2011. 7. 4.

Conformity Assessment Activities in Korea

Conformity Assessment Activities in Korea

CHOI, Woo HukCHOI, Woo Huk

Ⅰ. Introduction

Ⅱ. Conformity assessment system in Korea

Ⅲ. Implications

I. IntroductionKorea Communications Commission

Objectives

22Operation system of CA

11

33Types of CA

4

Concept of CAConcept of CA

Wired equipment (telephone, FAX machine, etc)

Information equipment(computer, printer, monitor, etc)

Objectives11

Objectives

1) To maintain the quality of service levels and end-to-end network performance of communications networks2) To protect the safety of end-users of communications equipment from possible dangers 3) To guarantee interoperability between different manufactures equipment.

Definition

Demonstration that specified requirements relating to product, process, system, person or body are fulfilled (ISO/IEC 17000)

Target Equipment of CA

Radio equipment(mobile phone, WLAN , etc)

5

CA SchemeCA Scheme

Definition

Designation

Legal authorization by Designating authority of a CAB to perform CA activities

Accreditation

Assessing a prospective CAB using procedures outlined in ISO Guides 17025 or 65, which determines its competence to approve products to the applicable technical regulations

CA*

Certification

Approving a product within its scope of accreditation for a client (supplier) in accordance with the technical requirements

Testing

Testing a product within its scope of accreditation for a supplier in accordance with a published test procedure and the technical requirements

Operation system of CA(1)22

•CA : Conformity Assessment•CAB : Conformity Assessment Body

Regulatory Authority Regulatory Authority

Designating AuthorityDesignating Authority

Accreditation Body

Accreditation Body

Designation

Request for designation Ask for

evaluationAccreditation

Conformity Assessment BodyConformity Assessment Body

mandate

Certification BodyCertification Body Testing LABTesting LAB

mandate

6

RA

DA

AB

CAB

Type B(Japan, AUS.)

Type A(USA.Korea]

RA

DA

AB

CAB

Type C (other A]

RA

DA

AB

CAB

R A – Regulatory AuthorityD A – Designating AuthorityA B – Accreditation BodyCAB – Conformity Assessment Body

representing the scopethat one agency performs concerned work

Type D (other B)

RA

DA

AB

CAB

Operation system of CA(2)22

Some economies schemeSome economies scheme

Different economies have different schemes for performing the above mentioned functions

EU

7

Types of CA system33

ClassificationClassification

• Three types of CA system, in accordance with parties concerned with CA and applied criteria

1st-party CA 2nd-party CA 3rd-party CA

Types of system

Supplier’s declaration of conformity (SDoC)

Procurement inspection Certification

Object of assessme

nt

Suppliers Contractor Regulatory Authority, Accreditation Body

Market surveillan

ce

Regulatory Authority Contractor Regulatory Authority

Responsibility

Suppliers Contractor Certification Body

Characteristics

- cost-saving, shortening period, protection of trade secret- vulnerable to user protection

- usually used in delivery fields

- Equipment user protection- more time and cost needed

• Characteristics of each typeCharacteristics of each type

• Korea introduced 11stst-party CA system-party CA system(Registration)(Registration) and 3and 3rdrd-party CA -party CA systemsystem(Certification)(Certification) in in 20112011 and has implemented so far.

II. CA activities in KoreaKorea Communications Commission

Overview

22CA Types and procedure

33Post-market surveillance

11

44Current status of MRA

9

Overview (1)11

Change in regulatory environmentChange in regulatory environment

PASTStrict “ex-ante regulation”

(prevention of radio interference, uniform government certification, etc)

PRESENTNew regulatory system led by the trend, like convergence,

performance improvement of communications equipment

Introducing Introducing “Registration of conformity”& “Interim certification of comformity”“Registration of conformity”& “Interim certification of comformity”(‘11. 1.)Introducing Introducing “Registration of conformity”& “Interim certification of comformity”“Registration of conformity”& “Interim certification of comformity”(‘11. 1.)

Registration

Certification

Level of harm

Interim Certification

2+1 System2+1 System

+Certification

Single SystemSingle System

Level of harmfulness

CHANGE the 3rd party conformity assessment(Government)-led mandatory certification

system toSupplier-led simplified conformity

assessment system

CHANGE the 3rd party conformity assessment(Government)-led mandatory certification

system toSupplier-led simplified conformity

assessment system

10

CA Types and procedure (1) 22

TypesTypes

Certification of Conformity (CoC)(3rd Party certification)

: Equipments causing radio interference or harmful effects on networks or end-user

safety Ex) cell phone, Wi-Fi devices, PSTN

terminalsRegistration of Conformity with or without Designated Test lab report

(Supplier`s Declaration of Conformity: SDoC)

: Equipments except for CoC equipmentEx) PC and peripheral, most low powered

ISM devices

Interim Certification of Conformity(IOC)New equipments not yet having technical

requirement with no harm to spectrum environment

1) Application by supplies2) Testing by designated test lab3) Review by certification body4) Issue of certificate

1) Application by supplies2) Review by interim Certification committee3) Issue of certificate with expiration date,

service area)

1) Testing by supplies with the designated testing lab or not

2) Declaration of conformity by supplies3) Register the DoC at e-KCC website

11

Types and procedure (2)22

Procedure Procedure

RegistrationRegistration

CertificationCertification

Supplier

Testing in

designated

testing lab Apply for

registration

assessment(RRA*)

Issuance of certificate

(RRA)

Sales

In-house testing

Testing in

designated

testing lab

Apply for certificatio

n

Issuance of certificate

of registratio

n(RRA*)

Keep related

documents(supplier)

12

Market monitoring 33

Post-market surveillancePost-market surveillance

Examine and retest to check if equipment complies with technical requirements

1) asking the person that has received CA to submit the

equipment

2) conducting testing after purchasing the equipment

Suppliers` voluntary recall report system regarding equipment not complying with CA criteria

13

Current status of MRA in Korea (1)55

Two or more countries agree to recognize test result or certificate

issued by exporting party’s CAB, recognized by a importing party

MRA(Mutual Recognition Arrangement)MRA(Mutual Recognition Arrangement)

Supplier Export TestingCertificati

onSales

Exporting economies

Importing economies

Supplier Testing ExportCertificati

onSales

Supplier TestingCertificati

onExport Sales

Importing economies

MRA

Phase 1

Phase 2

Exporting economies

Exporting economies

Importing economies

Korea signed phase 1 of MRA with Canada(’97), USA(‘05),

Vietnam(‘06) , Chile(’08) and phase 2 of MRA with EU(’10) in FTA

IV. ImplicationsKorea Communications Commission

22

11Comparison to CA systems

Lesson from cases

15

Comparison to CA systems11

USA Japan EU Korea

CA System

3rd party certification1st party Supplier’s

*DoC (Verification, DoC,

SDoC)

3rd party certification1st party Supplier’s

DoC

1st party Supplier’s DoC

3rd party certification1st party Supplier’s

DoC (registration of

conformity)

Regulatory

Authority

FCC MIC Each national RA KCC

Designating

Authority

NIST MIC Each national DA RRA

Accreditation Body

NIST, A2LA, ANSI JAB Each national AB

KCLAP in RRA

CAB Private Private Private Testing : PrivateCertification: : Gov

ernment

Each country introduces and operates conformity assessment system at the international level by carefully considering

1) regulatory environment, and 2) the level of communications industry

* FCC : Federal Communications Commission, *NIST : National Institute of Standards and Technology* A2LA : The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, *ANSI : American National Standards Institute* MIC : The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, *JAB : Japan Accreditation Boards for Conformity Assessment* KCC : Korea Communications Commission, *KCLAP : Korea Communications Laboratory Accreditation Program* RRA : Radio Research Agency

16

Lesson from cases22

LessonLesson

Some economies operate both the 3rd party and the 1st party system - In the case of the 1st party CA system must be based upon the followings

1) Standardization of product quality at a upper level

2) Trust on supplier’s quality management

3) Establishment of effective post-market surveillance/follow-up control system

Korea introduces initial SDoC Scheme under the circumstance with full of experience in the 3rd party system

Economies should seriously consider what type of conformity assessment scheme is appropriate considering the costs and benefits

- Introducing both 3rd and 1st party system at the same time will bring a financial and administrative burden, it should be introduced on a gradual basis

17

Implications22

ImplicationsImplications

In the case of the 3rd party system, it should be established

1)evaluation system (accreditation) to ensure fairness and transparency of CAB works and

2)post-market surveillance system

In the case of the 1st party system, it should be established

1)set-up of conformity assessment criteria to guarantee product quality and

2)end-user protection policy should be established