US Technical Advisory Groups to IEC/TC 59 & IEC/TC 61

IEC

The IEC is an international standards developer whose purpose is to promote global cooperation on all matters related to standardization and conformity assessment in the areas of electricity, electronics and related technologies.  The IEC is composed of National Committees (NC) from members countries.  Each country can have only one NC (therefore each country has only one vote), which should be representative of the national interests in the fields of activity of the Commission.  The USNC is administered by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), of which AHAM is a member.

US National Committee Input to IEC

The USNC operates on the basis of Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs), one for each IEC Technical Committee or Subcommittee on which the USNC is a “Participating” (“P”) Member.

A TAG consists of all U. S. national interested parties (companies, organizations, government agencies, etc.) directly and materially affected by the work of the TC/SC. The process for developing USNC positions shall provide an opportunity for fair and equitable participation without dominance by any single interest. The participation shall be open to all U.S. National Interested Parties who are directly and materially affected by the activity in question.

TAGs are established under the following general criteria:

• There shall be NO undue financial barriers to participation.
• Participation shall not be conditional upon membership in any organization nor unreasonably restricted on the basis of technical qualifications or other such requirements.
• Guidelines for determining a U.S. voting position
• Criteria for approval of U.S. positions on International Standards activities

AHAM's Role in ANSI

IEC Technical Committee 59 develops performance standards for household appliances, and IEC TC 61 develops safety requirements.  AHAM serves as the Administrator for several U.S. Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) to IEC TC 59, and we also participate actively on the U.S. TAG for TC 61, which is administered by UL.  The TAGs form the U.S. position on related IEC standards issues.  The TAG to IEC/TC 59 is run according to the ANSI Operating Procedures for USNC IEC TAG. 

If you are interested in participating in any of the TAGs which AHAM administers, please contact Matt Williams.

Click here for a copy of the ANSI Model Operating Procedures.

Click here for more information on the work of the IEC/TC 59 TAGs.

Click here for the IEC web site

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