CB certification

The CB international multilateral agreement

Within the framework of IECEE’s (international) Certification Scheme, CB certificates are issued (called CBTC) which demonstrate the conformity of an electrical/electronic product to IEC standards and are used to avoid certification bodies (NCBs) from repeating type tests in countries where manufacturers apply for product approval.
Manufacturers with a CTBC may apply to any foreign certification body belonging to the CB scheme to use the mark, for the product category in question. After dealing with the formalities required by the certification body, the manufacturer may obtain certification if standards and regulations in the country do not include any departures from IEC standards. When filing applications, manufacturers may request the CTBC to consider any departures from national regulations of countries where it intends obtaining approval. Alternatively, the foreign organisation may repeat a test, and in particular tests for which national regulations indicate departures from standards. In any event, foreign organisations are committed to minimising repeat testing.

The following national certification bodies belong to the CB scheme: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy (IMQ), Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA.

IMQ is also a signatory to IECEE's new certification scheme, the CB-FCS - Full Certification Scheme, developed as an extension of the CB scheme with the following advantages:

• a simplified procedure, because manufacturers who want to export to other countries deal with only one certification body
• less time is required, because repeat tests and audits are no longer necessary or are kept to a minimum.
• costs are lower, because tests are no longer repeated and manufacturers deal with only one certification body.