Publications

TIC Council

Position papers

TIC Council Response to US CPSC Agenda and Priorities for 2021 and/or 2022
On 27 April 2020, TIC Council submitted comment to the Consumer Product Safety Commission on the CPSC Agenda and Priorities for 2021 and/or 2022.
TIC Council responds to US NIST Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities
On 7 April 2020, TIC Council submitted comment to the National Institute of Standards and Technology on the NIST Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities, 15 CFR 287.
TIC Council Position Paper on the Circular Economy Action Plan - February 2020
With this position paper, TIC Council states the necessity that mandatory third-party certification is a key element to the successful implementation of the upcoming circular economy action plan. Overall, we believe that it is rightly accompanied by ambitious investment programmes and a robust regulatory framework.
Counterfeit Products sold on E-Commerce Platforms Pose a Growing Risk to Safety - March 2020
To address the growing issue of counterfeits, TIC Council Americas has published this Position Paper to assist e-commerce platforms in halting the threats to public health and safety.
TIC Council's position paper on the revision of the Blue Guide
The TIC Council welcomes the forthcoming update of the 'Blue Guide' as an invaluable interpretation tool for the EU's product rules. This position paper requests that the update should be limited to the rules that changed according to the new Regulation on market surveillance and compliance of products (1020/2019) and to the upcoming changes to horizontal aspects of the product legislation.
CEOC Position Paper on The Added Value of 3rd Party Inspection and Certification
Confidence in products and processes is most efficiently provided through conformity assessment by independent 3rd parties. The essential corner stones for this confidence are: competence, neutrality and objectivity.
TIC Council Position Paper on the Marking of Plastic Carrier Bags - June 2019
The independent Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) sector welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to lay down EU-wide rules for the marking of biodegradable and compostable plastic carrier bags. We firmly believe that biodegradable and compostable plastic carrier bags provide a substantial contribution to the European environmental and waste policy objectives.
IFIA USMCA Position Paper
IFIA Position Paper on the UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA TRADE AGREEMENT (USMCA)
IFIA-CEOC Position Paper on the Low Voltage Directive - April 2019
The Low Voltage Directive (LVD) is an undeniable milestone of the product harmonisation legislation. To remain relevant and effective in the future, TIC Council recommends that the following conformity assessment procedures be implemented to respect EU standards.
The Internet of Things (IoT) and Consumer Products Hazards - IFIA’s Recommended Guidelines for Ensuring the Safety of Connected Devices
The International Federation of Inspection Agencies (“IFIA”) provides the testing, inspection and certification industry’s recommended guidelines for the consumer product market to ensure the safety of IoT products.
The International TIC Sector Welcomes the Proposed Measures by the European Commission as a Positieve Step Towards Securing the Cyberspace
IFIA and CEOC International, on behalf of the independent third-party Testing Inspection Certification (TIC) sector, welcome the European Commission’s proposal for a Regulation establishing a European Cybersecurity Certification Framework for ICT products and services, including requirements for the essential functions and tasks of ENISA in the field of cybersecurity certification.
Independent Certification Providing Trust in Cyber Security - July 2017
IFIA and CEOC International support the European Commission’s efforts to raise the level of trust and security within the connected society. As reliance on a digitally connected world increases and cyber-attacks become more sophisticated, harder to protect against, and more costly than ever, governments and citizens must be able to trust in the security and resilience of their critical infrastructure, systems, components and devices
Conformity Assessment Perspective on TTIP: Comments on Publicly Available Texts - September 2016
CEOC International and IFIA's pledge for support of a comprehensive trade agreement that could enhance trade between Europe and the United States through the reduction of Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade (NTBs).
IFIA Position on NAFTA - June 2017
The International Federation of Inspection Agencies (IFIA) supports the modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to meet current commercial realities and improve opportunities for greater competitiveness and job creation for the NAFTA parties.
IFIA Position Paper on Consumer Safety Package - August 2013
In February 2013, the Commission proposed the product safety and market surveillance package to update rules in line with market developments, with the goals of creating greater safety for consumers and greater certainty for economic operators. IFIA supports these objectives and expresses its general support for the package but would like to make some suggestions on how to improve certain provisions so as to reach the stated goals.
IFIA Statement of Position on Mandatory Utilisation for Social Compliance Auditors - August 2013
In the development of best guidance for supply chain social compliance, the Global Social Compliance Program (GSCP) established recommendations or guidelines for many elements of supply chain social compliance programs. IFIA recognizes the responsibility of audit companies to manage their businesses within legal structures and with integrity. However, in this statement IFIA expresses its scepticism on whether the use of an arbitrary and largely undefined auditor utilization metric creates the risk of significant negative and unintended consequences, because it does not relate well to how the market actually works.