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P4 EPEAT_Product_Registration_System rev6

EPEAT Product Registration System


Context This “EPEAT Product Registration System” document is part of a set of documents that describe the EPEAT green electronics product registration system or scheme. It should be read in the context of the other documents.

EPEAT Program Guidelines

EPEAT Standards Development

EPEAT Product Registration

System

Requirements of CABs CAB Manual ISO/IEC 17020

EPEAT Promotion and

Messaging


Contents Context .......................................................................................................................................................... 2

1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 4

2 Change History ...................................................................................................................................... 4

3 Scope, References and Definitions ....................................................................................................... 5

3.1 Scope ............................................................................................................................................. 5

4 Conformance and the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Program ............................................................. 6

4.1 Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 6

4.2 Principles of Conformance ............................................................................................................ 8

4.2.1 Requirements for declarations ............................................................................................. 8 4.2.2 Country specific declarations ................................................................................................ 9 4.2.3 Desk Review .......................................................................................................................... 9 4.2.4 Verification .......................................................................................................................... 10 4.2.5 Conformity Decision Panel .................................................................................................. 10 4.2.6 Corrective Action Phase ...................................................................................................... 11

4.3 Key Guidance Documents When Determining Conformance .................................................... 11

5 GEC’s Roles in Conformity Assurance ................................................................................................. 12

5.1 Approval and Qualification of Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) ......................................... 12

5.1.1 Applicant CABs .................................................................................................................... 13 5.1.2 Approving CABs ................................................................................................................... 14

5.2 Training of Approved CABs ......................................................................................................... 14

5.2.1 CAB Training ........................................................................................................................ 14 5.2.2 Auditor Training .................................................................................................................. 14

5.3 Oversight and Support of CABs ................................................................................................... 15

5.4 On-going Oversight of CABs ........................................................................................................ 17

5.4.1 CAB Audits ........................................................................................................................... 17 5.5 On-going Activities ...................................................................................................................... 17

5.5.1 Verification .......................................................................................................................... 17 5.5.2 Maintaining and Facilitating the Conformity Decisions Panel (CDP) .................................. 18

5.6 Policing Appropriate Use of EPEAT Name and Marks ................................................................. 18

6 Requirements of Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs)...................................................................... 18

7 For More Information ......................................................................................................................... 18


1 Introduction EPEAT® is a comprehensive environmental rating system that helps purchasers identify greener electronic equipment. General information on the EPEAT System is contained in EPEAT Program Guidelines which can be found here.

The EPEAT Registry is a list of the products that meet the environmental requirements of standards that are implemented in EPEAT. Manufacturers enter their products into the Registry by declaring to a Conformity Assurance Body that the products meet the individual criteria of the standards, using an on-line database application. When the CAB has qualified the declarations they approve the product’s addition to the public EPEAT Registry, completing registration of the product. GEC operates a Conformity Assurance program to assure the accuracy of the declarations in the Registry.

2 Change History Issue Revision Author Description of Change Approver Date

Approved

1 0 J. Omelchuck Initial Release CEO 1/8/15

1 1 J. Omelchuck Changed section 5.1 to refer to EPEAT Requirements of PREs for PRE eligibility requirements, changed section 5.4.1 and 5.4.2 to refer to EPEAT Requirements of PREs, changed section 5.4.2 to apply only when EPEAT performs an audit.

CEO 1/26/15

1 2 M. Bower Updated naming conventions; referenced revised SOPs; updated CAB application and approval process

J. Omelchuck 11/5/15

1 3 M. Bower Added definition of conformance in section 4.2 and how it relates to administrative requirements. Fixed author (now M. Bower) and approval (J. Omelchuck)

J. Omelchuck 2/1/16

1 4 M. Bower Added reference to Clarifications procedure P20 in 4.3; changed definition of conformance from 30 days to 60 days in 4.2

J. Omelchuck 8/8/16

1 5 L. Fernandez-Salvador

Updated CDP review process procedures in Section 4.2.5; changed CAM to CA staff in several sections

M. Bower 01/05/17

http://www.epeat.net/about-epeat/registry-services/#tabs-1=technicaldocuments


1 6 L. Fernandez-Salvador

Updated to add adjustments in response to changes made in P26 and P33. Changed procedure for CAB Review.

M. Bower 9/28/17

Effective 1/1/18

3 Scope, References and Definitions

3.1 Scope This EPEAT Product Registration System document specifies the role of GEC as the scheme owner of EPEAT and outlines the minimum requirements of the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Process. Requirements of Participating Manufacturers and of Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) can be found in separate documents.

This EPEAT Product Registration System document applies primarily to the Registry Services Department of the Green Electronics Council, which manages the EPEAT Program.

References and Definitions

The following documents are indispensable for the application of this EPEAT Product Registration System, in some cases with amendments as identified. Definitions within these documents are included by reference. Undated references indicate that the latest edition of the referenced document applies.

GEC approved standards: IEEE 1680; IEEE 1680.1; IEEE 1680.2; IEEE 1680.3; UL 110

P1 EPEAT Program Guidelines developed and maintained by the Green Electronics Council

P26 EPEAT License and Participating Manufacturer Agreement between GEC and each participating Manufacturer

P33 Agreement Between Conformity Assurance Body and Green Electronics Council

P7 EPEAT Style Guide

P15 Verification Procedure

P16 CAB Manual

ISO/IEC 17000, Conformity assessment – Vocabulary and general principals

ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of calibration and testing laboratories

ISO/IEC 17020, General requirements for the competence of inspection bodies


Other definitions that apply to this EPEAT Product Registration System document include:

• Conformance – Consistent with the definition of “conformity assessment” in ISO/IEC 17000, “Conformance” means that the Manufacturer meets the requirements of (conforms to) the requirements of the EPEAT Program, including that they can prove the accuracy of their declarations within 60 days of GEC’s request , as per the rules of the EPEAT Program. Thus, a Manufacturer that fails to prove that a declaration is accurate within the agreed time is Non-conformant, regardless of whether the declaration is in fact accurate.

• EPEAT Participating Manufacturer (Manufacturer) – A brand owner that registers their products in the EPEAT system. A Manufacturer may also be referred to as a “Subscriber”.

• Market Surveillance Entity, or MSE – A role described in IEEE 1680 that is substantially filled by the Registry Services Department of GEC. GEC is the MSE in the EPEAT system.

• Product Registration Entity, or Conformity Assurance Body – a role that is described in 1680 that is substantially filled by GEC approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs). CABs are PREs in the EPEAT System. The roles, responsibilities and requirements of CABs are defined in P5 EPEAT Requirements of CABs and P16 CAB Manual.

• Registry – the public facing list of products which have been declared to meet the criteria in GEC approved standards.

4 Conformance and the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Program

4.1 Overview EPEAT is a Product Registration System that results in one Registry of products that meet the requirements in GEC approved standards. In order to maintain the accuracy of the Registry, GEC must ensure the consistency of the processes that allow products to appear on the Registry. As the owner of the EPEAT System and Registry, GEC is the “scheme owner” that establishes the requirements for all parties in the system, manages the program to ensure that requirements are met, and controls the use of the EPEAT name and marks. This role is analogous to the “Market Surveillance Entity” or MSE as defined in the IEEE 1680 series of standards that are implemented in EPEAT.

Figure 1 is an overview of the EPEAT Conformity Assurance process.


Figure 1: EPEAT Conformity Assurance Process

GEC enables a role for organizations, called Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs), to support Manufacturers in making accurate declarations in the EPEAT Registry. GEC approves CABs to work in the EPEAT system. To list products in the EPEAT Registry, Manufacturers must engage one or more qualified


CABs to whom the Manufacturer declares the conformance of their products using an on-line database application.

In EPEAT, a Participating Manufacturer experiences two primary points of conformity assurance. The first is an up-front qualification of the Manufacturer’s initial declarations that is performed to assure that the Manufacturer understands the requirements of each criterion, meets the criterion, and is prepared to demonstrate conformance when requested. This qualification of initial declarations, called “Desk Review”, is performed by the Manufacturer’s selected CAB(s). After a Manufacturer has demonstrated to their CAB that they understand the requirements of a criterion and are prepared to demonstrate conformance to it, the CAB may take the Manufacturer “Off Desk Review” for that criterion. Thereafter the Manufacturer may make declarations of conformance to that criterion through that CAB that appear in the public Registry immediately, without prior review and approval by that CAB. If a CAB loses confidence that their client Manufacturer is making accurate declarations to a criterion they may put the Manufacturer back “On Desk Review” for any criterion or multiple criteria at any time.

The second opportunity to assure conformance is a surveillance process called “Verification” in which GEC selects specific declarations and checks their accuracy on an audit basis. Verification Investigations are planned by GEC and are carried out by Auditors employed or contracted by the CAB to whom a declaration under investigation was made. During Verification Investigations, conformance is either decided by an independent panel of experts maintained by GEC called the Conformity Decision Panel (CDP) or by GEC Conformity Assurance staff (CA staff). In the event of a non-conformance the Manufacturer is required to promptly correct the declaration on the Registry. The results of Verification Investigations are published by GEC, including identifying the products and Manufacturers who were found non-conformant, and what steps were taken to restore conformance.

4.2 Principles of Conformance Consistent with the definition of “conformity assessment” in ISO/IEC 17000, “Conformance” means that the Manufacturer meets the requirements of the EPEAT Program, including that they can prove the accuracy of their declarations within 60 days of GEC’s request, as per the rules of the EPEAT Program. The administrative requirements that Manufactures must meet in EPEAT are limited to establishing conformance and ensuring efficient operation of the EPEAT Program.

The EPEAT Registry and conformity assurance program is intended to assure the following principles of conformance:

4.2.1 Requirements for declarations • Products as registered in EPEAT include all the peripheral parts that are necessary for the

product’s operation and that ship with the product. Declarations apply to these parts as well. • Unless otherwise specified, a “product” as registered includes all possible configurations or

variations that could be offered in a specific marketing model or chassis type. A Manufacturer


may limit the configurations to which a declaration applies by reporting the exceptional configurations to which it does not apply (opt out), or by reporting the configurations to which it does apply (opt in). The Registry software allows such specific product identification and this information is provided to retailers, purchasers and others to enable clear identification of which configurations are covered by a product registration.

• When a Manufacturer declares conformance to a criterion in a GEC-approved standard, the declaration applies to each unit of the product that is sold in the region or country of registration.

• A declaration of conformance made in EPEAT is a declaration to the criterion as written in the GEC-approved standard, subject to any guidance and clarification documents published by the standard owner or by GEC.

• Because EPEAT is a tool to communicate product environmental performance in real time, declarations must be accurate at the time they are made and at all times in which they appear on the Registry. Manufacturers must register products only when they are available on the market and remove products from the Registry when they are no longer offered for sale, and product declarations must be adjusted as needed to reflect changes in materials, components, or contract services during the registration period of a product.

4.2.2 Country specific declarations • Unless otherwise designated in the GEC-approved standard, criteria apply equally everywhere

the product is sold. That is, if conformance is declared anywhere, the criterion must be met everywhere the product is sold (regardless of where the product is EPEAT registered). Currently, standards implemented in EPEAT have two types of geographic applicability. Some criteria must be met equally in all countries in which the product is registered, but need not be met in countries where the product is not registered. A smaller set of criteria may be declared differently in different countries, and the criteria must be met only in countries where they are declared.

4.2.3 Desk Review • Because CABs have a primary role in assuring the accuracy of declarations in the Registry, each

CAB must be prepared to stand behind each declaration they allow to be made by their client Manufacturers. Therefore, all new Manufacturers start out “On Desk Review” with their CAB, and the CAB decides when to take them “Off Desk Review.” CABs should be able to justify each of their decisions to allow a Manufacturer’s declaration to appear on the Registry, either by directly approving the declaration, or by determining that the Manufacturer is competent at making declarations to that criterion.

• Desk Review assures that the Manufacturer understands the criteria to which they are declaring, that they are in fact conformant, and that they are prepared to demonstrate conformance when


requested. The evidence that a CAB requires during Desk Review is substantially the same as is required during Verification.

• Desk Reviews are conducted by qualified CAB personnel.

4.2.4 Verification • All declarations that appear in the public Registry are subject to Verification at all times. • Products and criteria investigated during Verifications are selected without prior notice to the

Manufacturers. • Products and criteria to be investigated during Verification are chosen both randomly and for

cause. For cause investigations are targeted to efficiently use verification resources to maximize the credibility of the Registry, targeting declarations at a higher risk of being inaccurate.

• GEC specifies the method to be used for each Investigation. Methods may include the CAB buying a product on the open market and inspecting it or performing laboratory analytical tests, or requiring the Manufacturer to provide information that demonstrates conformance, or other methods as mutually acceptable to the Manufacturer, CAB and GEC and consistent with the underlying standard and associated documents (as described in Section 4.3 of this document).

• Verification tests the accuracy of a declaration on the Registry as it was at the time the round begins. A Manufacturer may change their declaration at any time, but an Investigation will verify that the declaration was accurate when the Investigation began.

• Verification Investigations are conducted by Auditors working for the CAB to whom the declaration being verified was made. On conclusion of the investigation the Auditor writes an Investigation Report (IR) describing the criterion being investigated, the evidence collected and evaluated, and their recommendation of on conformity. The Investigation Report is reviewed by other personnel of the CAB to assure it is clear and complete, and it is forwarded to GEC. Investigation Reports are identified by a code number and do not identify the product or Manufacturer being investigated.

4.2.5 Conformity Decision Panel • Decisions of conformity during Verification are made by the GEC Conformity Decision Panel

(CDP) or by Conformity Assurance staff (CA staff). The Conformity Decision Panel is a committee of independent experts maintained by GEC. The Conformity Decision Panel and Conformity Assurance staff do not have conflicts of interest with participating Manufacturers, their competitors or major suppliers, or CABs, and they are paid independent of their decisions. They review the IRs and determine conformity based on the evidence collected and evaluated by the Auditor.

• The Conformity Decision Panel and Conformity Assurance staff makes conformity decisions blind to the identity of the Manufacturer or product they are judging.

• When determining conformity the Conformity Decision Panel and Conformity Assurance staff employs a narrow and careful reading of the requirements of the standard and criteria being


investigated, and they apply any guidance documents that have been published (see section 4.3 Key Guidance Documents).

4.2.6 Corrective Action Phase • When they are informed of a Non-Conformance, the Manufacturer must promptly correct the

nonconformant declaration(s) in the Registry, including similar declarations related to products or criteria that weren’t investigated. If the Manufacturer does not promptly correct the nonconformant declaration then the CAB removes the investigated product from the Registry. Thus, on conclusion of a verification round, all known nonconformances have been resolved and the Registry contains no known inaccuracies.

• In most instances, CABs must place their client Manufacturer back on Desk Review for criteria that are found nonconformant. In this case, new declarations of conformance to that criterion must be reviewed and approved by the CAB before appearing on the Registry.

• On conclusion of each Verification Round, EPEAT publishes a Verification Round Outcomes Report identifying the criteria investigated, methods of investigation, methods of selecting products for investigation, the resulting conformity decisions, the identity of the products and Manufacturers that were found nonconformant, and the actions that were taken to restore the accuracy of the Registry. This report is meant to inform the public and Purchasers about any conformity issues uncovered. It also provides crucial guidance for all other Participating Manufacturers to check their own declarations for errors or conformity issues like those uncovered by the Verification Round.

4.3 Key Guidance Documents When Determining Conformance When determining conformance, the following hierarchy of guidance documents shall be employed:

• The applicable GEC-approved standard, updates to the standard, and other guidance published by the Standards Development Organization (SDO). In EPEAT Manufacturers declare their product’s conformance to individual criteria of the applicable standard according to the requirements of the EPEAT system. The standards contain critical information and details. EPEAT requires that all participating Manufacturers own a copy of the standard to which they are declaring conformance. Each SDO has rules that govern the approval and publication of their documents. GEC applies the documents published by the applicable SDO. If the SDO of a GEC-approved standard publishes changes to their standard, GEC develops plans and a timeline for implementing the change within the EPEAT system. GEC publicizes SDO published guidance related to standards implemented in EPEAT in order to keep participants informed.

• Clarifications – Clarifications are documents approved by the Conformity Decision Panel (CDP) that clarify how the Conformity Decision Panel will determine conformity in cases where the wording of the standard is ambiguous or could be read in different ways. Clarifications are usually initiated in response to questions posed by GEC staff, CABs, Manufacturers, or other


stakeholders. GEC makes Clarifications available for public comment prior to publication. The process for publishing Clarifications is outlined in P20 Procedure for Issuing Clarifications. The CDP makes decisions of conformance based on Clarifications published prior to the beginning of the verification round. See list of EPEAT published Clarifications here.

In addition to the above documents, which are the basis for decisions of conformance, GEC also publishes “Conformity Assessment Packets” that provide guidance for how conformance may be demonstrated. These are intended to inform Manufacturers, CABs and Auditors, but they do not create additional requirements or limit the possible ways conformance might be demonstrated. The Conformity Assessment Packets may be accessed by each CAB and Manufacturer from their “My Account” page. Other parties may contact GEC to request them. Conformity Assessment Packets are approved by the Conformity Decision Panel prior to publication.

5 GEC’s Roles in Conformity Assurance GEC performs the following roles to maintain public confidence in the consistency and accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

5.1 Approval and Qualification of Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) To become a functioning CAB in the EPEAT system an organization progresses through stages as follows:

• Applicant – The organization has applied to be a CAB in the EPEAT system. • Approved – The organization has signed P33, the CAB agreement with GEC and GEC has

accepted it. An Approved CAB may begin to solicit business but may not provide EPEAT Conformity Assurance services until they are fully qualified.

• Qualified—The organization has met GEC’s specific requirements for CABs, including taking CAB Training and Auditor Training. Once qualified, the CAB receives from GEC a password to access to the EPEAT Registry software. Only qualified CABs may provide EPEAT Conformity Assurance services to clients.

An overview of the process by which organizations may apply to become CABs in the EPEAT system is shown in figure 2.

http://www.epeat.net/resources/clarifications-and-interpretations/


Figure 2: Process for becoming a CAB in the EPEAT System

5.1.1 Applicant CABs GEC accepts applications from organizations interested in being CABs in the EPEAT system.


GEC maintains on its website a CAB Application Form (P40) that may be downloaded and completed by any organization wishing to apply. The applicant may submit the application to GEC by email or post, and may include other supporting material. GEC acknowledges receipt and estimate timeframe for review of the application. GEC reviews the application, may ask questions as needed and may request an interview with the applicant CAB.

5.1.2 Approving CABs GEC approves organizations to work as CABs within the EPEAT system subject to their meeting of eligibility requirements identified in EPEAT Requirements of CABs (P05). GEC is not obligated to approve any application. GEC charges no fee to review CAB applications.

On approval of an application GEC will offer the applicant a contract to be a GEC Approved CAB. On execution of the contract, GEC and the CAB may publicly announce the approval of the new CAB and the CAB may begin marketing their EPEAT Conformity Assurance Services. However, the new CAB may not actually provide EPEAT Conformity Assurance Services until they are qualified, meaning they have met the requirements in section 5.2.

5.2 Training of Approved CABs GEC requires applicant CABs to undergo two different trainings to become fully qualified CABs: General CAB Training and Auditor Training.

5.2.1 CAB Training CAB Training is required for CAB personnel responsible for selling EPEAT Conformity Assurance services, supporting participating Manufacturers, and communicating regarding EPEAT. The CAB Training covers:

• Overview of the EPEAT System • Overview of the environmental criteria of standards implemented in EPEAT • Overview of EPEAT Conformity Assurance system • EPEAT Requirements for CABs • Advertising and communicating about EPEAT and CAB Services • Use of the EPEAT Registry software

CAB Training is typically provided on-site for a recently approved CAB. After the initial training, GEC may provide CAB Update Training at CAB request to train new CAB personnel or as otherwise needed. This CAB Update training may be provided on-site or remotely, and may be provided by GEC directly or by a party approved by GEC.

5.2.2 Auditor Training Auditors perform Desk Review and Verification Investigations for CABs. Each CAB must maintain a process to qualify Auditors who perform EPEAT Conformity Assurance based on their education, experience, training, and on-going demonstration of competency. A CABs requirements for qualification

http://www.epeat.net/documents/fall2015/CAB_Application_form_P40



of their Auditors must include taking and passing GEC’s “EPEAT Auditor Training”. GEC provides that training from time to time based on demand and subject to staff availability.

To become a qualified CAB, the CAB must have two Auditors who have taken and passed the EPEAT Auditor Training. To remain a qualified CAB, the CAB must retain, at minimum, two Auditors.

5.3 Oversight and Support of CABs Because CABs are the gateway through which declarations and products appear on the Registry, GEC supports and oversees newly qualified CABs as they perform Desk Review of their initial client Manufacturers. When a new standard is implemented in EPEAT, GEC also supports and oversees CABs as they perform Desk Review against the new standard.

This oversight includes reviewing and approving the CAB’s “Desk Review” of their client’s initial declarations. This ensures that the CAB:

• is enabling and supporting their clients in the appropriate use of the Registry software to make declarations;

• understands the requirements of the EPEAT System and of the specific criteria of the standard; • is seeking appropriate evidence of conformity from their client Manufacturers; • is appropriately evaluating that evidence consistent with EPEAT published guidance; • is making appropriate judgments of conformity that allow declarations to appear on the

Registry.

This oversight is implemented in the Registry software by the CAB being on “CAB Review” for each criterion of a standard for each Manufacturer. When a CAB is “On CAB Review” for a criterion for a Manufacturer:

• GEC must review and approve the CAB’s “Desk Review” (DR) of that Manufacturer’s declarations before they appear on the public Registry, and

• The CAB can’t take a Manufacturer off Desk Review for a criterion for which they (the CAB) are still on CAB Review.

• GEC may manually activate a product on behalf of a CAB if the CAB’s Manufacturer has demonstrated conformance to all required criteria AND GEC has reviewed the CAB’s Desk Review and found it to be acceptable.

This process is summarized in Figure 3.


Figure 3: CAB Review. By following this process iteratively, a CAB becomes qualified to make Desk Review decisions on specific criteria without GEC oversight

The Registry software allows GEC to take a CAB Off CAB Review for a criterion for specific Manufacturers or for all Manufacturers. Thus, the expected sequence for each criterion is as follows:


1. The CAB performs Desk Review of a Manufacturer X’s declarations to criterion Y. GEC reviews the CABs’s Desk Review of Manufacturer X’s declaration to criterion Y and provides feedback as necessary.

2. When GEC determines that the CAB has demonstrated adequate Desk Review of Manufacture X’s declarations against criteria Y then the CAB may approve Manufacturer X’s declarations to criterion Y to appear on the Registry.

When GEC determines that the CAB has performed adequate Desk Review of at least one Manufacturer for one standard then GEC may take the CAB Off CAB Review for that criterion for all Manufacturers. Thereafter that CAB may allow their client Manufacturers to make declarations to that criterion without oversight from GEC. Once the CAB has undergone CAB review for all criterion in a standard, then they are no longer subject to CAB Review for subsequent standards.

In this way, a CAB demonstrates their competence at supporting Manufacturers to make accurate declarations to each criterion, and the amount of oversight from GEC decreases as their competence grows.

5.4 On-going Oversight of CABs

5.4.1 CAB Audits CABs are subject to annual audits to ensure compliance to the requirements of the EPEAT Program. These audits may be conducted by GEC and/or the CAB’s selected accreditation body as described in EPEAT Requirements of CABs (P05).

5.5 On-going Activities

5.5.1 Verification As described above, Verification is a rigorous surveillance process. All declarations on the Registry are subject to verification at all times. GEC’s roles in Verification include:

• GEC develops and publishes an annual Verification Calendar providing high-level visibility of the number and nature of the verification investigations planned for the year. This allows CABs and Manufacturers to plan to the resources needed to support Verification throughout the year

• GEC develops a plan for each Verification Round. The Round Plan identifies the criteria being investigated, method of investigation, planned number of investigations, and method of selecting products. A Verification Round Plan is approved by the Conformity Decision Panel before it is implemented.

• GEC identifies standards referenced in the applicable EPEAT standard that have been updated and affect declarations on the Registry. When standards incorporated by reference have been updated, GEC will develop and communicate a transition timeline to allow manufacturers to



come into compliance with the updated standards. GEC may consider guidance or timelines required by the IAF/ILAC member accreditation bodies, if applicable.

• GEC supports CABs and Auditors during the rounds as needed.

5.5.2 Maintaining and Facilitating the Conformity Decisions Panel (CDP) GEC supports the Conformity Decision Panel by scheduling the Conformity Decision Panel meetings, planning meeting agendas, maintaining notes of the meetings, tracking member’s votes, ensuring that decisions are reached in a timely manner, etc. GEC staff does not vote on the Conformity Decision Panel.

5.6 Policing Appropriate Use of EPEAT Name and Marks GEC is responsible for monitoring the use of the EPEAT name and marks globally and for prosecuting offenders. GEC’s methods for monitoring include:

• Internet search tools; • Review of participating Manufacturer’s web sites; • Input provided by participating Manufacturers, purchasers, CABs, and other stakeholders.

GEC’s agreements with CABs also require the CABs to report to GEC any observed inappropriate use of the EPEAT name and marks.

The EPEAT name and marks are registered as trademarks in the US and a growing number of countries worldwide. Inappropriate use of the name and marks can be prosecuted in any appropriate legal venue.

6 Requirements of Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) Requirements of CABs are contained in a separate document titled EPEAT Requirements of CABs. This document references many requirements from ISO/IEC 17020 and also includes EPEAT-specific requirements.

7 For More Information Contact the Green Electronics Council at:

Green Electronics Council 227 SW Pine St., Suite 300 Portland, OR USA 97229 Main phone: (503) 279-9383