[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20513-20514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11288]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 960405101-6101-0]
RIN 0693-XX17


Request To Identify Bodies Interested in European Union (EU) 
Conformity Assessment Activities

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: This is to advise the public that the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking input regarding the 
identification of bodies which can perform conformity assessment of 
products that will ultimately be entered into commerce in the European 
union (EU). This information is requested in support of ongoing 
negotiations between the United States and the EU for mutual 
recognition of product approvals pursuant to regulatory requirements. 
At the present time, we wish to identify and report to the EU those 
U.S. organizations that believe that they are qualified and are 
interested in certifying products as being in compliance with mandatory 
EU product safety requirements, that is, U.S.-based organizations that 
desire to be recognized as equivalent to notified or competent body 
status under a U.S.-EU mutual recognition agreement (MRA), as specified 
in the EU directives covering telecommunications terminal equipment 
(TTE) (EEC 89/263), electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) (89/336), low 
voltage electrical equipment (LVD) (EEC 73/23), and recreational craft 
(EEC 94/25). The areas of present interest are the following: (1) 
Product testing and quality assessment; (2) quality system 
registration; (3) evaluation of technical construction files (specific 
to the EMC directive); and (4) product certification. Copies of the 
pertinent EU directives and related lists of reference standards are 
available at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 3042, Herbert C. 
Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution Avenue, Washington, D.C., or 
NIST, building 820, Room 164, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
    Organizations are invited to inform NIST of their interest in 
carrying out any of the activities listed above under specific EU 
directives, indicating the scope of their claimed competence and 
identifying specific standards, test methods, etc. Organizations should 
note current accreditation by a recognized national, regional or 
international accreditation body to a recognized or international 
standard and, if possible,

[[Page 20514]]

provide information demonstrating that they actively engaged in 
conformity assessment procedures related to relevant EU directives. 
This may include subcontractor relationships with EU notified or 
competent bodies.
    Based on responses to this notice, NIST will compile a list of 
interested organizations. This list will be provided to European 
Commission officials to illustrate the types of organizations that may 
be qualified and subsequently considered for U.S. designated conformity 
assessment body status. It is emphasized that organizations do not 
automatically qualify as designated conformity assessment bodies simply 
by responding to this notice. Formal application and processing under 
NVCASE or equivalent program will be required before designated status 
can be granted. (OMB Control No. 0693-0019).

DATES: Comments on this request must be received by June 6, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted in writing to Dr. Belinda L. 
Collins, Director, Office of Standards Services, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, Building 820, room 282, Gaithersburg, 
Maryland 20899, by fax at 301-963-2871 or by e-mail to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Belinda L. Collins, in writing at NIST, Building 820, room 282, 
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, by telephone at 301-975-4000, by fax at 
301-963-2871 or by e-mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Government is currently engaged in 
negotiations with the EU for the purpose of entering into a Mutual 
Recognition Agreement (MRA) regarding the acceptance of each other's 
testing and certification programs in regulated product areas. Under 
the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-
113), signed March 7, 1996, NIST is designated as the federal agency 
with responsibility for coordinating accreditation activities. NIST 
also operates the National voluntary Conformity Assessment System 
Evaluation (NVCASE) program as a means of providing U.S. domestic 
entities with a U.S. Government ``assurance of competency'' to 
facilitate the acceptance of test data or product certifications issued 
in this country by governments of other countries on the same basis as 
test data or product certification issued in the other country.
    This notice is a solicitation of interest on the part of U.S. 
conformity assessment entities in obtaining U.S. government recognition 
of their technical competence pursuant to a U.S.-EU MRA.
    Interested persons should respond in writing to the above address. 
All comments submitted in response to this notice will become part of 
the public record and will be available for inspection and copying at 
the U.S. Department of Commerce Central Reference and Records and 
Inspection Facility, Room 6020, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20230.

    Dated: April 30, 1996.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 96-11288 Filed 5-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M