# Presentation: 016435

## The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act and Conformity Assessment 

***The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act and Conformity Assessment****** ***

- Belinda L. Collins, Ph.D.
- Deputy Director
- Technology Services, NIST

## National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)

- Directs Federal Agencies to use consensus technical standards developed by voluntary consensus standards bodies
- if agencies do not use these standards, must  explain to OMB why they chose not to
- Encourages participation in voluntary consensus standards bodies when compatible with missions, authorities, etc.
- Directs NIST to coordinate Federal standards and conformity assessment activities with those of the private sector

## NIST Role Under the NTTAA 

- Provide Annual Reports to Congress through OMB to track progress on NTTAA and implementation of OMB Circular A-119
- Chair the Interagency Committee on Standards Policy (ICSP); provide secretariat
- Ensure effective participation in and use of standards
- Meets at least 3 times a year; subcommittees more frequently
- Improve coordination in conformity assessment to  “eliminate unnecessary duplication and complexity in the development and promulgation of conformity assessment requirements and measures”

## NTTAA Accomplishments 

- Annual Reports on Federal Activities
- ANSI/NIST MOU
- NTTAA Website
- Conformity Assessment Network and Website
- NIST SP 739: Directory of Federal Government Certification and Related Programs
- Conformity Assessment Guidance (Federal Register - Aug 2000)
- Agencies to ensure effective coordination of conformity assessment activities to eliminate unnecessary duplication and complexity
- http//www.ts.nist.gov/ca

## What is Conformity Assessment?

- Conformity assessment is any activity that helps ensure that products, services, or systems have required, consistent characteristics.
- Conformity assessment activities include:
- Sampling and testing
- Inspection
- Certification (products, services  and personnel)
- Management system registration (ISO 9000/14000)
- Accreditation verifies competence of conformity assessment activities** **

## Product Certification in the United States

- Largely a private sector activity to meet regulatory, industry and customer needs
- Government agencies play a variety of roles:
- Direct certification (FDA, USDA)
- Recognition of private sector third party certification (OSHA)
- Recognition of manufacturer declaration of conformity (FCC; DOT)
- Recognition of laboratory accreditation bodies (NIST)

## Federal Government Programs

- There are about 28 Federal conformity assessment programs in various agencies:
- Department of Agriculture:  food safety, grain inspection, etc.
- EPA:  drinking water, vehicle emissions, etc.
- NIST: laboratory accreditation required by FCC, HUD, DOE, EPA, NRC, etc.

## U.S Laboratory Accreditation

- Historically, a mix of programs
- No formal recognition between/among programs
- Overlapping and redundant assessments
- National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation created in 1998 under NTTAA
- NIST MOU with NACLA recognizes process for recognizing competent laboratory accreditation bodies - supports Trade Agreements
- DOT chairs recognition committee
- Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) among 3 U.S. bodies provides framework for recognizing technical competence
- Stakeholder members of ILAC

## Desired NTTAA Outcomes

- Increased Federal use of standards; greater coordination with private sector
- Improved participation in relevant standards and conformity assessment activities
- Web access to standards referenced in regulations
- Coordination of Federal conformity assessment activities to reduce duplication
- Improved linkage with state activities

## Planned NTTAA Activities for 2002

- Workshops and Training
- NTTAA Workshop - Oct 11
- Conformity Assessment Workshop - Dec 3
- How to participate in standards - for NIST/DOC staff
- Federal Level
- Impart understanding, improve compliance for all member agencies
- Coordinate activities in conformity assessment, including support for NACLA
- Outreach to states
- Evaluate needs, effort; Use California as test case