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ISO 9000 | ISO 14000 | Forum |
CASCO Strategies 2002-2004
2.2 Leadership
2.2.1 Promoting proper use of CASCO workCASCO recognises that it has the responsibility to promote the use of the ISO/IEC conformity assessment guides and standards around the world. Noting the increasing number of complaints from all over the world about intentionally misleading practices in the field of management system and product certification based on ISO standards, CASCO will explore appropriate initiatives in this respect in coordination with the ISO Central Secretariat including the collection and analysis of complaints, to identify the main problems. Once trends are identified, CASCO should seek and pursue solutions which may involve other organizations.
2.2.2 Providing further
guidance to reduce barriers to trade
To support the objectives of the WTO TBT Agreement, it is essential to
promote the use of ISO/IEC guides and standards on conformity assessment
activities to achieve continued reduction of technical barriers to trade.
CASCO recognizes the importance of providing further guidance on a better
global conformity assessment system and reducing duplication of conformity
assessment activities. To promote global recognition of conformity assessment
results, CASCO will proactively suggest a code of good p 1164 ractice
for conformity assessment (CGP), advise the best practices for establishing
mutual recognition agreements (MRA) and take any other necessary initiative.
2.2.3 Enhancing the
two-way interface between standards and conformity assessment
To add value to the results of conformity assessment, it is essential
to have good standards against which conformity of products, processes,
services or systems are assessed and good standards for conducting such
conformity assessment activities. To this end, CASCO has established the
CASCO Advisory group on standards and conformity assessment. This
Advisory group will, in cooperation with the IEC's Conformity assessment
board, and in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, monitor
and examine TC/SC work involving conformity assessment aspects and advise
the relevant TC/SCs in a timely and effective manner*.
The resultant improved communication will also benefit strategic and operational coordination.
* Also strengthening co-ordination by CASCO with other committees are the close co-operation between CASCO and TC 176 and TC 207 with which framework agreements have been developed for this purpose
2.2.4 Supporting developing
countries
There is a need to improve the conformity assessment infrastructure, particularly
in the developing countries, and to involve more developing countries
in the process of establishing CASCO guides and standards. CASCO recognizes
that it has the responsibility to work with ISO/DEVCO to further accomplish
the above objectives. For this purpose, CASCO will suggest to DEVCO the
establishment of a Joint DEVCO-CASCO Group on strategies for conformity
assessment to :
a) establish strategies to support the improvement of the current situation of conformity assessment infrastructure in developing countries, such as training activities, promotion of mutual recognition agreements (MRAs), etc. and
b) identify necessary support with priorities, looking for cooperation of international and financial organizations such as UNIDO, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), World Bank, etc.
c) identify ways to improve involvement of developing countries in CASCO working group activities.
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