity assessment activities impact almost every aspect of life in the United States. The documents and website links listed below are designed to provide an easy way to access some of the basic information on conformity assessment procedures and issues. In the future, we plan to expand the site to include more information on these topics. NIST Reports on Conformity Assessment Federal Conformity Assessment Guidance NIST Directories of Domestic Certification Bodies NIST Directories of Domestic Laboratory Accreditation Bodies - Directory of Federal Government Laboratory Accreditation/Designation Programs (NIST SP 808)
- Directory of State and Local Government Laboratory Accreditation/Designation Programs (NIST SP 815: 2002 Edition)
- Directory of Professional/Trade Organization Laboratory Accreditation/Designation Programs (NIST SP 831: 1999 Edition)
Mutual Recognition Activities - International - Common Criteria Project is an international initiative by CSE (Canada), SCSSI (France), BSI (Germany), NLNCSA (Netherlands) (CESG (UK), NIST (USA) and NSA (USA) to to develop criteria for evaluation of IT security.
- International Accreditation Forum (IAF) has developed a mutual recognition scheme for accreditors of quality system registrars/certifiers. IAF is expected to expand the system to include accreditors of environmental system registrars and is considering a scheme in the certification area.
- International Automotive Task Force (IATF) is an "ad hoc" group of automotive manufacturers and their respective trade associations, formed to provide improved quality products to automotive customers worldwide. IATF members include the following vehicle manufacturers: BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, General Motors (including Opel Vauxhall), PSA Peugeot-Citroen, Renault SA, Volkswagen and their respective trade associations - AIAG (U.S.), ANFIA (Italy), FIEV (France), SMMT (U.K.) AND VDA (Germany).
- International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
- IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components (IECQ) is a comprehensive, world-wide, third-party approval and certification program that assesses electronic components to quality requirements.
- IEC CB Scheme (also known as the IECEE Scheme) is a world-wide scheme to allow a manufacturer to obtain a test certificate for a defined product from an approved National Certification Body (NCB). The manufacturer can then present this certificate to NCBs in other countries whose certification marks he wants for his products.
- IEC Full Certification Scheme (IEC CB FCS) is based on mutual recognition of the Conformity Assessment Certificates (CACs) issued by its members as the basis for the certification of electrical products at the national and international level.
- IEC Scheme for Certification to Standards for Explosive Atmospheres (IECEx) is designed to facilitate international trade in electrical equipment intended for use in explosive atmospheres (Ex equipment).
- International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) is developing an ILAC Multilateral Recognition Arrangement for evaluation of laboratory accreditation bodies.
- International Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML) is developing a voluntary system for mutual recognition of type approvals and verification of measuring instruments.
- Global Harmonization Task Force (GHTF) is an effort to respond to the growing need for international harmonization in the regulation of medical devices. The five founding members of the GHTF are: Canada, United States, European Union, Japan, and Australia.
Mutual Recognition Activities - Regional - European Union (EU) Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) Information
- A [NIST] Guide to EU Standards and Conformity Assessment, NIST SP 951
- A [NIST] Guide to the EU Low Voltage Directive, NIST GCR 01-812
- A [NIST] Guide to the EU Directive on Electromagnetic Compatibility, NIST GCR 01-813
- A [NIST] Guide to the EU Machinery Directive, NIST GCR 01-814
- A [NIST] Guide to the EU Active Implantable Medical Devices Directive, NIST GCR 01-816
- A [NIST] Guide to the EU In vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Directive, NIST GCR 01-817
- A [NIST] Guide to the EU Safety of Toys Directive, NIST GCR 01-823
- A [NIST] Guide to the EU Directive Concerning Liability for Defective Products (Product Liability Directive), NIST GCR 01-824
- A [NIST] Guide to the EU Directive on General Product Safety, NIST GCR 01-825
- A [NIST] Guide to the EU Directive on Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment, NIST GCR 01-826
- DOC EU CE Marking Site - this site contains information on conformity assessment in Europe, including a list of notified bodies, information on new approach directives, and other information related to CE marking requirements.
- Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) MRA Information
- Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) Mutual Recognition Agreement Information
Information on NIST's National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) Information on NIST's Laboratory Accreditation Program for State Labs and Related Legal Metrology Activities Information on NIST's National Voluntary Conformity Assessment Systems Evaluation (NVCASE) Program Information on NIST's Measurement Related Conformity Assessment Programs Information on the National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA) Information on Quality System Registration and Related Standards and Activities Information on Environmental Management System Registration and Related Standards and Activities Information Related to ISO's New Social Responsibility Activities Certification Information Related to the Use of Fair Labor Practices Information on ISO/IEC 17025 - General Requirements for the Competence of Calibration and Testing Laboratories (formerly ISO/IEC GUIDE 25) NIST Reports on Foreign Conformity Assessment Bodies/Activities Links to Other Sites of Interest
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