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40 Years of IECEE: Shaping Product Safety and International Trade

This year, IECEE (the IEC System for Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components) celebrates its 40th anniversary - a milestone that highlights its immense impact on global trade, consumer safety, and technological innovation. Over four decades, IECEE has grown into the most recognized system for reducing technical barriers in international trade, ensuring that a single set of tests and conformity assessments for electrical equipment and components is valid worldwide.

The Institute for Standardization of Serbia, as a full member of both the IEC and IECEE, actively participates in this system, contributing to its development while simultaneously providing a pathway to global markets for domestic manufacturers.

The Beginning: From CEE to IECEE

The history of IECEE dates back to the 20th century. As electrical installations and devices were rapidly being introduced worldwide, a need for a harmonized approach to product safety emerged. After the Second World War, the European conformity assessment system CEE was founded. In 1985, it joined forces with the IEC and became IECEE.

The 1980s saw a boom in international trade and electrical products, from household appliances to personal computers. The increasing flow of goods across borders created a need for a common language of safety and quality. Globalization and international trade led to a system that was essential for manufacturers, one that could harmonize hundreds of different requirements in various countries. The IECEE's CB Scheme does exactly that.

The CB Scheme: One Test for the Whole World

The CB Scheme (Certification Body Scheme) operates on the principle of mutual recognition of test results and conformity assessments among national bodies, which reduces costs and saves time for manufacturers.

Today, IECEE brings together 53 countries and 94 national certification bodies with a network of 596 accredited laboratories and more than 15 000 manufacturers. Every year, over 120 000 certificates are issued, enabling faster and safer access to global markets. This system ensures that products bearing an IECEE certificate meet the requirements of international standards and are safe and reliable in every market.

Expanding Scope and Application

While initially focused on classic electrical safety, IECEE has adapted to new challenges over the decades. It is now present in fields such as solar photovoltaic panels, cells and battery packs, energy efficiency, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), hazardous substances, electric vehicles, industrial automation, functional safety, and cybersecurity.

New Initiatives: Competence Certification

IECEE doesn’t just certify products; it is increasingly recognizing the importance of the human factor by enabling the assessment of knowledge and skills of industry professionals. It also certifies those who handle, maintain, or integrate these products into systems based on Serbian standard  SRPS ISO/IEC 17024:2012, Conformity assessment - General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons, which outlines general requirements for bodies that perform the certification of persons.

The Role of the Institute for Standardization of Serbia

The Institute for Standardization of Serbia (ISS), as a member of the IEC and IECEE, actively contributes to the international harmonization of standards. This membership allows domestic manufacturers to more easily place their products on foreign markets, relying on internationally recognized certificates.

In this way, Serbia is part of a global community that ensures equal conditions for all market participants, protecting consumer safety and fostering innovation. This also means contributing to global security and the advancement of the national economy.

To celebrate this anniversary, the IEC is organizing an online panel where experts will discuss the evolution, achievements, and growing importance of IECEE in today’s rapidly changing technological environment.

You can participate in the online panel by registering on the following link:  https://iec.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nsHhZWU_RuOkBGKTyZgA4w#/registration.