G/TBT/GEN/139  
 
13 February 2013  
(13-0781)  Page: 1/7  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
 
 IEC ACTIVITIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES (JUNE – NOVEMBER 2012) 
This document contains information provided by the IEC at the TBT Committee meeting of 
27-28 November 2012 under Agenda Item 4 (Update by Observers). 
 
_______________ 
 
 
This report to the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade Committee highlights the activities of the 
IEC, its Members and Affiliates, and Regional Centres, related to increasing the participation of 
developing countries in IEC International Standardization and Conformity Assessment activities. 
 
1  ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE 
1.1  New IEC Technical Committee  
1.1.  In October 2012 the IEC announced the creation of a new TC (Technical Committee), IEC TC 
120: Electrical Energy Storage (EES) Systems, to accelerate the integration of renewable energies 
and to enable a more reliable and efficient supply of electrical energy. Up until now there is no 
organization that covers the standardization of entire EES systems. The new TC will oversee the 
development of International Standards that address all different EES technologies in a systems approach. It will apply use cases and develop arch itectures and roadmaps to support industry in 
building affordable and reliable EES systems that can be incorporated into existing grids anywhere 
in the world. The TC will also address aspects su ch as safety and environmental compatibility. This 
will help both developed and developing countries to access practical technologies to integrate 
more renewable energies into their electricit y grids and stimulate smart electrification. 
1.2  IEC White Paper on grid integration of  large-capacity Renewable Energy sources 
and use of large-capacity Electrical Energy Storage 
1.2.  The proportion of RE (renewable energies) is likely to increase in all major electricity 
markets. Their large-scale incorporation into existing electricity grids will be complex, and their successful integration will likely depend on large-capacity EES. IEC White Paper’s primary goal is to provide a global view on the state of the art an d future directions for grid integration of large-
capacity RE sources and the application of large- capacity EES for that purpose. It identifies 
challenges for grid operators and producers of electricity, and provides insights into current and potential methods for addressing these difficulti es. The Paper aims to support grid integration 
efforts around the world by providing guidance to  the electric utility industry, policy-makers and 
the IEC standardization and conformity assessment community.  
2  IEC WORKSHOP FOR INDUSTRIALIZIN G COUNTRIES ON ADOPTION OF IEC 
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS 
2.1.  During its 76th General Meeting in Oslo, Norway on 1-5 October 2012, the IEC brought 
together over 60 participants representing 28 coun tries, IEC Members and Affiliates, to attend a 
workshop on adopting and referencing IEC Internat ional Standards for use in technical regulations. 
The first ISO/IEC joint regional course on adop tion of international standards was given in 
Singapore in 2011 with the participation of IEC-APRC (IEC Asia-Pacific Regional Centre). In March 2012, a second ISO/IEC course was given for French speaking African countries in Ouagadougou, 
Burkina Faso, with the participation of the IEC Affi liate Secretariat. IEC then decided to develop a G/TBT/GEN/139 
 
- 2 - 
 
 
  
 short version of the course which was presented for the first time in Oslo. The adoption of 
international standards is a key issue for developing countries to comply with the WTO TBT 
Agreement. The abridged course for IEC NCs (National Committees) and Affiliate Countries was presented in English with French slides for French  speakers. The course outlined in detail how IEC 
International Standards can be used in regulations and gave a model of a WTO-compliant 
regulatory system. Clarification was given on ISO/IEC Guide 21 on rules and procedures for adopting international standards, the workshop also addressed interactions with regulators. The 
session also considered the harmonization of IEC International Standards due to the participation 
of two regional bodies: AFSEC, the African El ectrotechnical Standardization Commission, and 
COPANT, the Pan American Standards Commission, which have cooperation agreements with the 
IEC. From now on, the adoption course will be used for local or regional training on the IEC and its 
Affiliate Country Programme. 
3  IEC AFFILIATE COUNTRY PROGRAMME 3.1  About the Programme 
3.1.  The IEC Affiliate Country Programme is aimed at developing countries that do not yet have 
the necessary infrastructure and technical expertise to participate in IEC activities as a member. Participants join the Programme free of charge on invitation by the IEC General Secretary. 
3.2  New Affiliate country: The Bahamas 
3.2.  In July 2012, the IEC Affiliate Country Programme welcomed The Bahamas as its newest 
participating country. With 82 Full and Associate Members, and 81 developing countries now following the Programme, the IEC Family numbers 163 (See annexes A and B). The Bahamas 
became acquainted with the IEC Affiliate Country Programme through CARICOM (Caribbean 
Community), while the benefits of participating in the Programme were highlighted during a CROSQ (CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality) meeting. Trinidad and Tobago 
and then Antigua and Barbuda, already affiliated to the IEC, facilitated the contact with URCA 
(Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority), which lead to their affiliation. 
3.3  Venezuela leaves the Programme 
3.3.  Venezuela joined the IEC Affiliate Country Programme in 2002. Since that time the conditions 
changed to the extent that the country no longer fits the profile of an IEC Affiliate. As a consequence in October 2012, Venezuela was taken off the list of IEC Affiliate Countries. 
3.4  New Affiliate Plus countries: Afghanista n and the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
3.4.  Since our last report, two Affiliate Countries upgraded to Affiliate Plus. Within the IEC Affiliate 
Country Programme this status offers a greater number of free IEC Inte rnational Standards for 
adoption and increased mentoring possibilities. This status is granted to developing countries that 
participate in the IEC Affiliate Country Programme having met two criteria: the national adoption 
of at least 50 IEC International Standards and the establishment of a NEC (National Electrotechnical Committee). With the national adoption of 52 IEC International standards, the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo had already fulf illed the first criteria. In July 2012 DRC set up its 
NEC, thus meeting the second condition to become  Affiliate Plus. The NEC has shown interest in 
the working documents of 10 IEC Technical Committees or Subcommittees (the list is available on DRC dashboard, on the IEC website). During the IEC General Meeting in Oslo, the NEC Secretary 
benefited from some training by the IEC Affiliate Se cretariat to start an active participation in IEC 
work.  
3.5.  Afghanistan joined the IEC Affiliate Country Programme in 2007, and established its NEC in 
March 2012. Afghanistan declared the national ad option of 58 IEC International Standards mainly 
from IEC TC 7: Overhead electrical conductors, TC  20: Electric cables, and SC 36B: Insulators for 
overhead lines. IEC is now waiting for Afghanistan to comment on IEC Working Documents. G/TBT/GEN/139 
 
- 3 - 
 
 
  
 3.5  More participation 
3.6.  IEC Affiliate countries continue to adopt and use IEC International Standards for their 
national markets. Barbados is the 39th IEC Affiliate Country to have declared the national adoption of IEC International Standards. 
3.7.  After their comments on three IEC International Standards: IEC 60745-2-3/-4 on the safety 
of hand-held motor-operated electric tools, and IEC 60335 on the safety of household and similar electrical appliances, Botswana experts continued using their commenting right on IEC 60745-1, 
Hand-held motor-operated electric tools – Safety – Part 1: General requirements. Botswana 
experts also made a proposal to amend IEC 60335-2-3, Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety – Part 2-3: Particular requirements for el ectric irons. The proposal will be discussed at the 
next IEC TC 61 meeting as well as the relating comments from TC 61 members.  
3.6  Affiliate Forum in Oslo  
3.8.  36 delegates from 17 countries – Affiliates and potential mentors from IEC Member countries 
– attended the annual IEC Affiliate Forum held during the 76th IEC General Meeting. The Forum 
started with a presentation by the IEC Affiliate Le ader, who gave an overview of the evolution of 
the Programme, and some feedback from the IEC SMB (Standardization Management Board) and IEC CAB (Conformity Assessment Board) meetings he had attended the previous days. It was 
followed by a presentation by two Convenors of IEC TC 82/JWG 1 from South Africa and Malaysia, 
who gave feedback on the survey on IEC/TS 62257 series of recommendations for small renewable energy and hybrid systems for rural electrification (see Annex C). IEC TC 82/JWG 1 is now looking for ways to involve developing countries in its further work. After the Forum, the delegates broke 
into regional sessions on Africa and Asia-Pacif ic, respectively convened by the IEC Affiliate 
Coordinator for Africa and the IEC Affiliate Leader. Besides the Forum, IEC Affiliates were given the 
opportunity to attend 20 different technical meetings as observer to become more familiar with 
IEC international standardization work (see Annex D). As every year, their Heads of Delegation 
were able to officially represent their country at the IEC Council Statutory Session. The Affiliate delegation was conducted by Phuntsho Wangdi, the IEC Affiliate Leader. 
4  REGIONAL COLLABORATION IN ASIA-PACIFIC  
4.1  ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality 4.1.  The IEC participated in the 39th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian nations) Consultative 
Committee on Standards and Quality Meeting (ACCSQ) held on 29-31 October 2012 in Bandung, 
Indonesia. ASEAN member states – all committed to the IEC either as Members (6) or as Affiliates 
(4) – were shown the functions of the IEC's Ad option Database and encouraged to continue 
updating the database regularly to keep its contents relevant. In addition, the ACCSQ was 
appraised on the IEC MSB's (Market Strategy Board's) White Papers and the organization of an 
upcoming workshop on energy efficiency in De cember 2012 at the IEC-APRC. The workshop is 
organized in collaboration with JISC (Japanese Industrial Standards Committee). 
4.2  Needs assessment survey 
4.2.  The IEC-APRC conducted a survey on the needs of IEC Members and Affiliates in the Asia-
Pacific region. Concluded at the end of October 2012, its objective is to review the needs of the Asia-Pacific region and to subsequently look at programs and activities to meet these needs and 
help further the development and use of IEC International Standards and Conformity Assessment 
Systems in the region. 
4.3  National conference on semi conductor device standardization 
4.3.  PCSS (Promotion Committee of Semiconductor Standardization, Japan) organized a 
conference on 11 July 2012, in Penang, Malaysia, to promote participation in semiconductor device standardization. The event was hosted by DSM (D epartment of Standard Malaysia), which is the 
Secretariat of the Malaysian National Committee of  the IEC, and managed by SIRIM (Standard and 
Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia), a standards developing body in Malaysia. The purpose of G/TBT/GEN/139 
 
- 4 - 
 
 
  
 this conference was to reach out to the semiconductor companies in Malaysia to enhance their 
participation in IEC Standardization work, particularly to be active in IEC SC 47D: Semiconductor 
packaging, and SC 47E: Discrete semiconductor devices.  
5  REGIONAL COLLABORATION IN LATIN AMERICA 
5.1  Collaboration with ITU 
5.1.  In June 2012, IEC-LARC (IEC Regional Centre for Latin America) participated in the ITU 
(International Telecommunication Union) Forum on Conformance and Interoperability for the 
Americas. The Forum brought together delegates from countries that are involved with the IEC as 
Members or Affiliates. IEC presented the structure and organization of IECEE (the IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components) as well as its benefits to the Americas delegates related with telecommunications activities. 
5.2  IEC Forum on international standard ization and conformity assessment for the 
electrical sector in Colombia  
5.2.  In August 2012, IEC-LARC joined efforts with USNC (the IEC National Committee of the 
United States of America) – attending the meet ing by webinar – to provide support to ICONTEC 
(the IEC National Committee of Colombia). More than 70 representatives of the electrical sector met in Bogota to learn to participate actively in international electrotechnical standardization work.  
5.3  FINCA Meeting and Seminar  
5.3.  In September 2012, Toronto, Canada, FINCA (the Forum of IEC National Committees of the 
Americas) discussed, among other subjects, the importance and how to motivate more participation of the IEC Associate Members and Af filiate Countries from the region in the IEC 
activities. FINCA members (Argentina, Brazil, Cana da, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and US) also used 
the opportunity to promote a workshop about counterfeit products.  
5.4  Collaboration with ILAC-IAF  
5.4.  In October 2012, IEC-LARC attended a meeting of ILAC-IAF JDSC (International Laboratory 
Accreditation Cooperation - International Accreditation Forum Joint Development Support Committee) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was the occasion for IEC Regional Centre to give an update 
on the IEC Affiliate Country Programme and IEC-LA RC supporting and promotion activities in the 
region.  
5.5  New workplaces in the IEC Collaboration Tools for COPANT  
5.5.  IEC had implemented the Collaboration Tools for COPANT, the Pan American Standards 
Commission, members and they have used it for their communication. Considering this success, 
COPANT asked IEC to include other workplaces in the previous developed tool. With this new release in October 2012, 100% of the communicati on and exchange of information and data in 
COPANT is now using IEC Coll aboration Tools platform.  
6  IEC CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES 6.1  IECEx and UNECE present joint paper at PCIC Europe 
6.1.  IECEx (the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in 
Explosive Atmospheres), and UNECE (the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) were invited to present a joint paper at the 2012 PCIC (Petroleum and Chemical Industry Committee) Europe Conference, which took place in Prague, Czech Republic, on 19-21 June. The Ex sector 
encompasses more than just the most obvious oil and gas or petrochemical industries. The risk of 
fire or explosion exists in a variety of sectors, such as transportation, furniture manufacturing, automotive manufacturing and repair, pharmaceuticals, food processing, grain handling and 
storage, sugar refineries and coal mining. In its 16 years of existence, IECEx has set out to prove 
that safety in these high-risk areas is an attainable goal, providing that this priority is shared by all G/TBT/GEN/139 
 
- 5 - 
 
 
  
 stakeholders involved. For this to happen, indu stry needs to allocate adequate resources and 
policymakers should act cohesively and decisively at local, regional, national and global levels. One 
of the most important roles of the United Nations is to protect workers, consumers and, more broadly, all human beings and forms of life from hazards, as well as to promote development that 
is in keeping with the needs of present and future  generations. In joining forces with the United 
Nations, through UNECE, the IEC and IECEx aim to act as catalysts for a broad and global coalition that will provide and ensure safety for all industries worldwide where flammable or combustible 
materials are used, stored or transported, and wher e the risk of fire and explosion always lurks. 
The joint paper describes the respective roles of  the two organizations and the mechanisms that 
brought them together in their efforts to make the world a safer place for all. The current focus of cooperation between IECEx and UNECE is the prom otion of the common regulatory framework and 
objectives, primarily among developing countries , but also, at a later stage, among developed 
countries.  
6.2  IECEE WELCOMES THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AS ITS 55TH MEMBER STATE 
6.2.  The IECEE community welcomed the Republic of Kazakhstan as its newest and 55th member 
state in October 2012. The Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan joined the IECEE, the IEC System of 
Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components.  
6.3.  The IECEE operates the CB Scheme
1, intended to reduce obstacles to international trade 
which arise from having to meet different national certification or approval criteria. It responds to the need to facilitate international trade in electr ical and electronic equipment, mainly intended for 
use in homes, offices, workshops, healthcare fa cilities and similar locations, for benefit of 
consumers, industries, and authorities. Therefore, it acts as a key prerequisite in enhancing member states’ participation along the global value chain and supports efforts in becoming active 
players in the world trading system. Kazakhstan’s membership of the IECEE puts it on a par with 
its partner members in the EEC (Eurasian Economic Commission). This means that the EEC will now be accepting IECEE Certification to impo rt and export electrotechnical equipment and 
components. Today, technology has become very co mplex, from its production to its consumption. 
Thus, IECEE membership will provide EEC consumers, its producers and trade partners with the quality assurance they need. Moreover, IECEE membership allows the EEC industries to increase product and market competitiveness and diversification to gain or maintain global market access. 
This is a key step towards enhancing trade with the Eurasian Economic Commission. 
7  WEBINARS AND COUNTRY VISITS 7.1  Bhutan 
7.1.  The Bhutan Standards Bureau (BSB) organized its first World Standards Day celebration on 
13-14 October 2012. The objective of the celebration was to promote awareness on the need and importance of standards to government officials,  industry representatives and the general public. 
BSB would like more stakeholders, in particular, the industry to be aware of the benefits of 
standards so that they will proactively provide inputs and participate actively in the development of standards. IEC-APRC attended and supported the event through presentations at the seminar. 
7.2  Chile  
7.2.  In July 2012, IEC-LARC supported the Chilean IEC National Committee and the government 
authorities to understand in details the IECEE peer evaluation process.  
                                               
1 The IECEE CB Scheme is the world's first truly international scheme for mutual acceptance of test 
reports and certificates dealing with the safety of electrical and electronic components, equipment and products. It is a multilateral ag reement among participating countries and certification organizations. A 
manufacturer utilizing a CB test certificate issued by one of the accepted NCBs (National Certification Bodies) 
can obtain certification marks of the latter, within their scope of adherence, in the countries where the 
accepted NCBs are located. The Scheme is essentially based on the use of IEC International Standards. 
 G/TBT/GEN/139 
 
- 6 - 
 
 
  
 7.3  Ecuador 
7.3.  On the request of INEN, the Ecuador nation al standardization body participating in the IEC 
Affiliate Country Programme, IEC-LARC organized a webinar to establish the NEC (National Electrotechnical Committee) with the stakeholde rs attending the meeting. IEC presented its 
structure and organization and advised INEN stak eholders on the role and activities of their 
national committee in IEC work.  
7.4  Zambia 
7.4.  On the request of ZABS (Zambia Bureau of  Standards), IEC provided assistance to the NEC 
though a webinar on 6th November. It was the occasion for the IEC Affiliate Secretariat to present IEC International Standardization and Conformity Assessment activities. ZABS stakeholders, members of the NEC, had the opportunity to raise questions about technical participation in IEC 
work. Zambia was granted the Affiliate Plus st atus in 2009 and requested the IECEE Affiliate 
Status in March 2012. The country is now envisaging new steps in its participation in electrotechnical standardization activities. 
7.5  Indonesia 
7.5.  Back to back with Lab Indonesia 2012 in Ja karta – the leading laboratory services event in 
Indonesia – IEC provided some training to BSN, th e IEC National Committee of Indonesia. As there 
is a crucial need for laboratory equipment and sci entific instruments in the region, the exhibition 
offered a useful platform for the scientific industry. International standards have a key role to play and IEC took the opportunity to share information on its standards, products and communication material.  
7.6  Venezuela 
7.6.  IEC-LARC visited Venezuela to meet th e government, standardization and conformity 
assessment authorities and present what IEC can offer to the country. Venezuela is interested to 
implement standardization activities using IEC International Standards and is now more familiar 
with all the benefits to participate in IEC work. 
8  NEWS FROM AFRICA: AFSEC 
8.1.  In the field of electricity, electronics and related technologies, AFSEC, the African 
Electrotechnical Standardization Commission, was established in 2008, following declarations of the conference of African Ministers of Energy in March 2006 and February 2008. AFSEC has 12 statutory members which are AFSEC National Electrotechnical Committees (one per country) and 
six affiliate members: AFREC (African Energy Commission), UPDEA (Union of Producers, 
Transporters and Distributors of Electric Power in  Africa), EAPP (Eastern Africa Power Pool), SAPP 
(Southern African Power Pool), PIESA (Power Institute for East and Southern Africa) and 
SADCSTAN (Southern African Development Community Cooperation in Standardization). The DR 
Congo has recently applied for membership and should become AFSEC 13th member. AFSEC is responsible for the identification and harmonization of existing standards and prioritization of 
standardization needs. AFSEC signed cooperation agreements with the IEC in 2009, and CENELEC, 
the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, in 2010, and established five mirror technical committees of the IEC each with strategic business plans to guide their activities and use IEC Collaboration Tools to exchange information and review IEC International Standards. Any 
African IEC Affiliate Country with a NEC (National Electrotechnical Committee) may apply to be 
observer member of one or mo re AFSEC technical committees. 
8.2.  During the African session that took place at the IEC Affiliate Forum in Oslo, AFSEC was able 
to give a feedback on its activities. Since our last report, AFSEC held a workshop on rural 
electrification, 28-29 August 2012, Johannesburg,  South Africa, commissioned by AFREC. The 
workshop brought together 15 African countries to take part in a project team to develop 
guidelines for sustainable rural electrification in Africa, involving grid and off grid technologies. The 
work of IEC TC 82/JWG 1 on the development of IEC Recommendations for small renewable 
energy and hybrid systems for rural electrif ication (IEC/TS 62257) was presented, with the G/TBT/GEN/139 
 
- 7 - 
 
 
  
 possibility for AFSEC to add TC 82 to its list of mirror committees of the IEC. The remainder of the 
programme comprised a plenary session for the members of the existing five technical committees 
followed by individual meetings of each committee. 
8.3.  On 28-30 November 2012, AFSEC and IECEx will hold a seminar in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to 
train African experts from the oil, gas and electrical sectors to learn to apply five IEC International 
Standards relating to the certification of electrical equipment and services in explosive atmospheres. A feedback on this seminar will be given in our next report. 
9   ABOUT THE IEC 
9.1.  The IEC is the world leading organization that prepares and publishes International Standards 
for all electrical, electronic and related technologies – collectively known as "electrotechnology". The IEC also administers three global Conformi ty Assessment Systems, IECEE, IECEx and IECQ, 
for testing, certification and approval of equipm ent, systems, components and in selected areas 
services and personnel to its International Standards. 
IEC NC (National Committees): 82 
Full Members: 60 
Associate Members: 22  
IEC Affiliates: 81 
With adoption: 34  IEC TCs and SCs: 174 
Technical Committees: 94 
Subcommittees: 80  
IEC Publications: 6 637 (as per 2012-09-30) 
 IEC Publication issued in 2011: 446  
International Standards: 373 
Technical Specifications: 19 Technical Reports: 36 PAS (Publicly Available Specifications): 18  
 
 
__________