There is a growing recognition that standards are not neutral; they are experienced differently depending on someone’s gender. A lack of gender responsiveness, for example, has been shown to have health and safety implications and, given the importance of standards to the economy, undoubtedly, the lack of gender responsiveness would have implications there too.
Since their invention, the WWW and Internet have grown rapidly whilst security has lagged behind. Cybercrime has increased exponentially in the 21st century, costing the global economy more than USD 6 trillion in 2021.
The adoption of technologies and digitalization of conformity assessment continues to evolve rapidly. To understand the latest trends, a team of researchers from BAM, TU Berlin and Fraunhofer Institute in Germany and from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand conducted surveys in fourteen countries and collected data from over 1,300 conformity assessment bodies.
The Global Quality Infrastructure Index (GQII) measures QI’s development status and dynamics worldwide. In close coordination with representatives and experts from QI bodies worldwide, key indicators were identified, the data collected, and a composite index was created.
From 01 January 2023, businesses will need to use the new UKCA product marking for many goods placed on the Great Britain market (England, Scotland and Wales).
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a substantial shift in how many organisations operate to not just keep delivering services and products, but to try and do so better. Certification and accreditation bodies have made a dramatic shift from on-site to remote techniques, most of which were not new.
IAF’s three Advisory Committees, the Accreditation Body Information Group (ABIEG), User Advisory Committee (UAC) and Conformity Assessment Body Advisory Committee (CABAC), all held meetings during IAF and ILAC’s 2021 annual meetings period from September – November. These committees act as a valuable means for specific categories of IAF […]
Cynthia WoodleyChief Operations Officer and PsychometricianProfessional Testing, Inc. Many of us have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by changing how we operate our businesses and organizations, including by implementing remote work policies and technologies that will have an enduring effect on our practices. Almost every aspect of our […]
Mika VepsäläinenChief, Market Access Section, Economic Cooperation and Trade DivisionUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe Fifty years ago, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) initiated a series of “Meetings of Government Officials Responsible for Standardization Policies”. The anniversary of these meetings was celebrated in circumstances that […]
George AnastasopoulosIPC Secretary Online examination systems are becoming increasingly popular and widespread. Many educational institutes, examination centers and certification bodies of persons are replacing their traditional examination methods with online testing technologies. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for such credible online examination systems and verification processes. […]
BRCGS Launches Upgrade of its Ethical Trading and Responsible Sourcing Standard Jon MurthyHead Of Global Marketing, BRCGS Buying behaviour has changed and the relationship between global brands and the customers who support them is being transformed by the rise of the conscientious consumer. COVID-19 has amplified this trend […]
Marie-Claude QuentinSenior Technical Manager, GFSIThe Consumer Goods Forum During our annual food safety conference in Seattle in February 2020, the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) announced a bold new vision designed to shape what was termed ‘The Race to The Top’ (RTTT). This was in response to growing […]
IAF Outlook 