Reaching further: IEC Global Relevance Training

2003-03-06

Latest from the Standardization Management Board (SMB) of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on the subject of IEC Global Relevance.

At its February 12-13 meeting in Geneva, the Standardization Management Board (SMB) of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) discussed, among other things, the progress of the IEC Global Relevance implementation plan. Shortly after receiving approval of the plan from the IEC Council Board, IEC Central Office staff began preparing a 'global relevance' training kit and has scheduled an April 15 training seminar. It was recommended by the SMB that the invitation to attend this seminar be extended to all National Committees (NC).

The recommendation was applauded by Tony Flood, President of the Canadian National Committee of the IEC (CNC/IEC) and Chairman of the Global Relevance Task Force (GRTF). "If we are working towards making IEC standards more widely accepted around the world it is essential - not to mention logical - that we be as inclusive as possible. In promoting 'global relevance', it's important that we adopt and demonstrate a far-reaching approach."

The challenge of global relevance is to create international electrotechnical standards that recognize essential differences in regulations, climate and technical infrastructure, without compromising World Trade Organization (WTO) requirements or the ultimate goal of "one standard - one test - recognized everywhere". The GRTF's implementation plan, approved by Council Board at their October 30, 2002 meeting in Beijing, China, was an important first step. The global relevance training program is expected to positively contribute to implementation of the plan and to enhance the perceived value of electrotechnical standardization on a global scale.

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Backgrounder: Seeking market relevance: survival on a global scale

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