1. Project activities for CABs
Roundtable: Strengthening Cooperation among Associations of Accredited CABs in the CEFTA Region
By David Norris, Project Manager
Sarajevo, 21 March 2017

2. QI Project Background Supported by EC (DG GROW, DG NEAR)
Results Area: “Increased economic integration with EU and functioning market economy”
Objective: Strengthened capacity of institutions for economic integration with EU
Duration: 44 months ( )
Budget: c€2.95m (c€2.8m Sida; c€140k EFTA)
Beneficiaries: AL, BA, XK, MK, ME, RS
Contractor: CEN-CENELEC, PIU in Belgrade

3. Project Team Project Manager: David Norris
KE1 (Technical Regulations): Jelena Popović
KE2 (Accreditation, conformity assessment): Rózsa Ring
KE3 (Metrology): Dionysios Kiriakidis
KE4 (Industry, TBTs): Zoran Bilbija
APM: Jovan Marković
PA: Milan Banjanin
STE (CPR): Harm Verster
STE (EEE): Ivan Hendrikx
STE (MS): Mark Gardiner

4. Objectives
Full implementation of EU product legislation for construction products
Full implementation of EU product legislation for electrical/electronic equipment
Non-harmonised area: prepared to complete action plans; awareness of relevance of mutual recognition clause

5. Goals Horizontal legislation transposed (KE1)
Product legislation (CPR/LVD/EMC) transposed (KE1)
Harmonised European Standards (hEN) implemented (PM)
Standardisation, accreditation and metrology infrastructure in place (PM, KE2, KE3)
CE marking system prepared (KE2, KE1)
Competence of designating authorities and designated (future Notified) bodies proven (KE2, KE1)
Suitable market surveillance system and suitable safeguard procedures used (KE1, KE3)
Traders and industry prepared, informed and aware (KE4)

6. Conformity Assessment
Objective: help ensure unsafe or otherwise non-compliant products do not find their way to market.
Conformity assessment:
Before placing product on market.
Includes testing, inspection and certification.
Objectives of CA procedure
Demonstrate product being placed on market complies with all legislative requirements.
Ensure confidence of consumers, public authorities and manufacturers regarding conformity of products.
In practice
Product legislation describes CA procedures for each product.
Manufacturers choose between different CA procedures, if applicable.
Assessment carried out by manufacturer. If applicable legislation requires, CAB involved
CA (and market surveillance) help ensure smooth functioning of internal market.

7. Conformity Assessment: project activities
Role of CABs in implementation of CPR and EEE (LVD, EMC), i.e. need for intervention CABs
Availability of PC bodies and testing labs, accredited and non-accredited, in CPR and EEE sectors
CABs’ role and activities in designation process – EA-2/17 Accreditation for Notification Purposes
Proficiency Testing for potential designated CABs

8. Proficiency Testing Basic Concepts
Participation of CABs in PTs is basic requirement for their accreditation according to ISO/IEC
Results of PTs are of high value, taking into account they provide objective evidence of status of technical competence of participating labs.

9. PTs for CABs Basic requirements
ISO/IEC requires labs to have QC procedures for monitoring validity of tests and calibrations undertaken. Monitoring may include participation in interlaboratory comparisons or PT programmes.
NABs seeking to sign or seeking to maintain status as signatory to ILAC MRA and/or EA MLA/BLA shall demonstrate technical competence of their accredited testing (and calibration labs and inspection bodies) e.g. through satisfactory participation of CABs in PT activities where such activities are available and appropriate.
ILAC-P9:06/2014, EA-4/18 INF:2010 and EA-INF/12:2014

10. PTs for CABs Selection of PTs
Survey (feasibility study) with involvement of NABs and CABs about
CABs (accredited, under accreditation and non-accredited) in CPR and EEE sectors
areas of testing/measurement where PTs should be organized
local PT providers
PTs in which accredited CABs participate.
PTs available in EPTIS database in CPR and EEE sectors and PT providers accredited by EA member NABs

11. PTs for CABs PTs in CPR sector
In 5 areas of CPR all beneficiary countries have accredited labs:
Project will organize one PT in all 5 areas in CPR sector.
2. hENs used as test methods by accredited testing labs of all beneficiary countries in mentioned 5 areas of CPR.
Number of accredited CABs
Material/products tested in the scope of accreditation
Concrete
Stone and aggregates
Asphalt and bitumen
Cement
Soil (geotechnical analysis)
Testing laboratories 45 40 34 30 23

12. PTs for CABs PTs in CPR sector
3. Each PT organized for 1+ test methods of following series of standards. Test methods selected in cooperation with NABs.
Areas
Test methods
Hardened concrete
Selected tests of EN series
Stone aggregates (road building material)
Selected tests of EN 933 series or
Selected tests of EN 1097 series
Bituminous mixtures
Selected tests of CEN ISO/TS series
Cement
Selected tests of EN 196 series
Soil – Geotechnical testing

13. PTs for CABs PTs in CPR sector
4. In all 5 areas there are accredited PT providers in EU
5. Number of participants selected in agreement between PT provider and NABs.
PT providers (present and potential) in WB:
involve local testing labs as pilot for organising PT under supervision of external expert (similar to IPA 2011).
HOT: ISO/IEC for potential PT providers
Case studies on how to participate in PT schemes, how to organise PT, how to evaluate PT, etc.
Lab management training, including business planning
Preparation of a PT protocol according to requirements of ISO/IEC 17043

14. PTs for CABs PTs in EEE sector
Insufficient CABs active in EEE sector to justify PT, so…
HOT: Awareness course on ISO/IEC in EEE sector for representatives of testing labs active in EEE sector
ISO/IEC with special attention to participation in PTs
Preparation for accreditation

15. PTs for CABs
Next steps
Selection of PT providers preferably ones accredited by EA NABs
Selection of test methods, with involvement of PT providers and NABs, from recommended series of ENs
Selection of participants, with involvement of NABs, from accredited CABs – likely to be 50+ CABs from region
Discuss, with NABs and local PT providers, possible involvement of local PT providers

16. Industry Objective and Deliverables
“From producing/importing to placing a safe product on market”
Deliverables:
Two Booklets on how to comply with EU requirements in CPR and EEE
Training materials for use of CABs, chambers of commerce on how to comply with EU requirements in CPR and EEE fields
Training of CABs (designated CABs, where possible), chambers of commerce and NSBs for delivery of training materials
Continuing support and advice through ongoing programme of WSs (June 2017, Podgorica…)

17. David.Norris@qualityinfrastructure.eu www.qualityinfrastructure.eu
Your ideas, suggestions…?