The British Electrotechnical Committee (BEC) AGM took place on the 7th November at the IET, Savoy Place in Central London. The President of the BEC, Geoff Young, spoke on the role of the BEC in relation to BSI, IEC and CENELEC. He said that although BEC was responsible for the technical input to IEC and CENELEC, BSI dealt with the broader range of interests and provided the resources. He reported that about 80% of CENELEC standards were either identical to or based on IEC standards.
Frank Kitzantides, Chairman of the IEC Standardization Management Board (SMB) made a presentation on the IEC Standardization Strategy 2008 -2011.
This includes:
- Ensuring the development of market relevant IEC Standards and the implementation of Global Relevance
- Gaining global acceptance and use of IEC Standards and challenge incorrect perceptions of IEC
- Ensuring participation in IEC structure and processes from all stakeholders and supporting NCs in the recruitment of experts
- Providing leadership for standardization in emerging and converging technologies
- Developing the use of TS, PAS and ITAs
- The SMB Group on Electrical Energy Efficiency
- Improving and broadening the System Approach processes and structure.
A new Market Strategy Board in co-operation with the SMB will identify principal technological trends and market needs and establish market priorities for standardization. He concluded by saying that IEC International Standardization and conformity assessment can help British Industry maintain its edge. As founding member the IEC family looked to the BEC for leadership.
Richard Lawson, Deputy Director New Approach, BERR gave a presentation on the revision of New Approach legislation. He said that his department were responsible for the negotiation, transposition and “Competent Authority” administration of a range of about 17 Directives across Whitehall. He explained that the new Regulation 765/2008 and Decision no 768/2008/EC provided a package to facilitate the functioning of the Internal Market for goods and to strengthen and modernise the conditions for placing a wide range of products on the EU market and he provided considerable detail on it’s implementation.
David Bell, Head of International Affairs, BSI British Standards, updated members on the Future Landscape of European Standardization (FLES). Discussions were still taking place on this but it was not a merger of CEN and CENELEC. The intention was to move towards a common external policy, more consistency in the rules for drafting standards and a better mechanism for dealing with technical disputes between existing CEN & CENELEC TCs. What would not change were existing technical committees, decision making about new fields of technical activity and new work item proposals, approval of draft standards and the link with IEC. This was taking place at a time when CEN and CENELEC were moving to new combined offices which would allow some back office functions to be combined. There was also a proposal for a common Director General which BSI supported.
At the end of the meeting the President presented three Distinguished Service Certificates and thirteen IEC “1906” awards which are given to experts who have made an exceptional contribution to IEC technical work.
Return to Winter 2008 Committee e-newsletter
