New ISO/IEC TR 17026 – Certification of Tangible Goods

ISO/IEC TR 17026 has just been released.  Titled “Conformity assessment – Example of a certification scheme for tangible products,” it supports the type 5 scheme of ISO/IEC 17067 (“Conformity assessment – Fundamentals of product certification and guidelines for product certification schemes.”)  You can get your copy now from Document Center Inc.  It’s available in paper format, for pdf download and as part of our Standards Online multiuser subscription.

What exactly is product certification?  It’s the process of having a specific product and it’s production verified to a specific standard by a third party organization.  It’s used by regulators, purchasers, industry, and others to confirm that a particular product meets requirements like safety, interoperability, performance and sustainability.  And it may be a requirement for offering a product for sale in specific jurisdictions.

What is a product certification scheme?  It is the methodology by which an organization selects the activities and data that prove adherence to the requirements of the standard to which they’ll certify.  There are a variety of product certification schemes.  You’ll use ISO/IEC 17067 to help you decide which is right for your product and situation.

What is Scheme Type 5?  Type 5 allows for conformance surveillance using either samples of the product at the point of production or from the market.  These samples are subjected to the tests, etc., that will confirm that the products meet the requirements.  It may also include periodic assessment of the production process and management system as well.

Is the use of the ISO/IEC TR 17026 limited to just Scheme Type 5?  No.  It is an informative document, with no requirements stated.  You can use it as a helpful guide even if your certification scheme is different from type 5.  However, the example given is type 5.

Why use ISO/IEC TR 17026?  You’re a manufacturer of a certified product, a certification body, or someone who uses or regulates a certified product.  You want to learn more about how product certification schemes are developed and used in practice.  And you want to better understand the functions, activities and elements that need to be considered.

Here’s what you’ll review in this new Technical Report.  First the usual scope, referenced documents and terms and definitions sections are included.  Then you’ll get a general description of the example (type 5) scheme.   Next the document covers the sequence of a certification cycle and the activities that this entails.

Next the publication covers the publicity that can be generated by the issuance of the certification, changes that may affect certification,  confidentiality, product liability, and complaints and appeals.  A series of Annexes and a bibliography complete the report.  Here’s what’s in the various Annexes:

  • Annex A is an example of the information provided with the application for product certification
  • Annex B is an example of information on the production process and the management system
  • Annex C is an example of what information should be included in your certificate of conformity
  • Annex D is an example of a licensing agreement for the use of the certificate and the mark of conformity (like the CE Mark).
  • Annex E is an example of the information included in a license for the use of the certificate or mark
  • Annex F is an example of the contents of a certification agreement

If you’re getting or giving a product certification, these examples can be invaluable.

Now to get your copy.  You can order online at the Document Center webstore at www.document-center.com.  Or contact our staff by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We’ll be able to help you get the standards you need and keep them current over time.  Make us your Standards Experts!

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Claudia Bach

Claudia Bach is the President of Document Center Inc. and a world-wide recognized expert on Standards and Standards Distribution. You can connect with her on Google+

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