G/TBT/GEN/170  
 
10 July 2014  
(14-3947) Page: 1/6  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
 IEC ACTIVITIES IN DEVELOPING AND INDUSTRIALIZING COUNTRIES 
(MARCH – MAY 2014) 
This document contains information provided by the IEC (International Electrotechnical 
Commission) at the TBT Committee meeting of 18-19 June 2014 under Agenda Item 5 (Update by 
Observers).  
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  This report to the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade Committee highlights the activities of the IEC, 
its Members, Affiliates and Regional Centres related to increasing the participation of developing 
and industrializing countries in IEC International Standardization and Conformity Assessment activities. 
 
1  SUPPORT TO IEC MEMBERS  
1.1  IEC Asia-Pacific Regional Centre 
1.1.  The IEC-APRC (IEC Asia-Pacific Regional Centre), located in Singapore, has a twofold 
mission: to promote awareness of the IEC in the region, increase the use of IEC International 
Standards and enhance participation of all countries in the region in the Commission's work; and to provide additional staff support to IEC Technical Committees and Subcommittees in the same 
way the IEC Central Office does at present.  
1.2  Global Electronics Forum – Singapore, 12-14 March 2014  
1.2.  The IEC was present at the Global Electronics Forum in Singapore where the IEC-APRC 
Regional Director gave a presentation on "Count erfeit electronics - how to protect your supply 
chain and reduce liability". The IEC President was also in attendance at the event and it was an 
opportunity to meet with key decision makers in the region within the electronics manufacturing 
industry, telecommunications as well as automotive industries. 
1.3  IEC President outreach to industry – Singapore and Malays ia, March and May 2014 
1.3.  The IEC President had a dialogue session with senior industry leaders and government 
officials and regulators in Singapore on 14 March 2014 and in Malaysia on 9 May 2014. The 
objectives of the sessions were to raise the profile of the IEC to senior management and to 
encourage more active participation in the development of IEC International Standards. The IEC President also shared about the upcoming IEC work on Smart Grid and Smart Cities and 
encouraged participants to attend the IEC General Meeting that will be held in Tokyo, Japan, 10-14 
November 2014. 
1.4  Meeting in Yangon, Myanmar, 23 May 2014  
1.4.  IEC-APRC Regional Director reached out to more than 20 senior industry representatives and 
government officials and regulators at a meeting organized by the MSTRD (Myanmar Scientific and Technological Research Department) on 23 May 2014. He presented the benefits of using IEC International Standards and Conformity Assessmen t Systems and encouraged Myanmar to extract 
as much as possible from the IEC Affiliate Country Programme. The Director General of MSTRD 
indicated that Myanmar is planning to increase its participation in the IEC. G/TBT/GEN/170 
 
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  1.5  Support in Asia 
1.5.  In March 2014, the IEC also visited loca l sales outlets and customers in Malaysia and 
Singapore to increase awareness in the region and assist with local distribution of IEC International Standards. The same month, the IEC was in Shenzen and Beijing, China to assist its National 
Committee in the setting up of its new sales structure for IEC International Standards. China is 
increasingly active both in the development an d distribution of IEC International Standards. 
2  IEC AFFILIATE COUNTRY PROGRAMME 
2.1.  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. 
2.1  Update on the participation 
2.2.  Since our last report, Guinea has reported the establishment of its NEC (National 
Electrotechnical Committee). The NEC is represented by its Chair, from the EDG (Electricité de Guinée), its Vice-President, from Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, and its Secretary, 
from IGNM (Institut Guinéen de Normalisation et de Métrologie). The NEC infrastructure should 
now enable stakeholders from the electrotechnical sector to participate more actively in the process of adoption and benefit from what the IEC can offer. 
2.3.  IEC Affiliate countries are showing further interest in IEC Standardization activities through 
the national adoptions of IEC International Standards. Five countries have declared additional adoptions: Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Senegal, Sudan and Zimbabwe. With the declaration of 
additional adoptions and an established NEC, Zi mbabwe has been granted the IEC Affiliate Plus 
Status. Togo has started to benefit from the IEC Affiliate Country Programme by ordering its first 
IEC International Standards.  
2.2  IEC Mentoring Programme 
2.4.  Following the establishment of a partnership between Rwanda and Austria, four new 
mentoring partnerships for IEC Affiliate countries are reported: Afghanistan–Malaysia, Côte D’Ivoire–France, DR Congo–France, and Ethiopia –Germany. The IEC Affiliate countries and their 
respective mentors have committed for a period of two years to reinforce their NEC through 
activities such as increasing the national adopti ons of IEC International Standards, establishing 
mirror technical committees and understanding the working process for comments on technical documents. 
2.3  NEC Secretary and Chair workshop 
2.5.  As the NEC represents the electrotechni cal field of an IEC Affiliate country, the NEC 
Secretary’s role is of particular significance in effe ctively coordinating activities for the benefit of its 
stakeholders. During the 78th IEC General Meeting which will be held in Tokyo, Japan, 10-14 
November 2014, the IEC Affiliate Secretariat will be conducting for the first time the NEC Secretary and Chair workshop, a session that will be dedicated to discussing issues and sharing experiences 
regarding Affiliate NECs from the Secretary and Chair points of view. The IEC Member countries 
which participate in the IEC Mentoring Programme are invited to join the session with their mentee Affiliate country in order to share their experiences and provide advice. 
2.4  IEC visit to Africa, 11-21 May 2014 
2.6.  In May 2014, an IEC delegation conduc ted by IEC General Secretary and CEO, Frans 
Vreeswijk, made a ten day visit to three African countries: South Africa, Côte D’Ivoire and Kenya. It was the occasion for him to participate as a key speaker in major events held in the field of the 
IEC. 
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  2.4.1  South Africa 
2.7.  In Pretoria, the IEC General Secretary launched the South African Young Professional 
Programme, a national programme in line with the IEC international one. The SANC (South African National Committee of the IEC) held a workshop for its members and its stakeholders with key 
speakers, amongst which the CEO of SABS (South African Bureau of Standards), the SANC 
Chairman from NERSA (National Energy Regulator of South Africa), and the Chief Director of Technical Infrastructure in charge of standardization in the DTI (Department of Trade and 
Industry). Participants understood that SABS needed SANC’s guidance on the adoption of 
international electrotechnical standards in order to guarantee safety and meet the challenge of eradicating piracy and counterfeit of electrical products. The country is still using coal in the energy mix but is now moving towards renewable en ergies. The master plan for electrification sets 
the objectives of electrifying 300 000 homes via non grid solar systems by 2025. NERSA has 
established the Energy Regulation Act for Gas, Petroleum and Electricity with an IRP (Integrated Resource Plan) from 2010 till 2030. There is an urgent need for standards for non-grid 
electrification and renewable energy generation . In Cape Town, IEC was key speaker on the 
agenda of the African Utility Week 2014, an annua l event which this year brought together 1 100 
delegates, 240 exhibitors and 190 speakers over 9 conference tracks: the biggest event in 14 year 
history.  
2.4.2  Côte D’Ivoire 2.8.  IEC General Secretary then went on to Abidjan to inaugurate and take active part in the 
Africa Smart Grid Forum, held for the first time on the continent. The event was organized jointly 
by AFSEC (African Electrotechnical Standardization Commission), CIE, the Ivoirian electricity 
company, and the NEC of Côte D’Ivoire. The even t received strong support from AFREC (African 
Energy Commission of the African Union), APUA (A ssociation of Power Utilities of Africa), KATS 
(Korean Agency for Technology and Standards) , SGCC (State Grid Corporation of China), 
CENELEC, the European Electrotechnical Committ ee, DKE, the IEC National Committee of Germany 
and IEC. It took place under the auspices of the Minister of Petroleum and Energy who opened and 
closed the Forum. 300 experts from 24 countries – of which 20 are African – were given the 
opportunity to attend sessions on: 
a. Evolution of production means in the context of Smart Grids; 
b. Evolution of smart transportation and distribution systems; 
c. New ITC and Smart Grids;  
d. Smart Grid and consumers;  
e. Development of distribution networks; 
f. Smart Grid in the city. 
2.9.  International speakers from Africa, Chin a, Europe and Korea shared their experience. 
According to AFSEC President, the participants now have a toolbox and they need to spread the 
information and the knowledge acquired at the Forum with their partners and stakeholders in their 
respective countries. Smart Grid is a necessity for Africa, and governments as well as the private sector must work closely together to move forward and give access to safe electricity for all populations of the African continent. In conclusion, the Smart Grid is indeed the solution for 
emerging African countries. 
2.10.  Before leaving Côte D’Ivoire, Frans Vreeswijk met with the Director of CODINORM (Côte 
d’Ivoire Normalisation) and the members of the Iv oirian NEC. The IEC Affiliate Executive Secretary 
had the opportunity to give an update on IEC ac tivities, and the Ivorian NEC presented its works 
and projects for the coming year. The IEC delegation also visited the APUA headquarter in Abidjan, the organization being a strong partner of AFSEC and of the IEC. G/TBT/GEN/170 
 
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  2.4.3  Kenya 
2.11.  The last stop was Nairobi to meet with  KNIEC (IEC National Committee of Kenya). The 
purpose of the visit was also to touch base with the IEC Coordinator for Africa. The IEC delegation m e t  w i t h  K E B S  ( K e n y a  B u r e a u  o f  S t a n d a r d s )  a n d  s e v e r a l  m i n i s t r i e s  ( F o r e i g n  A f f a i r s  a n d  
International Trade, Energy and Petroleum, Indu strialization and Enterprise Development), with 
enterprises that are key stakeholders of the national committee as well as with the Chair of IEK (Institute of Engineers of Kenya).  
2.12.  This trip to Africa was informative and enriching on the momentum and energy shown by 
African Countries to get involved with the IEC. Today, 48 countries are part of the IEC Family – 8 Members and 40 Affiliates. IEC now wishes to prov ide them with the appropriate tools to upgrade 
their participation in international electrotechnical standardization activities, a key to comply with 
the WTO TBT Agreement. With a widespread use of IEC International Standards and Conformity 
Assessment Systems, there is a real hope for Africa to close the gap for electrification by giving its populations the universal access right to electricity, one of the millennium goals set by the United 
Nations through its SE4ALL (Sustainable Energy for All) initiative. 
2.5  DR Congo senatorial delegation  – Geneva, Switzerland, 7 May 2014 
2.13.  The IEC welcomed a delegation from the Se nate of DR Congo at the IEC headquarters. The 
Senate of DR Congo is currently reviewing a draft law on legal metrology and national 
standardization through a special commission created for this purpose. Given the importance of this law for DR Congo, and to allow its members to shape a law adapted to modern requirements of standardization and legal metrology, the commission engaged in a fact-finding mission in 
Europe to visit a number of specialized organizations on both international and domestic matters. 
2.14.  It was the occasion for the IEC to learn about DR Congo’s new initiative on standardization 
and to inform the delegation about its international standardization activities. Following their 
meeting with the IEC General Secretary and the IEC Affiliate Executive Secretary, the delegation 
then met with the IECEE Executive Secretary and was given a presentation on the IEC’s approach 
to Conformity Assessment. IECEE is the IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for 
Electrotechnical Equipment and Components. 
2.15.  The senatorial delegation was also reminded that following the IEC’s visit to DR Congo in 
September 2013, the IEC will be organizing in partnership with AFSEC an IECEx-AFSEC workshop to be held in Lubumbashi, 8-9 September 2014, back to back with AFSEC General Assembly in 
Kinshasa, 11-13 September 2014. IECEx is the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating 
to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres. 
2.6  IEC Coordinator for Africa 
2.6.1  Namibian NEC meeting – Win dhoek, Namibia, 5 March 2014   
2.16.  The IEC Coordinator for Africa met with th e Namibian NEC to discuss their progress within 
the IEC Affiliate Country Programme and to pr esent recent developments including the IEC 
Mentoring Programme and the IEC ACAS (Affiliate Conformity Assessment Status). Namibia’s 
economy is growing rapidly, with an increased flow in trade of goods, and there is a need for their 
quality to be regulated. In this context, international standards and their application have become ever more important and thus the need for st andards development and the adoption of IEC 
International Standards.  
2.17.  The Namibian NEC has identified several IE C International Standards for national adoption, 
which would qualify them for IEC Affiliate Plus St atus and grant them access to the IEC Mentoring 
Programme and an increased quota of IEC International Standards, amongst other benefits. 
2.6.2  SADCSTAN Annual Meeting – Gaborone, Botswana, 16-20 March 2014 
2.18.  The IEC Coordinator for Africa represen ted the IEC at the SADCSTAN (Southern African 
Development Community Cooperation in Standardization) Annual Meeting in Botswana. The group 
aims to promote regional cooperation in the de velopment of harmonized standards and technical G/TBT/GEN/170 
 
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  regulations, facilitate the exchange of info rmation among members on existing and future 
standards and technical regulations, and facilit ate the adoption of standards by the member 
states. SADCSTAN recommends IEC International St andards for national adoptions and informed 
the member states that they can adopt these standards through the IEC Affiliate Country 
Programme. 
2.6.3  Meeting in Gaborone, Botswana, 18 March 2014 2.19.  While in Botswana for the SADCSTAN Annua l Meeting, the IEC Coordinator for Africa was 
able to meet with stakeholders and representatives in preparation for the launch of the Botswana 
NEC. Close to 50 participants from industry and government bodies attended the meeting where the IEC Coordinator for Africa delivered a presen tation to provide an overview of the IEC, 
highlighting the approaches to both standardiz ation and conformity assessment. Botswana has 
been an active participant in the IEC Affiliate Country Programme and, with the launch of its NEC, 
will also qualify for IEC Affiliate Plus Status with  the accompanying benefits of access to the IEC 
Mentoring Programme and an increased quota of IEC International Standards. 
3  REGIONAL COLLABORATION 
3.1  COPANT General Assembly 2014 – Havana, Cuba, 20-24 April 2014 3.1.  The IEC took part in the COPANT, the Pan American Standards Commission, General 
Assembly 2014, with the participation of the IEC General Secretary, the IEC Vice-President, the 
IECEE Executive Secretary and the IEC- LARC (IEC Latin America Regional Centre) Regional Director. 
3.2.  The IEC General Secretary reported on IEC activities since the previous year and new areas 
in which COPANT’s members can participate and derive benefits from, including Smart Grids and 
Smart Cities. The IEC-LARC Regional Director pres ented an overview of the free of charge IEC IT 
Tools to explain the different ways to be in touch with and participate in IEC activities. 
3.3.  This year, COPANT organized workshops on “Building the Future of Standardization in 
COPANT” with a session on the IEC Young Professional Programme: An IEC 2010 Young Professional Leader gave his testimony about the programme, its benefits and the positive impact 
over his own professional carrier. It was followed by some questions about the importance of 
investing in new generations of experts to participate in international standards development. 
3.2  37th PASC Meeting – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 5-8 May 2014  
3.4.  The IEC President, the IEC Affiliate Count ry Programme Leader and the IEC-APRC Regional 
Director participated in the 37th PASC (Pacific Area Standards Congress) Meeting in Kuala Lumpur 
on 4-8 May 2014. The meeting was attended by senior representatives from 19 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. One of PASC's key objectives is to facilitate collaboration between the grouping 
and international bodies such as IEC, ISO and ITU.  Presentations from the IEC included an update 
on its Masterplan, its Young Professionals Programme and its systems approach to standardization by the IEC President. The IEC Affiliate Country Programme Leader also presented how the IEC is 
enhancing support to developing countries by introducing the IEC Mentoring Programme for 
Affiliates and the IEC ACAS initiative, while the IEC- APRC Regional Director gave an update of IEC 
activities in the region. PASC encouraged its memb ers to participate actively in the IEC Affiliate 
Country Programme, the IEC Young Professionals Programme and to inform the IEC-APRC 
Regional Director where promotional and techni cal support is required by member countries. 
4  INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS 4.1  IEA-IEC-ISO Conference – Paris, France, 13 March 2014 
4.1.  The workshop, co-hosted with IEA (International Energy Agency) and ISO (International 
Organization for Standardization), brought together policymakers, international standardization organizations, industry and other key stakeholders to address how they can work more closely 
together on accelerating energy efficiency and re newable energies through the use of international 
standards.  G/TBT/GEN/170 
 
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  4.2.  A set of recommendations were laid out that centred on improving communication, 
transparency and collaboration, with the end go al of achieving simple and harmonized global 
solutions. The workshop participants stressed that only when private and public stakeholders work 
hand-in-hand will it be possible to put in place technology-independent decision-making processes, 
well-designed policies and the right technology systems.  
4.2  DCMAS Network 13th Annual Meet ing – Warsaw, Poland, 12 April 2014 
4.3.  The members of the DCMAS (Network on Metrology, Accreditation and Standardization for 
Developing Countries) were in Warsaw for their annual meeting. The Network brings together 10 
international organizations: BIPM, IAF, IEC, IL AC, ISO, ITC, ITU, OIML, UNECE and UNIDO and 
meets once a year to share new developments in  members’ respective programmes for developing 
countries and to decide on possible collective actions and events. 
4.3  Cooperation with UNIDO  
4.4.  The IEC was invited with other DCMAS partners to present its activities for the UNIDO Trade 
Capacity Building course for Caucasus and CIS countries which was held in Warsaw, Poland, 9-16 
April 2014. Present at the UNIDO TCB course were two IEC Full Members (Belarus and Ukraine), 
two IEC Associate Members (Georgia and Moldova), and two IEC Affiliates countries (Armenia and 
Azerbaijan). The IEC’s presentation provided an ov erview of its structure, its standardization and 
conformity assessment activities whilst also highlighting how to get further involved with the IEC.   
4.4  UNSE4ALL Practitioner Network – 8 May 2014 4.5.  In advance of the first annual UN Sustainabl e Energy for All Forum (New York, USA, 4-6 June 
2014), the IEC made a presentation on the IEC White Paper, Microgrids for disaster preparedness 
and recovery, during the Practitioner Network monthly teleconference call.  
4.6.  This White Paper, by the IEC MSB (Market Strategy Board), considers preparation for and 
recovery from major electricity outages, with a focus on customer-side measures. It examines how 
disaster preparedness and post disaster recovery may benefit from standards and the design of 
plans for coordinated activity. 
5  IEC CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES  
5.1  New IEC Conformity Assessment System – IECRE 
5.1.  The IEC CAB (Conformity Assessment Board) has decided to establish a 4th CA (Conformity 
Assessment) System to manage new CA Schemes in the renewable energy sector under the name IECRE, including wind, marine, solar photovoltaic energy and, eventually, other technologies. A 
defining characteristic of this new IEC CA System will be that it will embody both a system and 
lifecycle approach to conformity assessment. 
5.2.  IEC Affiliate Countries that have the IEC ACAS status will now also be able to benefit from the 
new IECRE CA System in addition to the current  three, namely IECEE, IECEx and IECQ. Other 
benefits for IEC ACAS countries include regional events, webinars and assistance from the IEC Affiliate Secretariat. IECQ is the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components. 
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