North American Component Mark Proposed by CSA Group

Originally Published MDDI April 2003

NEWSTRENDS

Gregg Nighswonger

Complying with certification and testing requirements is critical to getting a device into global markets. Streamlining this process while maintaining quality levels would offer benefits to device makers. In February, the CSA Group proposed greater cooperation among testing and certification agencies and offered its vision of a single North American components mark. The group believes that such a mark could greatly reduce the costs of redundant testing and inspections of electrical components. 

Rob M. Griffin, President and CEO of CSA Group (Toronto), presented the organization's plan to eliminate unnecessary testing at the Council for Harmonization of Electrotechnical Standards of the Nations of the Americas (CANENA) Council meeting held in Mérida, Mexico. The nonprofit CSA Group comprises the Canadian Standards Association, CSA International, and QMI, a North American ISO registrar. 

Griffin outlined a vision of “one standard, one test, and one North American components mark.” He also proposed the creation of a public North American–mark Web site. The site would contain a registration list of components covered by harmonization under CANENA. It would also include test data that would be administered through a coalition of certification groups.

Says Griffin, “A single North American components mark is in the best interest of all stakeholders—certification organizations, regulators, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.” He adds, “CSA is committed to achieving a solution on behalf of its customers as they are frustrated at the extra cost and time required to test components already certified by accredited organizations.” 

Griffin argues that the redundant testing done by various certification organizations “creates unnecessary roadblocks for an open and competitive marketplace.” He adds, “Our goal is to eliminate unnecessary testing for customers when their final products are being certified.” 

The CSA Group established itself several years ago as an advocate of a policy to accept components certified by other accredited organizations without retesting. As part of its effort, the organization also hosted the first North American Electrical Component Forum last December in Washington, DC. 

According to Grant Carter, CSA vice president, marketing and communications, and forum chairman, “The clear message from the customers who participated in the forum was a need for a simpler process for acceptance of certified components.” Carter believes that to achieve a breakthrough on current practices, a dominant agency needs to accept the CSA practice on certified components. 

The CSA group plans to host a meeting of major North American certification organizations this year. The purpose of the meeting will be to develop solutions among certifiers and eliminate duplicate testing and redundant follow-up inspections.

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