HB 18.

682004
ISO/IEC Guide 68:2002

HB 18.68
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Handbook
Arrangements for the recognition and acceptance of conformity assessment results

This Handbook was prepared by Committee QR-010, Conformity Assessment. It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 23 April 2004 and published on 25 May 2004.

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The following are represented on Committee QR-010: Australian Information Industry Association Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (Commonwealth) Bureau Veritas (New Zealand) Bureau Veritas Quality International Consumer Electronics Suppliers Association Consumers Federation of Australia Independent Certification Bodies International Accreditation Forum International Accreditation New Zealand Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand National Association of Testing Authorities Australia Quality Assurance Services

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This Handbook was issued in draft form for comment as DR 04117.

HB 18.682004

Handbook
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Arrangements for the recognition and acceptance of conformity assessment results

First published as HB 18.682004.

COPYRIGHT
Standards Australia International All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written permission of the publisher. Published by Standards Australia International Ltd GPO Box 5420, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia
ISBN 0 7337 6004 X

ii

PREFACE
This Handbook was prepared by the Australian members of the Joint Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand Committee QR-010, Conformity Assessment. After consultation with stakeholders in both countries, Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand decided to develop this publication as an Australian Handbook rather than an Australian/New Zealand Handbook. This Handbook is identical with, and has been reproduced from, ISO/IEC Guide 68:2002, Arrangements for the recognition and acceptance of conformity assessment results. This Handbook has undergone the transparency and consensus process of Combined Procedure public comment and postal ballot. The objective of this Handbook is to provide a basis for conformity assessment bodies and accreditation bodies to have confidence in the work of similar bodies in other countries. It applies to the development, issuance and operation of arrangements for recognition and acceptance of product, services and systems results. It does not apply to special governmental requirements. As this Handbook is reproduced from an international guide, the following applies: (a) (b) (c) Its number appears on the cover and title page while the international standard number appears only on the cover. In the source text this Guide should read this Handbook. A full point substitutes for a comma when referring to a decimal marker.

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References to International Standards should be replaced by references to Australian or Australian/New Zealand Standards or other publications, as follows: Reference to International Standard ISO/IEC Guide 2 Standardization and related activitiesGeneral vocabulary Australian/New Zealand Handbook HB 18.2 Standardization and related activitiesGeneral vocabulary

The term informative has been used in this Standard to define the application of the appendix to which it applies. An informative appendix is only for information and guidance.

iii

CONTENTS
Page Introduction..................................................................................................................................... iv 1 2 3 4 5
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Scope.................................................................................................................................1 Normative references ......................................................................................................... 1 Terms and definitions .........................................................................................................1 Elements of an agreement..................................................................................................2 Establishing the agreement group ......................................................................................4

Annex A (informative) Examples of operational arrangements .........................................................6

iv

INTRODUCTION

The primary objective of conformity assessment is to provide confidence for users that requirements applicable to products, services and systems have been met. Such confidence, in turn, directly contributes to the market acceptance (which may include regulatory compliance) of those products, services and systems. One of the reasons why internationally traded goods and services are subject to repetitive conformity assessments is a lack of confidence by users of conformity assessment in one country regarding the competence of bodies carrying out conformity assessment activities in other countries. Confidence in the work of conformity assessment bodies and accreditation bodies is therefore essential to private and public purchasers, regulators and other users. Such user confidence can be achieved through cooperation among conformity assessment bodies and/or accreditation bodies, resulting in mutual recognition and promotion across borders of each participants work. The elements and procedures used so far and found practical for establishing and maintaining such cooperations are described in this Guide.

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Arrangements for the recognition and acceptance of conformity assessment results

Scope

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This Guide provides an introduction to the development, issuance and operation of arrangements for the recognition and acceptance of results produced by bodies undertaking similar conformity assessment and related activities. The activities to which this guidance is intended to apply are those related to the conduct of unregulated marketplace transactions extending across borders from one country to another. While agreements among governments pertaining to transactions of regulated goods and services can take into account the agreements addressed by this Guide, the guidance provided here is introductory and general in nature and does not specifically address any special requirements that governmental agreements might generate. Some countries may be concerned about having the necessary human and institutional resources with respect to conformity assessment infrastructures which would permit them to participate in such arrangements. Guidance on the acquisition and development of the resources required is beyond the scope of this Guide.

Normative references

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. ISO/IEC Guide 2:1996, Standardization and related activities General vocabulary

Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC Guide 2 and the following apply.
NOTE Clauses 12 to 17 of ISO/IEC Guide 2:1996 (on conformity assessment) are under revision as ISO/IEC 17000.

3.1 recognition arrangement arrangement whereby participating bodies acknowledge to others that the conformity assessment results of the other participating bodies have been produced by competently performed, equivalent procedures 3.2 acceptance arrangement arrangement whereby participating bodies use conformity assessment results of other participating bodies when these are acknowledged as having been produced by competently performed, equivalent procedures 3.3 agreement group bodies that are signatories to the agreement on which an arrangement is based

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HB 18.68-2004, Guidelines for third-party certification adn accreditation - Guide 68 Arrangements for the recognition and acceptance of conformity assessment results

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