IECQ Newslog

The power of consumer choice

As sustainability climbs to the top of consumer priorities, there is a growing demand for trustworthy information about a product’s environmental impa...

A diagnostic centre on my wrist

Smart wearable devices are a booming industry. But what challenges lie in the way of the growing implementation of wearables in healthcare? And how do...

Verifying “green” claims

Today, sustainability is a global priority for industry at large. As companies incorporate more sustainable approaches, it is also important to eviden...

A green portfolio of certification services to help advance Sustainable Development Goals

With the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN for 2030 edging closer to their deadline, there’s a need for more substantial measures ...

The dire need for regulation based on standards for global e-waste management

The burgeoning quantities of e-waste and how to dispose of them safely, pose a huge global challenge. Standards and certification can help to meet the...

IEC CA Systems: Ensuring trust, sustainability, and gender diversity

Marie-Elisabeth d'Ornano is the Certification Director at LCIE Bureau Veritas, a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification services. She...

The crucial role of quality sensors in performance analysis

Be it football, ice hockey or a marathon, sensors and performance tracking are indispensable to the current generation of sports. Furthering its safe ...

How IECQ supports the circular economy and climate action

IECQ has widened its remit to offer a complete green package of services to its users, with a combination of proven and new schemes.

Hospitals go green in the fight against climate change

Many hospitals around the world are looking to become more sustainable and are making processes more energy efficient with the help of IEC Standards a...

Cyber security: safeguarding global trade

The global expansion of the Internet and widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and other disruptive techno...

How to assess green manufacturing

Businesses around the world are facing pressure to show that they actively contribute to lowering their carbon footprint and produce sustainable goods...

How to counter greenwashing with independent third-party certification

IEC Conformity Assessment schemes, such as the ones offered by IECQ, provide much needed services to measure and verify companies' environmental claim...

IECQ contributes to a greener, safer world

Many countries around the world are taking measures to tackle climate change and reduce energy consumption on a large scale. Will they be sufficient? ...

Working together on e-waste and ecodesign

Together, IEC International Standards and the four IEC Conformity Assessment (CA) Systems play a major role in meeting all the UN Sustainable Developm...

How IEC Conformity Assessment Systems help to meet the UN SDGs

David Hanlon is the Conformity Assessment Board (CAB) Secretary at the IEC. He explains how testing and certification are indispensable tools in achie...

IECQ and IEC TC 111 join forces on ecodesign

Green, sustainable, eco-friendly, eco-conscious, eco-minded, eco-responsible: these words are increasingly part of the marketing language of many comp...

IECQ certification, a crucial requirement for ISO/IEC 27001

Cyber attacks are multiplying all around the world. Their targets are not only industrial plants but also authorities at the local, regional or nation...

Never compromise safety thanks to IECQ

Semiconductors rarely make headlines in the mainstream press – they are usually confined to trade magazines and specialized blogs. This has changed re...

Technology showcased at the Tokyo Olympics

The pandemic that has affected the whole world since the beginning of 2020 has had major consequences in all walks of life.

Improved safety in the nuclear industry through IECQ

Industry is always looking for ways to improve the safety, reliability and quality of its products and services. While this is true for all businesses...

Safety for e-scooters and pedestrians

Boomers or their parents may have fond memories of the kick scooters they rode on when they were kids. In those days, nobody could imagine adults usin...

Innovations in the time of COVID-19

In the 20th century, wars and other catastrophic global events wreaked havoc and at the same time, were the triggering factor for technological, medic...

G20 standards summit highlights key role of standards in global crisis management and digital transformation

The Riyadh International Standards Summit held on 4 November 2020 examined the themes of Global crises need global solutions – How international stand...

Electronic components keep our smart world going

For the past 15 years or so, the world had become smarter than ever.

Protecting assets

It is reasonable to say that companies, whether small- or medium-size, multinationals, industrial or service-oriented, that are technology-driven are ...

From boomers to gen Zers

For the first time perhaps in the history of mankind, industrialized countries now often have four generations cohabiting in the workplace: baby boome...

Winning trust

In today’s world of ultra-smart technology, being smart doesn’t only mean being well connected, but also well protected against security breaches. Whi...

Have you taken your medication today?

As far back as 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that only about 50% of patients with chronic diseases living in developed countries...

Protection from cyber threats and beyond

In many countries, the networked connection of physical objects is the norm today, in homes and businesses, transport, healthcare, entertainment and s...

Smart made safe

In the last decade the healthcare sector, which had until then been mainly in the hands of professionals, has seen a major shift. People now keep tabs...

Fostering sustainable consumption and production

In the last 50 years, the global population has consumed more goods and services than the combined total of all previous generations. This has fostere...

Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through standardization

To achieve this, in 2015, United Nations Member States adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Trust in your electronics

Technological development in the electronics industry has evolved not just at a rapid pace but has been accelerating steadily over the past 20 to 30 y...

IEC presence on six continents

Since the beginning of the 2000s, IEC Central office in Geneva, Switzerland, has decentralized some of its activities, establishing regional offices f...

Invaluable support for developing countries

Each year sees an increase not only in the number of countries participating in the IEC Affiliate Country Programme but also in the number of Internat...

Safe connections

Artificial intelligence, robotics, biometrics, virtual and augmented reality, smart transportation, digital health and 5G connectivity are hot topics ...

Managing hazardous substances

Take a moment to think about the number of electronic devices you’ve acquired in your lifetime. Can you remember all the computers, tablets, phones, g...

Waste not, want not!

As the amount of electronic and electrical equipment waste (e-waste) generated each year continues to increase, the work accomplished by the IEC becom...

Small and powerful

Electronics are omnipresent today. For the younger generations, it must be difficult to imagine life without the array of electronic, smart devices th...

All systems under control

Avionics - a term coined from the merging of aviation and electronics - deals with all electronic devices and systems that perform specific individual...

Electronics inside

What do artificial intelligence, robotics, biometrics, virtual and augmented reality, sports innovations, digital health and 5G connectivity have in c...

Baby tech boom

Baby-related technology is increasingly about monitoring newborns from afar using the latest facial recognition tools and artificial intelligence soft...

Ever smaller, safer and more powerful

With the digitization of societies, electronics has become ubiquitous in modern life. Smart devices and appliances, industrial automation and robotics...

Home smart home

The market for smart home devices and systems is booming. The IEC is helping the various industries involved by publishing a number of Standards in th...

Digitization: direct impact on standardization

In his address to Council, Frans Vreeswijk, IEC General Secretary & CEO, reminded the audience that digitization is a key focus for both industry ...

Electronics essential for sustainable energy model

The demand for energy is growing fast, for electricity even faster. To meet the needs of over 9 billion people by 2050, energy production will have to...

2017 IEC Awards

Every year the IEC honours the commitment and work of a number of individuals in its community who, through their leadership and technical expertise, ...

Strengthening participation

Each year sees an increase not only in the number of countries participating in the IEC Affiliate Country Programme but also in the number of Internat...

A global approach

All IEC regional centres are focal points for IEC standardization activities in their respective part of the world. They have greatly contributed to r...

Smart, safe and reliable

Inventions of past centuries have paved the way for today’s technological innovations. This is the case for many of the electronic components that we ...

In the home stretch

From smart clothes to talking cows: the IEC prepares Standards for the latest wearable applications.

Independence Day

Using new technology and gadgets to help the elderly and people with disabilities stay independent in and outside the home is the approach favoured by...

Obituary - Dave W. Smith

It is with great sadness that the IEC learnt of the passing away of former IECQ Chair Dave W. Smith on 20 June 2017.

Green connections

Smart and connectivity are two of the words that probably best describe our society in the 21st century. Everyone and everything is connected nowadays...

Wear your health on your sleeve

New flexible and organic printing technologies are revolutionizing the medical wearable device market and the IEC is establishing the key relevant Int...

Sensors at the heart of disaster relief

Long gone is the time when populations knew of an earthquake when it was actually happening, when rescue teams cleared rubble with their bare hands, w...

Plug and play for refugees

Access to clean and affordable energy for all is a sustainable development goal for the United Nations and the IEC is contributing to the ef...

Smarter than the average lamppost

Want a weather update, real-time air pollution status, or are you just trying to find that elusive parking space? It’s simple…ask the lamppost!

With a little help from ADAS

Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are developed to automate, adapt and/or enhance vehicle systems for safety and better driving. 

Smart home: a life-changing experience

While recent developments in home automation are bound to make anyone’s life easier, there are certain categories of the population for which it may b...

A certificate in record time

Demand for the use of solid state technology for general and specific lighting applications continues to grow at a very rapid pace. Light-emitting dio...