IFAN working and project groups

WG - working group; PG - project group

European Group

Created:
October 2002

Task:
To deal with standard users' issues specific to Europe and to improve IFAN cooperation with CEN and CENELEC.

WG 1 "Promotion and standardization awareness"

Created: 
November 1998

Task:
Assisting the IFAN Board in the preparation of promotion products and materials, e.g. Internet Web site, IFAN logo, leaflets on IFAN, IFAN stationery, slides, IFAN gifts, etc.

WG 3 "Standards access and distribution"

Created:
June 1999

Task:
• Studying user needs in the field of access to and distribution of standards including the application of electronic tools for these purposes, and
• Advising the IFAN Board on the development of IFAN positions with regard to issues related to standards access and distribution.

WG 8 "Conformity assessment"

Created:
March 2000

Task:
• To develop, enhance and implement IFAN strategies and policies on conformity assessment;
• To establish liaisons with international organizations concerned with conformity assessment (ISO, IAF, ILAC, IEC, etc.), nominate IFAN representatives to these groups as appropriate, serve as a consultation forum for the representatives concerned and prepare IFAN positions on issues under discussion;
• To plan and carry out initiatives with respect to the implementation of IFAN strategies and policies on conformity assessment.

PG 14 "Social Responsibility"

Created:
October 2002

Task:
To collect and to collate positions of IFAN members with regard to corporate social responsibility (CSR), to deliver these positions to the TMB Advisory Group on CSR and to monitor further developments concerning this subject.

WG 15 "Standardization strategies"

Created:
October 2002

Task:
To identify user needs, analyze current and future strategies and draft strategies of international and regional standards organizations, analyse the situation with respect to carrying out the strategies of interest to IFAN, and cooperate with these organizations in order to promote users' points of view and needs.

WG 16 "Education and training "

Created:
June 2005

Task:
• To support and promote initiatives in education and training in the standardization field at international, regional and national levels;
• To observe initiatives and inform the communities concerned by standardization (stakeholders, users, education professionals, experts, etc.) on education and training in the standardization field at international, regional and national levels;
• To support, facilitate and encourage networking in this field.

WG 17 "IP and standards "

Created:
February 2009

Task:
• To study the relationship between Intellectual Property (e.g. patents, copyright) and Standards and its impact on the user;
• To enhance the awareness of stakeholders concerning all interactions between Intellectual Property and standards systems ;
• To advise the IFAN board on the development of IFAN positions with regard to issues related to Intellectual Property rights.

The following working and project groups have been disbanded since they accomplished their tasks or combined with other groups, or their activities were transferred to the IFAN Board: