Date: in 12 pts

Certification and Services

Objective of the Services directive: freedom to deliver services where customers want/need them.

Objective of certification: to contribute to the credibility and trustworthiness of a “product”

Notion of a “product”

Jacques McMillan

jacques.mcmillan@ec.europa.eu

Date: in 12 pts

Certification and Services

The first question is: can we apply the elements of the EU regulatory approach to products (New Legislative Framework)

in the services area?

The second question is: should this be possible, can it be a straight copy or are there lessons to be learnt?

The third question is: should this be possible, is this desirable?

Date: in 12 pts

Certification and Services

Is there a fundamental difference between a product and a service?

Can we determine technical specifications for services?

Can we set performance indicators and requirements?

Date: in 12 pts

Certification and Services

Can we set quality management standards? Can a service be evaluated either by the service

provider or by a third party? Can the service provider make a declaration of

conformity or can a third party deliver a certificate of conformity?

Date: in 12 pts

Certification and Services

What are the lessons to be learnt to avoid unnecessary burdens, problems, mistakes, etc?

Insist on quality message. Standards (e.g ISO/EN 9001 & sectoral ones) already exist and more can be developed to

contribute to the quality message

Date: in 12 pts

Certification and Services

Insist on the message that certification is above all a quality tool not a police tool.

Avoid the proliferation of national certification schemes & go European first.

Promote quality message to all services, but not necessarily the certification message.

Date: in 12 pts

Desirability? Some open questions to be asked:

Does a service sector need reinforced credibility?

Does it need to be harmonised? Does it need to be policed?

If the answer is no…. Then don’t do it!!