On July 5, 2024, the State Administration for Market Regulation of China officially released the Provisions on the Management of Participation in the Activities of the International Electrotechnical Commission’s Conformity Assessment System (hereinafter referred to as the Provisions). The Provisions are enforced upon the date of its release (i.e. July 5, 2024) annulling the relevant articles involved with IEC conformity assessment system management in Certification and Accreditation International Peer Reviewers Recommendation and Post Management Measures, Regulations on the Management of Participation in the Activities of International Organizations for Certification and Accreditation (Trial), Certification and Accreditation International and Regional Organizations Post Management Provisions (Trial).
Background:
The IEC conformity assessment system, as an international multilateral mutual recognition mechanism, is the world’s largest mutual recognition system of conformity assessment, with 54 member countries participating and more than one million certificates issued. The National Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA), as the Chinese national member body of the IEC Conformity Assessment System, takes charge of the administration of participation in the activities of the IEC conformity assessment system in general. China currently has 77 conformity assessment bodies participating in the IEC conformity assessment system. Additionally, there are 86,700 IEC conformity assessment system certificates issued for Chinese enterprises, with the number of institutions and certificates accounting for 10% of the world.
Key takeaways of the Provisions:
Establishment of the sub-technical committee of the IEC national committee of China (hereinafter referred to as the Sub-technical committee). According to the Provisions, China will establish the sub-technical committee functioning as the information-delivery agent between the competent governmental authorities (i.e. CNCA) and the domestic stakeholders (including CA bodies, enterprises, research institutes, and industrial associations). Their mandates will mainly involve three aspects (detailed in Chapter 6 of the Provisions):
- Voting: the competent governmental authority shall solicitthe opinions of relevant parties in China through the Sub-committee of Conformity Assessment;
- Proposals: The competent governmental authority encourages all parties to actively propose new projects and rules to the IEC conformity assessment system. The Sub-technical committee shall organize the demonstration of the proposal and submit it to the competent governmental authority;
- Researching: The differences in national standards shall be studied by the Sub-technical committee and submitted to the competent governmental authority.
Further and complete description of their work is expected in their forthcoming official announcement, together with the secretariat setting.
Procedures for joining the IEC conformity assessment system. For those interested in joining the IEC conformity assessment system, they have to apply to CNCA who will then organize the assessment. Only those eligible organizations and personnel that pass the assessment can have the reference by CNCA and join the IEC conformity assessment system.
Rights and obligations of conformity assessment bodies.
- Conduct IEC conformity assessment business as per relevant national laws and regulations, IEC conformity assessment system rules and the requirements of the Provisions.
- Accept the CNCA’s administration, and participate in the Sub-technical
- Regularly submit to CNCA the issuance of certificates or reports, evaluation acceptance and other information.
- Conscientiously safeguard national interests and image.
- Actively cultivate and support experts to participate in the IEC conformity assessment working group.
The Provisions require compliance with IEC conformity assessment rules, which reflects a part of China’s efforts in terms of convergence with international policies. Also, for those foreign conformity assessment bodies with legal status in China, it is recommended to stay tuned to the establishment of the Sub-technical committee and its terms of reference, as participating in its activities required by Provisions.
