RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/W/85
9 September 1998
(98-3442)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
INFORMATION EXCHANGE IN RELATION TO MEMBERS' EXPERIENCE IN THE
VARIOUS TYPES OF CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
Contribution from Thailand
1. This document is being submitted to the Comm ittee on Technical Barriers to Trade in the
light of the First Triennial Review of the Operation and Implementation of the Agreement on
Technical Barriers to Trade (G/TBT/5) with a view  to exchanging information on the national practice
regarding conformity assessment procedures.
2. Three types of conformity assessment procedures are operated in Thailand, i.e. product
certification, system certification and accreditation sy stem.  In development of these procedures, the
ISO/IEC Guides as well as other international guides  such as those of the International Accreditation
Forum (IAF) and the International Auditor and Training Certification Association (IATCA) are usedas a basis to ensure systematic and continual development, and technical competence of organizations,
procedures and personnel as well as to facilitate arrangements for mutual recognition.
I. PRODUCT CERTIFICATION
3. Under the Industrial Product Standards Act, the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) has
been designated as a national body for the third-party certification of industrial products.  Any
manufacturer whose product is in conformity with a Thai industrial standard (TIS) may apply for
product certification.  Two technical principles are used for granting certification:
- testing of a product to ensure conformity with the applicable standard;
- assessment of the factory's quality control system according to specified conditions.
4. Followed by surveillance of at least twice a year, successful manufacturers are licensed to
display the TISI Standards Mark on their products.
5. Recently, TISI has revised the criteria for conformity assessment procedures for product
certification to be in accordance with the international system.  Accreditation has been introduced as a
condition for accepting testing results or certification of other countries.
6. Where the need arises for a manufacturer of a product without an established standard to have
his product certified, product registration can be applied to.  Criteria for registration are specifications
issued by other public agencies, foreign national standards, international standards or research data.
./.G/TBT/W/85
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II. SYSTEM CERTIFICATION
7. Since 1990, TISI has launched a number of system certifications.  These include quality
management system certification (ISO 9000), environment management system certification
(ISO 14000) and occupational health and safety certification (TIS 18000).  A list of certified
companies is also available through the TISI home page.
III. ACCREDITATION SYSTEM
8. The Thai accreditation system (TAS) is operated and carried out be the Office of the National
Accreditation Council (ONAC), a government organization under the Ministry of Industry, in order to
provide formal recognition that a certification body is competent to carry out specific functions
according to the relevant international requirements.  The system covers five schemes:
- quality system certification bodies;
- environment management system certification bodies;- inspection bodies;
- laboratories;
- training organizations.
IV. COMMENTS
9. Thailand believes that in order to achieve "one test, one certificate", the focus should be on
the harmonization of conformity assessment procedures to the international system.  The TBT
Committee should cooperate with relevant international organizations in assisting Members to
implement the relevant ISO/IEC Guides.
10. Mutual recognition arrangements will not be possible if technical infrastructure for
conformity assessment procedures remains inadequate.  Cooperation or assistance among Members
should be encouraged.
11. Developed countries should provide the opportunity to developing countries, of which
procedures for conformity assessment are in line with the international system, in entering into
negotiations for mutual recognition agreements.
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