Decisions and actions resulting from the SMB meeting held in Geneva, 2017-06-12

IEC Technical Activities – Structure

Masterplan Implementation

SMB decided to set up ahG 76 Masterplan Implementation. Reflecting the intention for the implementation of the Masterplan to be flexible and pragmatic, the task of ahG 76 is to match the main topics of the Masterplan to the responsibilities and activities of SMB in order to ensure alignment and present the findings at SMB 160 in Vladivostok. After final approval of the Masterplan and Implementation Plan, the group will detail the findings and provide SMB with support on how to take action on the implementation plan.

 (SMB Decision 159/5)

Digital Transformation

SMB noted that IEC was facing a digital transformation in the near future and that the concept of the published standard and the process for its development would undergo significant changes.

SMB agreed to set up ahG 77 Digital Transformation with the task of elaborating the scope of a possible permanent group with the following tasks:

.         Consult SMB and IEC TC/SC/SyCs on possible ways to implement a digital transformation for the future.

.         Provide a platform for discussion and workshops with internal and external participation.

.         Investigate links to IEC internal and external activities and the technical work under supervision of IEC.

.         The issues to be reviewed include, but are not limited to: societal and cultural developments, a holistic review of standards and standards development, an inventory of technologies available to assist standards and standards development, what opportunities are offered to IEC.

The ahG will report back to SMB 160 meeting in Vladivostok.

(SMB Decision 159/6)

"Hot Topic Radar"

SMB agreed that it was necessary to monitor on a continuous basis changes that could potentially affect the technical work of IEC. Whilst these clearly included technological development, other factors, such as societal changes could also have a large impact. SMB agreed to set up a Strategic Group, SG 11 Hot Topic Radar to proactively monitor emerging issues, including technological changes and other challenges to the technical work of IEC. Its tasks include the definition of a process and its implementation to:

.         detect and maintain a list of hot topics

.         recommend further steps to SMB

In future SG 11 will communicate closely with corresponding initiatives in MSB and CAB.

 (SMB Decision 159/7)

Horizontal Standards

SMB noted that the recommendations made by ahG 72 concerning Horizontal Standards had been approved (see details in SMB/6161/R), but decided not to exclude standards prepared by TCs 1 and 3 from the list. SMB agreed to re-instate the definition of Guide, previously present in the ISO/IEC Directives.

SMB agreed to amend recommendation A.3 with the agreed list for allocation of horizontal standards and decided to postpone the review of Horizontal Standards by the Advisory Committees and TCs 1 and 3 until Guide 108 has been revised.

(SMB Decision 159/10)

Horizontal Standards and IEC Guide 108

SMB agreed to improve the visibility of horizontal standards and set up ahG 78 to revise IEC Guide 108, Guidelines for ensuring the coherency of IEC publications – Application of horizontal standards. The revision would include the common aspects from the other IEC Guides.

(SMB Decision 159/11)

Feedback from Conformity Assessment Systems to IEC TC/SCs

SMB confirmed that all necessary action had been taken with respect to the procedures applied for Interpretation Sheets and agreed to strengthen communications to the TC/SCs concerned by Decision Sheets prepared by the CA Systems. TC/SCs would be reminded of the need to respond to requests from the CA Systems, but also to be involved in the discussions in the CA Systems. An AC will be circulated to this effect.

(SMB Decision 159/19)

Conformity Assessment aspects in standards

CAB and SMB have produced guidance for IEC TC/SCs on Conformity Assessment aspects in standards. The Guidance is available at http://www.iec.ch/standardsdev/resources/CA/

New code of practice for tackling illegal fishing and depleting fisheries

BSI, the business standards company, has launched a new code of practice for importers and processors of seafood on how to navigate the murky waters of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. 

Globally, over half of the world’s fisheries are fully exploited, and a further 30% over-fished. BSI’s new code of practice, PAS 1550:2017 Exercising due diligence in establishing the legal origin of fishery/seafood products and marine ingredients – importing and processing – code of practice, lists recommendations on how to check that seafood products being imported or processed within the EU are legally sourced.

Recommendations include what the seafood sector should do to ensure decent labour and employment conditions in the sector, and what traceability systems should be used to verify source claims. An organization handling seafood should have systems in place to manage critical aspects of legality – including processes, information verification, and transparency.

Issues concerning the supply chain, and the responsible management of fisheries, are covered, with guidance on how an organization can avoid sourcing seafood from vessels which appear on blacklists. The code of practice also includes a dedicated section on social and ethical responsibility.

Developed with support from the Environmental Justice Foundation, Oceana, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and the WWF, among others, PAS 1550 is intended to be used alongside existing regulation concerning illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. EU regulation specifies that there is a regulatory requirement to undertake due diligence on whether or not seafood which is caught in or imported into the EU has been legally caught, transported and processed. PAS 1550 helps guide importers and processors of seafood through this process.

As well as importers and exporters of seafood, the PAS is relevant to authorities and other entities – such as NGOs, industry associations and certification bodies – where it can provide a benchmark for developing a due diligence system and provide information on the expectations of processors and importers.

David Fatscher, Head of Market Development for Sustainability at BSI, said: “Fishing and aquaculture provide over 250 million jobs world-wide. PAS 1550 was created to provide guidance to organizations which import and process seafood. The code of practice includes a sample risk-assessment checklist to guide them through what can be a complex process.”

PAS 1550 includes an extract from the International Labour Organization Work in Fishing Convention and background information on the minutiae of EU market rules. The code of practice applies to all aquatic ingredients sold into the retail, food service or any other sector that contain aquatic items – including, for examples pharmaceuticals and pet food.

The following organizations were involved in the development of PAS 1550: British Retail Consortium; ClientEarth; Environmental Justice Foundation; FishWise; Food and Drink Federation; Human Rights at Sea; Lovering Foods Ltd; Marine Management Organisation; MRAG Ltd; Oceana; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Seafish; UK Seafood Industry Alliance; Tesco Stores Limited; Wm. Morrison Supermarkets plc; WWF.

New standard for Police body cams backed by industry

BSI, the business standards company, has launched a new standard for Body Worn Video (BWV), the cameras now widely adopted by councils and police across the UK. In October 2016 the world’s largest scale roll out of such cameras was announced by London’s Metropolitan Police.

In response to concerns over data security and privacy, the new standard, BS 8593: 2017 Code of practice for the deployment and use of Body Worn Video (BWV) has been developed in conjunction with security and privacy groups – including the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police, and Big Brother Watch.

The standard delivers a common framework to boost public trust in understanding of where and when BWV can be used. The voluntary standard provides technical and operational recommendations for the appropriate and proportionate deployment and use of Body Worn Video.

The standard was drawn up to address a gap in guidance due to the differences between the use of CCTV and BWV, and to avoid a repeat of the privacy concerns associated with the widespread roll out of CCTV. The UK is widely believed to be the most surveilled state in the world. BS 8593 covers planning and operational recommendations, outlining the need for BWV deployment to be based on legitimate reasons, particularly in terms of undertaking a Privacy Impact Assessment.

Anne Hayes, Head of Market Development for Governance and Resilience at BSI, said: “During the development of BS 8593 it was agreed that public confidence in the operation and management of BWV was critical, with balancing safety, security and privacy matters a central concern. The involvement of both security and privacy groups shows that standards can deliver industry consensus by aligning agendas to the public benefit.

“BWV has an advantage as a security device in terms of providing the user with a sense of protection; a second pair of eyes and ears should something go wrong.”

Tony Porter, Surveillance Camera Commissioner, said: “I am delighted to support the new British Standard and acknowledge the excellent work which has been undertaken by those to deliver it in such short timescales. As the use of body worn cameras proliferate they become more and more engrained as an intrusive capability in the daily lives of citizens. The important and fundamental balance of preserving the rights of citizens whilst keeping our communities safe and secure, are at the heart of the Home Secretary’s Surveillance Camera Code of Practice which I regulate, the principles within that Code are at the heart of the new standard, and I commend its introduction.”

Examples of legitimate deployment of BWV can include:

–       Safeguarding employee safety and security – where a user of Body Worn Video may be at risk of physical or verbal attack, or working in a hazardous environment

–       As a deterrent – if the device wearer is involved in policing or controlling an environment which people could try to disrupt

–       Evidence capture – if the BWV user is involved in a role where they might witness or investigate criminal activity, and capturing visual or audio evidence could assist with future legal proceedings

–       Promoting transparency – where a device wearer regularly encounters complaints, such as bailiffs or parking wardens

–       Capturing data to use in process improvement or training – such as identifying learning opportunities

Device recommendations – such as functionality, weight, image quality and encryption – are covered in the standard. A separate clause covers data management and security including data integrity, audit trails, storage and sharing redaction.

Training for the device wearers, data handlers, and general operator guidance, is provided in the standard, along with a dedicated clause covering monitoring, escalation and response as agreed with the system owners.

The standard is applicable to BWV users and system owners, as well as suppliers and procurers.  Examples of where BWV systems might be used include emergency services, taxi marshalling, warden schemes, security guarding, parking enforcement and door supervision.

The following organizations were involved in the development of BS 8593: Association of Security Consultants; Big Brother Watch; British Security Industry Association; Home Office; Information Commissioner’s Office; Metropolitan Police; National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC); National Security Inspectorate; Security Industry Authority; Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB); Transport for London. In an individual capacity: IndigoVision; Edisix Ltd; SoloProtect Ltd.

The medical devices’ Regulations and the role of Standards

With the new medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic medical devices Regulations (MDR and IVDR) published on 5 May 2017 by the European Commission, the long process of revising the European regulatory framework has ended. The Regulations pose new challenges to the various stakeholders involved in the sector due to the changes that they have introduced. They have expanded the scope of products, there are more rigorous requirements for clinical evaluations as well as changes to clinical investigations, mandatory unique device identification (UDI) mechanisms, and increased post-market oversight by European Notified Bodies. In addition, the IVDR introduces a new risk-rule classification system based on the Global Harmonization Task Force’s rules for classification, which considers patient impact for the first time.

The Regulations recognise the important role of standardisation in the field of medical devices. By complying with harmonised standards, manufacturers may demonstrate conformity with the general safety, performance, quality and risk management requirements of the Regulations, and thereby gain access to the European market. In addition to standardisation, the Regulations authorise the European Commission to publish common technical specifications that will represent state-of-the art and will be part of the products’ evaluation process. Several questions remain open, however, regarding the development of the common specifications and their co-existence with harmonised standards.

Given the complexity of the new regulatory framework, the scope of the changes it has introduced, and the short timeframe for the transition period, it is important to provide an open space for discussion and exchange of information and ideas regarding the new Regulations and the way forward. This is the objective of the Seminar on ‘The new regulations on medical devices and related standards: ensuring a successful transition’, which is organised by CEN and CENELEC and will take place on 21 September 2017. The focus of the seminar will be on standardization and its role in supporting the new Regulations, the future of harmonised standards under the Regulations, and the need to ensure a smooth and successful transition for the benefit of European citizens and industry.

Consult the agenda of the seminar and register before 19 September.

The medical devices’ Regulations and the role of Standards

With the new medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic medical devices Regulations (MDR and IVDR) published on 5 May 2017 by the European Commission, the long process of revising the European regulatory framework has ended. The Regulations pose new challenges to the various stakeholders involved in the sector due to the changes that they have introduced. They have expanded the scope of products, there are more rigorous requirements for clinical evaluations as well as changes to clinical investigations, mandatory unique device identification (UDI) mechanisms, and increased post-market oversight by European Notified Bodies. In addition, the IVDR introduces a new risk-rule classification system based on the Global Harmonization Task Force’s rules for classification, which considers patient impact for the first time.

The Regulations recognise the important role of standardisation in the field of medical devices. By complying with harmonised standards, manufacturers may demonstrate conformity with the general safety, performance, quality and risk management requirements of the Regulations, and thereby gain access to the European market. In addition to standardisation, the Regulations authorise the European Commission to publish common technical specifications that will represent state-of-the art and will be part of the products’ evaluation process. Several questions remain open, however, regarding the development of the common specifications and their co-existence with harmonised standards.

Given the complexity of the new regulatory framework, the scope of the changes it has introduced, and the short timeframe for the transition period, it is important to provide an open space for discussion and exchange of information and ideas regarding the new Regulations and the way forward. This is the objective of the Seminar on ‘The new regulations on medical devices and related standards: ensuring a successful transition’, which is organised by CEN and CENELEC and will take place on 21 September 2017. The focus of the seminar will be on standardization and its role in supporting the new Regulations, the future of harmonised standards under the Regulations, and the need to ensure a smooth and successful transition for the benefit of European citizens and industry.

Consult the agenda of the seminar and register before 19 September.

“How does standardization contribute to IT security in the Digital Single Market?”

This was the topic of the DIN discussion event hosted by the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the European Union in Brussels on 11 July 2017. 

Presenting to over 80 participants, DIN Executive Council member Rüdiger Marquardt proffered standardization as an instrument that can be used to develop detailed solutions pursuant both to the legislative requirements of the German NIS directive and the General Data Protection Regulation. Many fundamental standards already exist in the ISO/IEC 27000 series on IT security management. Sector-specific standards must now follow, the responsibility lying with standards organizations to cooperate with one another in a manner that preserves the consistency of the transnational body of standards.

Rüdiger Marquardt presented Maximillian Strotmann, member of Commissioner Andrus Ansip’s cabinet, with the German Standardization Roadmap on IT Security, published by KITS.

Mr Strotmann welcomed the contribution of standardization to cyber security and the creation of a Digital Single Market. The Commission does not wish to politicize standardization unnecessarily, said Strotmann, acknowledging that individual Directorates General would have to cooperate more closely when assigning standardization mandates.

Sibylle Gabler, Head of Government Relations at DIN, discussed possible gaps in legislation governing network security of the Internet of Things with a highly qualified panel. Further topics discussed were the ISO standard “Common Criteria” pertaining to IT security of products, a risk-based approach and numerous future possibilities for an IT security certification.

The following panellists took part: Dr. Andreas Schwab, Member of the European Parliament and Rapporteur on the NIS directive, Luigi Rebuffi, General Secretary of the European Cyber Security Organisation, Bernd Kowalski, Head of the Federal Office for Information Security, Markus Reigl, Director of the Technical Regulation and Standardization at Siemens as well as Jean-Pierre Quémard, Chair of the Cyber Security Coordination Group.

当您将手机充电器插入墙上的插座时，怎么知道就是适合的呢？

如果您将同一充电器从澳大利亚带到新西兰，那么如何确定它在两国都可以用呢？

关于在澳大利亚和新西兰使用的插头和插座的新版标准AS / NZS 3112关于批准和测试规范-插头和插座-出口于今日发布。

AS / NZS 3112为电气行业，包括制造商、测试实验室和监管机构提供了插头和插座的要求和测试方法。

标准的主要变化包括：

•现在包括可拆卸插头部分的规格；

•需用修订和添加的图表来说明插头和插座的尺寸；

•需说明插头和插座的配置；

•更新了以下测试要求：

o入口防护（IP）

o不可拆卸的部件

o绝缘冲孔端子

电气配件技术委员会EL-004主席丹尼斯.加尔文（Mr Dennis Galvin）先生对该项标准的修订做出评价。

加尔文先生说：“AS / NZS 3112的修改将在设计和生产过程中非常有利于生产商，同时，在评估标准的遵守情况时，还会对实验室、监管机构和认证机构进行测试。

澳大利亚标准协会会长布朗维恩.埃文斯博士解释了这一标准修订发布的重要性。

埃文斯博士说：“由于缺乏插头和插座的国际标准，国家标准机构要定期审查其标准，以适应技术变革和全球化的影响。”

Safe and Reliable Plugs and Socket Outlets 

When you plug your phone charger in to a wall socket, how do you know that it will fit?

If you take that same charger from Australia with you to New Zealand, how can you be sure it will work in both countries?

A new edition of the standard for plugs and sockets used in Australia and New Zealand, AS/NZS 3112, Approval and test specification – Plugs and socket-outlets, was published today.

AS/NZS 3112 provides the electrical industry, including manufacturers, test laboratories and regulators, with requirements and test methods for plugs and socket outlets.

The major changes to the standard include:

• Specifications for detachable plug portions are now included

• Dimension requirements for plugs and sockets clarified through revised and added diagrams

• Plug and socket configurations have been clarified

• Updated testing requirements for:

o Ingress protection (IP)

o Non-detachable parts

o Insulation piercing terminals

Chair of the technical committee EL-004, Electrical Accessories, Mr Dennis Galvin commented on this revision.

“The changes to AS/NZS 3112 will significantly benefit manufacturers during design and production but also test laboratories, regulators and certifiers when assessing compliance to the standard,” said Mr Galvin.

CEO of Standards Australia, Dr Bronwyn Evans explained the importance of this publication.

“In the absence of an international standard for plugs and sockets, it is important that national standards bodies regularly review their standards to accommodate technological change and the effects of globalisation,” said Dr Evans. 

Future development of onsite battery storage standards in Australia

On 15 August 2017 Standards Australia concluded public consultation on the draft battery storage standard that has been in development for some time.

Over three thousand comments were received on the draft, with many relating to how systems should be installed in a residential context.

Given the significant response to the draft standard, along with the fact that this is a new building technology with limited existing direction from governments, Standards Australia has offered to bring key stakeholders together to start a discussion and establish a framework through which these public policy tensions can be addressed.

Mandated residential construction requirements are ultimately public policy matters for governments. Australian Standards are voluntary unless called up by governments, and are only published if consensus is reached between industry, government and community interests.

As an independent technical standards development organisation, Standards Australia is keen to see industry and government work together to find a way forward on how residential construction requirements for onsite batteries should be set.

In Standards Australia’s view, our technical committee is not the appropriate forum to resolve the public policy tensions related to public safety, clean energy and minimum residential construction requirements. If there are policy issues for the respective governments to address, this should be determined before any further standards development work is progressed.

Standards Australia will continue to work with its technical committee and all stakeholders on this issue and hopes that a parallel policy dialogue will give our technical committee the guidance it needs to get on with the technical work.

In the meantime, consideration is being given to how best to work with our technical committee on the other important requirements contained in the draft standard.