International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
The IEC is a global, not-for-profit membership organization, whose work underpins quality infrastructure and international trade in electrical and electronic goods. Our work facilitates technical innovation, affordable infrastructure development, efficient and sustainable energy access, smart urbanization and transportation systems, climate change mitigation, and increases the safety of people and the environment. The IEC brings together more than 170 countries and provides a global, neutral and independent standardization platform to 20 000 experts globally. It administers 4 Conformity assessment systems whose members certify that devices, systems, installations, services and people work as required.
Company details
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- Business Type:
- Publishing company
- Industry Type:
- Electronics and Computers
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
Benefits of membership
The key benefits of membership come from participating in the development of the standardization and conformity assessment work of the IEC. By participating in the creation of a standard, an NC can be sure that the interests of its country have been taken into account.
Those involved in IEC standardization work come from all areas of the market and each chooses to participate for various reasons.
The IEC offers its members:
About Us
The IEC is a global, not-for-profit membership organization that brings together more than 170 countries and coordinates the work of 20 000 experts globally
The IEC publishes around 10 000 IEC International Standards which together with conformity assessment provide the technical framework that allows governments to build national quality infrastructure and companies of all sizes to buy and sell consistently safe and reliable products in most countries of the world. IEC International Standards serve as the basis for risk and quality management and are used in testing and certification to verify that manufacturer promises are kept.
History
The IEC was founded on 26-27 June 1906 in London, UK. Ever since it has made electrical and electronic technologies safer, more efficient and reliable
Enabling a new technology
Electricity was the driving force for the 2nd industrial revolution and remains equally essential today, for the 4th industrial revolution.
As early as the 1880s, scientists started to realize that a lack of common terminology, measurements and ratings slowed the advancement of electrical science and hindered the development of markets.
When the International Electrical Congress convened at the World's Fair in St. Louis in 1904, the exhibits that occupied the Palace of Electricity used electricity of numerous different voltages, direct current or 1-, 2-, or 3-phase alternating current, with many different frequencies as well as a variety of connectors and plugs.
As a result, the Congress made a proposal for setting up a permanent international commission charged with establishing the terms and measurements for ratings of electrical apparatus and machines. Subsequently, the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) was founded in London and held its first meeting at Hotel Cecil on 26 and 27 June 1906 with Alexander Siemens as Chair.
Representatives of Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Hungary, Switzerland, Spain, Japan and the United States participated. Norway, Sweden and Denmark, although not represented were also members of the proposed organization.
At this meeting, Lord Kelvin, was elected the first President of the Commission and Charles Le Maistre became acting Secretary, a position Le Maistre retained until his death in 1953.
Vision and Mission
Vision
IEC everywhere for a safer and more efficient world
Mission
Our mission is to achieve worldwide use of IEC International Standards and Conformity Assessment Systems to ensure the safety, efficiency, reliability and interoperability of electrical, electronic and information technologies, to enhance international trade, facilitate broad electricity access and enable a more sustainable world.
Values
- Four values guide our work with the IEC community
- Trustworthy
- Inclusive
- Independent
- Progressive
National Committees
National Committees provide the management expertise and send experts to represent national needs in the global IEC standardization and conformity assessment arena.
Upon admission, every IEC Member – one National Committee per country - promises to fully represent all private and public national interests in the field of electrotechnology at the global level in IEC standardization and conformity assessment activities.
The IEC offers them a neutral, independent international forum where often globally renowned experts from industry, government, academia and user groups can sit together and find consensus on solutions to broad technical challenges.
Benefits of Membership
The key benefits of membership come from participating in the development of the standardization and conformity assessment work of the IEC. By participating in the creation of a standard, an NC can be sure that the interests of its country have been taken into account.
Those involved in IEC standardization work come from all areas of the market and each chooses to participate for various reasons.
The IEC offers its members:
- a forum in which formal networks that cross international borders may be easily developed
- a place where participants can network within a vibrant community of customers, manufacturers, technical experts and government representatives
- an environment where companies and countries, regardless of their market share, size or influence, can sit together as equal partners
Membership levels
Any country which can demonstrate that its National Committee has been constituted in accordance with the IEC Statutes and Rules of Procedure may apply to become an IEC Full Member. IEC Full Members, after paying their yearly membership fee, have the possibility to send experts to participate actively in any technical committee/subcommittee of their choice. They are also able to apply for management positions and functions in the IEC and have voting rights in the IEC General Assembly.
IEC Associate MemberSome countries can opt to become an IEC Associate Member. IEC Associate Members can access all working documents and opt to send experts to participate in a limited number of technical committees/subcommittees. They cannot occupy management positions and functions within the IEC and do not have voting rights in the IEC General Assembly.
Individuals or companies can’t become a member of the IEC. They can only participate in the IEC via their National Committee.
Individuals with specialist knowledge in a technical field and who are delegated by their Country’s National Committee (NC) to participate in IEC work.
IEC Member countries can opt to send experts to participate in technical areas that are of interest to them.
Some organizations which have a formal relationship with the IEC can also appoint experts to certain working groups and project teams of technical committees (TCs) and subcommittees (SCs).
Experts participate in IEC technical work in a personal capacity and do not represent their company/organization or NC.
Procedures to appoint experts are described in the IEC Directives.
Delegates participate in TC/SCs to represent the interests of an NC.
Each NC assigns a Head of delegation to speak and vote on behalf of the NC during the TC/SC meeting. Other members of the NC delegation may speak but not vote, every country has only a single vote.
Affiliate Country Programme
Helping newly industrialized and developing countries join the international standardization and conformity assessment community
By adopting IEC International Standards and implementing IEC Conformity Assessment Systems, countries enhance their economic opportunities, ensure product safety and performance and benefit from the collective knowledge of international experts.
Since its launch in 2001, the IEC Affiliate Country Programme has provided numerous countries with the opportunity to participate in the international standardization and conformity assessment activities of the IEC without the financial burden of membership.
Countries participating in the IEC Affiliate Country Programme join a global community of experts and gain access to IEC International Standards and other publications free of charge, better understand the IEC Conformity Assessment Systems; learn from IEC members through meetings and the mentoring programme; contribute to IEC activities and participate in the annual IEC General Meeting and Affiliate forum.
Interested countries may join the programme upon invitation by the IEC Secretary-General & CEO.
- Affiliate Country Programme
- With Adoptions: 56
- Without Adoptions: 28
- Total Participants: 84
Objectives
Encourage greater awareness and adoption of IEC International Standards in developing and newly industrialized countries
Increase knowledge about the importance of implementing conformity assessment systems alongside international standards
Help countries better understand the work of the IEC and how to become active contributors
Affiliate countries will be able to use relevant IEC International Standards and learn how to monitor relevant working documents, thereby taking a step-by-step approach to establishing an IEC National Electrotechnical Committee (NEC).
Developing and newly industrialized countries can join the IEC Affiliate Country Programme by invitation from the IEC Secretary-General & CEO. Countries are asked to sign and return the Affiliate Country Programme Terms and Conditions of Participation and Pledge to the IEC Affiliate secretariat for countersignature.
Following the approval to join, the affiliate country will be contacted by the IEC Affiliate secretariat for details on how to immediately benefit from the programme.
Affiliate Plus status
Affiliate countries that have officially declared the adoption of at least 50 IEC International Standards as national standards and established a NEC with representatives from the private and public sectors are eligible for Affiliate Plus status.