CASCO Policy on development of sector-specific conformity assessment provisions

(As approved by CASCO Resolution 14/2003)

Principles

CASCO will:

• recognise the roles it is required to play by ISO/IEC Directives (2001), Part 2, Clause 6.7;
• recognize that valid needs for sectoral conformity assessment provisions may exist but resist unnecessary proliferation;
• not initiate the development of any sectoral conformity assessment provisions;
• support, after proper examination and agreement of the need and subject to available resources, any ISO technical committee or adequately representative other organization with standardization activities , that is developing sectoral conformity assessment provisions;
• ensure that relevant CASCO documents (including ISO/IEC 17000) form the acknowledged basis of such sectoral provisions, and relevant clauses are either reproduced in full without alteration or are incorporated by normative reference therein;
• require that text from CASCO documents reproduced in sectoral provisions be typographically distinguished from other text; and
• ensure that specific sectoral provisions do not contradict, derogate from or subvert CASCO policy or documents.

Implementation

To implement this policy and respond to ISO/IEC Directives (2001), Part 2, Clause 6.7, CASCO will establish a process for dealing with the whole spectrum of sectoral conformity assessment issues and involvements, including:

• identifying, analysing and reporting on perceived marketplace needs;
• publishing guidance to those contemplating development of sectoral conformity assessment provisions;
• receiving, evaluating and responding to sectoral approaches;
• advising sectoral conformity assessment developers on CASCO products and their application;
• reviewing and commenting upon draft sectoral conformity assessment provisions, advocating those comments to the developer concerned;
• approving sectoral conformity assessment provisions on behalf of CASCO;
• reviewing CASCO products and suggesting amendments thereto which would minimize demands for and/or subsume sectoral conformity assessment standards;
• providing guidance to CASCO WGs on non-stimulation of sectoral demands;
• liaison with other standardization bodies involved in sectoral issues and developments;
• reporting to the CASCO Plenary each year on sectoral issues and developments.

* Including conformity assessment clauses embedded in standards and other deliverables.