[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20513-20514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11288]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 960405101-6101-0]
RIN 0693-XX17
Request To Identify Bodies Interested in European Union (EU)
Conformity Assessment Activities
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.
ACTION: Request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: This is to advise the public that the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking input regarding the
identification of bodies which can perform conformity assessment of
products that will ultimately be entered into commerce in the European
union (EU). This information is requested in support of ongoing
negotiations between the United States and the EU for mutual
recognition of product approvals pursuant to regulatory requirements.
At the present time, we wish to identify and report to the EU those
U.S. organizations that believe that they are qualified and are
interested in certifying products as being in compliance with mandatory
EU product safety requirements, that is, U.S.-based organizations that
desire to be recognized as equivalent to notified or competent body
status under a U.S.-EU mutual recognition agreement (MRA), as specified
in the EU directives covering telecommunications terminal equipment
(TTE) (EEC 89/263), electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) (89/336), low
voltage electrical equipment (LVD) (EEC 73/23), and recreational craft
(EEC 94/25). The areas of present interest are the following: (1)
Product testing and quality assessment; (2) quality system
registration; (3) evaluation of technical construction files (specific
to the EMC directive); and (4) product certification. Copies of the
pertinent EU directives and related lists of reference standards are
available at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 3042, Herbert C.
Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution Avenue, Washington, D.C., or
NIST, building 820, Room 164, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Organizations are invited to inform NIST of their interest in
carrying out any of the activities listed above under specific EU
directives, indicating the scope of their claimed competence and
identifying specific standards, test methods, etc. Organizations should
note current accreditation by a recognized national, regional or
international accreditation body to a recognized or international
standard and, if possible,
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provide information demonstrating that they actively engaged in
conformity assessment procedures related to relevant EU directives.
This may include subcontractor relationships with EU notified or
competent bodies.
Based on responses to this notice, NIST will compile a list of
interested organizations. This list will be provided to European
Commission officials to illustrate the types of organizations that may
be qualified and subsequently considered for U.S. designated conformity
assessment body status. It is emphasized that organizations do not
automatically qualify as designated conformity assessment bodies simply
by responding to this notice. Formal application and processing under
NVCASE or equivalent program will be required before designated status
can be granted. (OMB Control No. 0693-0019).
DATES: Comments on this request must be received by June 6, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted in writing to Dr. Belinda L.
Collins, Director, Office of Standards Services, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, Building 820, room 282, Gaithersburg,
Maryland 20899, by fax at 301-963-2871 or by e-mail to
belinda.collins@nist.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Belinda L. Collins, in writing at NIST, Building 820, room 282,
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, by telephone at 301-975-4000, by fax at
301-963-2871 or by e-mail to belinda.collins@nist.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Government is currently engaged in
negotiations with the EU for the purpose of entering into a Mutual
Recognition Agreement (MRA) regarding the acceptance of each other's
testing and certification programs in regulated product areas. Under
the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-
113), signed March 7, 1996, NIST is designated as the federal agency
with responsibility for coordinating accreditation activities. NIST
also operates the National voluntary Conformity Assessment System
Evaluation (NVCASE) program as a means of providing U.S. domestic
entities with a U.S. Government ``assurance of competency'' to
facilitate the acceptance of test data or product certifications issued
in this country by governments of other countries on the same basis as
test data or product certification issued in the other country.
This notice is a solicitation of interest on the part of U.S.
conformity assessment entities in obtaining U.S. government recognition
of their technical competence pursuant to a U.S.-EU MRA.
Interested persons should respond in writing to the above address.
All comments submitted in response to this notice will become part of
the public record and will be available for inspection and copying at
the U.S. Department of Commerce Central Reference and Records and
Inspection Facility, Room 6020, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 14th and
Constitution Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20230.
Dated: April 30, 1996.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 96-11288 Filed 5-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M
