Geneva, Switzerland- —Strong interest by newly industrializing nations in the International Electrotechnical Commission ‘s (IEC) Affiliate Country Program has increased countries participating in IEC’s work to 114. The affiliate program offers these countries a way to participate in IEC without the financial burden of membership. The program seeks to encourage greater awareness and use of IEC’s international standards in these countries, while helping them understand and participate in the commission’s work.
IEC reports that membership provides a global forum for the preparation and implementation of consensus-based voluntary international standards. The organization adds that this facilitates international trade in its field, and helps meet participants’ expectations for improved quality of life.
The two principal forms of active participation in the IEC’s work are membership and associate membership. Membership gives countries the possibility of fully participating in international standardization activities. Members are national committees, which each have equal voting rights. Associate membership allows for limited participation of countries with limited resources. Associate members have observer status and can participate in all IEC meetings. They have no voting rights.
Presently, IEC has 52 members and 11 associate members. These associates include Vietnam and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Launched in 2001, the Affiliate Country Pro-gram has 51 participants.
Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jim Montague, news editor
