IEC Quality Assessment System
IECQ Newslog
Keeping our smart world safe
IEC expert Kaitlin O’Keefe, Head of Engineering at RF Safety Laboratory, explains how standards and conformity assessment are essential in ensuring ou...
Batteries: the weak link in a circular economy?
Batteries pose plenty of challenges for sustainability. But there are ways to ensure they remain a key enabler of the clean energy transition, with th...
Testing solar aircraft
As the world faces growing pressure to reduce carbon emissions, a handful of aviation pioneers are betting on solar plane technology.
The tram, a model of sustainable transport
They’ve been around for over 200 years and while they once fell out of favour to make room for the bus and car, trams seem to be making a comeback in ...
What are the standards for ingestible and implantable devices?
The trend for ingestible and implantable body devices is promising to revolutionize healthcare. But challenges remain, including the need for standard...
The magic of transient electronics
With a rapid surge in innovations, how close are transient electronics to becoming a part of our daily lives? And how can the IEC pave the way for the...
The booming market for human augmentation
Find out more about the growing market for exoskeleton technology and how IEC Standards and conformity assessment are pivotal in ensuring its safe and...
The next frontier for brain-computer interfaces
Companies are investing in brain-computer interface (BCI) tech, but hurdles remain, some of which can be overcome with standards.
Leading with trustworthy carbon footprint goals
Monitoring and reporting carbon footprint has been high on the agenda of most global climate action plans, and industries are turning to trustworthy a...
IEC work to promote industry transparency on PFAS
PFAS are widely prevalent substances in several every day products from electronics to food packaging. Amidst debate around increasing PFAS restrictio...
Providing a circular life for electronics
The rise in patterns of over consumption is a huge challenge that has to be addressed, if we want our planet to be sustainable for future generations....
Fungal sensors for a smarter home
In an innovative project, scientists are turning to one of the oldest group of living organisms, fungi, to solve problems of energy wastage. Discover ...
Making healthcare accessible in the age of smart cities
As cities become smarter, discover how healthcare is becoming more accessible and personalized, and how the IEC is a key enabler.
Halogens: a new guide for an environmentally conscious market
Halogen use in various product sectors presents challenging questions. Find out how a new IEC Guide can help manufacturers regulators and even c...
Super smart city lights
How can lights help smart cities meet some of their targets? The answer is in many ways, with the help of the IEC.
Powering economic growth and sustainability
Power electronics can play a pivotal role in achieving net-zero goals while still contributing to economic growth in a society that is increasingly el...
Betting on nuclear energy to reduce carbon emissions
Despite its flaws, nuclear power is seen as one of the ways of helping the transition to zero emissions in some countries. IEC Standards help it to be...
Can industry reach net-zero?
Industries are vying to reduce their carbon emissions, as pressure to meet climate targets mounts. IEC Standards and conformity assessment can help.
Smart sensors for safer roads
A connected transport system based on real-time monitoring with smart sensors affords obvious safety advantages. Challenges in setting up the appropri...
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...
