[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 1, Parts 0 to 299]
[Revised as of January 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR286.2]

[Page 425]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
 CHAPTER II--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT 
                               OF COMMERCE
 
PART 286--NATIONAL VOLUNTARY CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT SYSTEM EVALUATION (NVCASE) PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 286.2  Scope.

    (a) For purposes of this program, conformity assessment consists of 
product sample testing, product certification, and quality system 
registration. Associated activities can be classified by level:
    (1) Conformity level: This level encompasses comparing a product, 
process, service, or system with a standard or specification. As 
appropriate, the evaluating body can be a testing laboratory, product 
certifier or certification body, or quality system registrar.
    (2) Accreditation level: This level encompasses the evaluation of a 
testing laboratory, a certification body, or a quality system registrar 
by an independent body--an accreditation body--based on requirements for 
the acceptance of these bodies, and the granting of accreditation to 
those which meet the established requirements.
    (3) Recognition level: This level encompasses the evaluation of an 
accreditation body based on requirements for its acceptance, and the 
recognition by the evaluating body of the accreditation body which 
satisfies the established requirements.
    (b) NIST operates the NVCASE program as follows:
    (1) Conformity level: Under this program NIST accepts requests for 
evaluations of U.S. bodies involved in activities related to conformity 
assessment. NIST does not perform conformity assessments as part of the 
program and therefore does not accept requests for such evaluations.
    (2) Accreditation level: NIST accepts requests for accreditation of 
conformity assessment bodies only when (i) directed by U.S. law; (ii) 
requested by another U.S. government agency; or (iii) requested to 
respond to a specific U.S. industrial or technical need, relative to a 
mandatory foreign technical requirement, if it has been determined after 
public consultation that (A) there is no satisfactory accreditation 
alternative available and the private sector has declined to make 
acceptable accreditation available, and (B) there is evidence that 
significant public disadvantage would result from the absence of any 
alternative.
    (3) Recognition level: NIST accepts requests for recognition of 
bodies that accredit testing laboratories, certification bodies, and 
quality system registrars when (i) directed by U.S. law; (ii) requested 
by another U.S. government agency; or (iii) requested to respond to a 
specific U.S. industrial or technical need relative to a mandatory 
foreign technical requirement if it has been determined after public 
consultation that (A) there is no suitable alternative available and (B) 
there is evidence that significant public disadvantage would result from 
the absence of any alternative.