October 2014: Major NRTL Program Changes & Compliance Updates
In October 2014, significant changes were anticipated for the NRTL program, driven by a new "Directive" that aimed to align requirements with international standards like ISO/IEC17025 and 17065. These updates, influenced by EU and international practices, sought to address conflicts of interest for NRTLs, define the use of outside labs, and clarify staff qualifications. A public meeting was scheduled for October 22, 2014, in Washington D.C., to discuss these impending program modifications.
The IEEE’s ISPCE Symposium for 2015, chaired by John Allen, focuses on “The Ever Changing Role of the Compliance Engineer,” providing essential knowledge for product designers and new compliance engineers. This symposium, held in Chicago in May 2015, covers critical areas such as UL, CSA, and IEC Standards, European Norms, EU Directives, RoHS, WEEE, REACH, and more. It includes a “Compliance 101″ track for foundational knowledge and encourages experienced professionals to share their expertise. John Allen also recently presented on compliance navigation, receiving positive feedback.