CB-Scheme Workshop, Tel-Aviv, 29 June 2010 Standardization and Conformity Assessment in Israel from a Regulator’s Point of View Grisha Deitch Commissioner of Standardization State of Israel Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor

Israel's total foreign trade and imports and exports of Machinery and Electrical equipment ( Millions of US Dollars) Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization Change EXPORTS 4.1 %11,94611,473Electrical Equip % 36,33741,941Total Israel Change IMPORTS % 10,09112,729Electrical Equip % 42,05055,808Total Israel

Mandatory Standard After consultation with representatives of producers and consumers the Minister may - by a proclamation published in the Official Gazette - proclaim part or all of a certain standard to be a Mandatory Israel Standard, if he concludes that it is necessary for the achievement of one of the following objectives: Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization 1. Maintaining public health 2. Maintaining public safety 3. Protecting the quality of the environment

Duty to adhere to Mandatory Standard “ No person shall produce, sell, import or use in any work a commodity, a specification of which has been defined as a mandatory standard, unless such commodity conforms to the requirements of the mandatory standard …” Standards Law Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization

Mandatory standardization: How it works in Israel The advantage of the Israeli system of having standards the requirements of which aredirectly obligatory (Mandatory Standards) lies in its transparency which is so important for international free trade and competition. These Mandatory Standards are initially prepared as voluntary, in public committees. Their existence is published in the Official Gazette, in various catalogues and then, after changing their status to mandatory, in the Free Import Order. The advantage of the Israeli system of having standards the requirements of which are directly obligatory (Mandatory Standards) lies in its transparency which is so important for international free trade and competition. These Mandatory Standards are initially prepared as voluntary, in public committees. Their existence is published in the Official Gazette, in various catalogues and then, after changing their status to mandatory, in the Free Import Order. Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization

The Standards Law states as follows: “ The Commissioner of Standardization may, at any reasonable time, carry out an inspection in order to examine whether the provisions of this Law are complied with …” Standards Law, Article 10 (a) Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization

Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization “ In carrying out an inspection, the Commissioner, or any person authorized by him on his behalf may: 1. Enter, … any place where he has reason to believe that a product, the specification for which has been prescribed as a mandatory standard, is produced or kept …, and check any product …, and take a sample for the purpose of testing … 2. Seize or retain anything which he has reason to believe that an offence against the provision of this Law has been committed in respect thereof …” Standards Law, Article 10 (b).

Standards Law “ In publishing a standard, the SII shall adopt, in general, international standards that are accepted in developed countries.” Standards Law (5 th amendment, Jan. 2000) Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization

On August 8, 2007 Israel’s cabinet passed a resolution titled: “Improvement of Terms of Trade - Standardization”. It stated that by 2010, 65% of mandatory standards would be regional or international. On August 8, 2007 Israel’s cabinet passed a resolution titled: “Improvement of Terms of Trade - Standardization”. It stated that by 2010, 65% of mandatory standards would be regional or international. The resolution was accompanied by a special budget of US$ 10 million for the Standards Institution of Israel. The resolution was accompanied by a special budget of US$ 10 million for the Standards Institution of Israel. Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization Israel’s cabinet resolution on standardization

Adoptions to date constitute 65% of mandatory standards. Of these: Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization Adoption of International Standards 60% are International (ISO/IEC) 35% are European (CEN-CENELEC) 5% “other”, including U.S.A. 5% “other”, including U.S.A.

Reforming Import Inspections As of June , all imported goods subject to mandatory standards were divided into 4 groups. The guiding principle: the level of potential risk to public safety and health. Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization

Rationale and objectives Facilitation of examinations of imported goods for conformity to mandatory standards. Facilitation of examinations of imported goods for conformity to mandatory standards. Lowering of trade barriers Lowering of trade barriers Creation of MRAs of conformity to standards Creation of MRAs of conformity to standards Presumption of conformity Presumption of conformity Strengthening of Market Surveillance Strengthening of Market Surveillance Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization

The 4 levels of inspection Group 1: Highest level of risk Examples: Toys, electrical home appliances, fire extinguishers. No change in existing procedures, an examination of each shipment is still a requirement for release from customs. Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization

Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization Group 2: Medium level of potential risk Examples: Pipe fittings, carpets, lighting fixtures, electrical tools, automatic gate openers. One time permit based on a type approval test. Importer’s declaration - goods in subsequent shipments are identical to the authorized type and conform to the relevant standards. Inspections of each shipment - no longer required. The 4 levels of inspection

Group 3: Inherent low level of risk Examples: Sun glasses,, ceramic sanitary fixtures, highway lighting, co-axial cables, condensers, incandescent lamps. Only importer’s declaration of conformity to applicable mandatory standards required. No examination of goods required. Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization The 4 levels of inspection

Group 4: Goods solely for industrial use (not for direct consumer use) Examples: electrical industrial items. Release of these goods from customs will not depend at all on obtaining a certificate of conformity to mandatory standards. Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization The 4 levels of inspection

We prefer certificates from bodies associated with IECEE - CB Scheme. They are backed by the reputation and prestige of IECEE, known to be * Highly reliable * Transparent * Cooperative Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization IECEE - CB SCHEME certification

IECEE monitors: * Member bodies * Certification bodies * Independent testing laboratories * Manufacturers testing laboratories It verifies the validity of CB Test Certificates Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Commissioner of Standardization Reliability of CB Scheme Certificates

Thank you for your attention! Grisha Deitch - Commissioner of Standardization, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, 5 Bank of Israel Street, 91036, Jerusalem. Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, 5 Bank of Israel Street, 91036, Jerusalem. Telephone: ; Fax: ; Website: (also contains English text)