Product TIC Scheme Requirements April 2024
Product TIC Scheme Requirements April 2024
Product TIC Scheme Requirements April 2024
1. Introduction
a. Nemko’s provision of product testing, inspection, certification, and other independent third party
product Conformity Assessment Services as well as market access services (“the Services”) to the
party subject to the applicable agreement with Nemko (“the Customer”) are governed by these
general Nemko Scheme Requirements (“the Requirements”). They set out basic expectations to
Customer and include provisions that are deemed necessary for Nemko to comply with applicable
accreditation or scheme requirements and to safeguard Nemko’s integrity, impartiality and
independence.
b. The Requirements may be supplemented by requirements set out in the agreed specific test,
inspection or certification scheme or standard (“the Schemes”).
c. When purchasing a Service from Nemko, the Requirements and any Scheme specific requirements
are deemed to have been accepted by the customer as an integral part of the applicable service
agreement between Customer and Nemko (“the Agreement”).
d. A Conformity Assessment according to the Requirements means according to ISO 17000 series the
demonstration whether specified requirements are met or not, and include – but is not limited to –
testing, inspection, validation, verification or certification.
e. The Requirements do not apply for the following services, which are subject to own requirements,
unless otherwise stated in the applicable service agreement:
1. Management System Certification services (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001 etc)
2. Nemko Norlab AS’ services
3. Nemko System Sikkerhet AS’ services
4. Building Inspection services
5. Digital services (unless being part of the services covered by this document.)
f. The Requirements apply for accredited services. They also apply for non-accredited services, unless
otherwise stated herein or to the extent agreed between Nemko and Customer.
g. All references to Nemko shall be understood as references to the Nemko Legal entity which is party
to the Agreement with the Customer.
h. Nemko and Customer are hereinafter referred to as Party in singular and Parties in plural.
2. Authority
The Customer warrants that it has the right and authority to
a. Order the tests, inspections and certifications related to the identified products and pertaining
documentation, hardware, software and supporting equipment etc (“Product”) covered by the
Agreement.
b. Undertake and execute the obligations set out in the Requirements and the specific Schemes
concerned, including but not limited to, the right to disclose design details regarding the Product, to
grant access to production sites and to carry out preventive, mitigating and corrective actions in a
prompt and efficient manner when required.
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c. To the extent Applicant and/or Manufacturer as defined in the applicable Schemes are different from
Customer, Customer warrants that it has all necessary authorizations and powers of attorney to act
on their behalf.
3. Order of precedence
The Requirements shall take precedence over any deviating provisions in the Agreement or any related
purchase order. Any changes in the Requirements in individual Agreements shall in order to be
enforceable, require the written agreement of the Parties with explicit, precise reference to the clauses
of these Requirements that shall be modified or set aside. Unless this amendment procedure is
complied with, it is agreed between the Parties that any deviating provisions included in Customer’s
purchase orders, requests for quotes or similar, shall be disregarded as null and void.
4. Assignment
Nemko may, with Customer’s prior written consent, assign or transfer any or all of its rights and
obligations under the Agreement to any subsidiary in the Nemko Group. Customer’s consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld.
5. The Services
a. Nemko shall provide the Services in accordance with the agreed Scheme. Unless otherwise agreed
in the Agreement with explicit reference to this provision, Nemko’s quotations are based on a
successful conformity assessment – i.e. that the Product or system are found to meet the applicable
requirements. Any circumstances that require mitigation or repeat testing/examination, will trigger
additional costs which shall be covered on a time and materials basis based on standard hourly
rates unless otherwise explicitly agreed in writing.
b. Unless otherwise explicitly agreed in writing between the Parties, all agreed or estimated progress
plan(s) for the provision of the Services are based upon the assumption that Customer provides the
necessary and relevant, accurate and complete information, documents (including but not limited to
technical descriptions, specifications, installation guidelines and user guides in relevant format) and
samples of the Product (“Materials”), as well as provision for access to relevant locations, personnel
and facilities of subcontractors of the customer, applicant or manufacturer, in a timely and structured
manner. In case of Customer’s delay, the progress plan or estimate will as a minimum be extended
correspondingly. Nemko reserves the right to further extensions, taking into account other
assignments which collide with the Services due to the delays.
c. Unless it is explicitly agreed as part of the Services that Nemko shall identify discrepancies, errors,
inconsistencies or omissions in the Materials, Customer is responsible for all aspects of the
Materials, including the Product. Nemko is entitled to rely on the accuracy and completeness of the
Materials for the purposes of quoting and the performance of the Services.
d. Nemko does not undertake any fitness for purpose obligations. Neither does Nemko make any
representation or warranty that the outcome of the Services is that the Product is actually deemed
to meet the requirements set out in the Schemes. In case the conclusion of the agreed process and
assessment is that the requirements in the applicable Schemes are not met, certificates will not be
issued. Customer may then if deemed relevant, order further testing and assessment as additional
work. Nemko’s conclusion and a brief explanation may be provided in a report, or statement if
requested by Customer.
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Nemko Product TIC Scheme Requirements
e. Nemko’s certification decisions are based on documentation established by Nemko itself or by other
conformity assessment bodies, in accordance with the requirements set out in the applicable
Schemes.
f. Customer shall familiarize itself with any draft or final gap-analysis, report, attestation, certificate,
training materials or other agreed deliverable (“Deliverable”) issued within a reasonable time after
completion of the corresponding part of the Services.
g. Any documented error or defect in the Deliverable shall be rectified within a reasonable period of
time, at Nemko’s sole cost, provided said error or defect is not attributable to the Customer,
Customer’s subsidiaries or Customer's subcontractors. Customer shall notify Nemko of any error
or defect in the Deliverable or the Services in writing within 20 business days after Customer became
or should have become aware of such errors or defects, and at the latest within 12 months from
issuance of the relevant Deliverable.
h. The testing or certification of a Product does not release Customer from its responsibility for the
compliant design, production, marketing, sale, after-sale, labelling, distribution, transport, use or
other aspects of the Product and its commercialization. Neither does the testing or certification
directly or indirectly represent or imply a transfer from Customer to Nemko of the risks or liabilities
arising from or in connection with the design, manufacture, distribution, use or other aspects of the
Product and its commercialization.
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Nemko Product TIC Scheme Requirements
agreement, waiver or release which in any way affects the representative's or Nemko’s legal rights
or obligations. Any such document executed in contravention of this provision shall be without force
or effect.
c. Whenever Nemko’s performance of the Services involves visits on Customer’s controlled facility or
site, the Customer is responsible for the adequacy, stability, safety and legal compliance of the
Customer environment, including reasonable measures to mitigate or control relevant risks.
Whenever Nemko personnel is present on Customer’s facilities or sites, they shall adhere to
Customer’s reasonable HSE instructions provided in reasonable time before the visit.
d. Nemko’s personnel, including also its subcontractors, may refuse to carry out any activity, or visit
any area or site, if in their sole discretion they consider that relevant risks are unacceptable or not
adequately addressed, contained or otherwise mitigated. Such situations also include verbal or
physical harassment based on or related to gender, sexuality or other. Any such decision shall
suspend both parties’ obligations, excluding Customer’s obligation to pay for performed Services,
without any liability or penalty until the parties have agreed on how to proceed.
8. Traceability
To the extent required under the applicable standards or Schemes, Customer shall at all times be able
to identify, document and trace the Product covered by the Agreement and the Deliverables issued by
Nemko to Customer.
9. Documentation
a. Nemko reserves the discretionary right to reject test reports or similar to be a basis for certification
or other attestation activities if the reports or attestations exceed 36months of age at the time of
contracting of the Services.
b. Customer shall in a timely manner make all necessary decisions. Customer shall give Nemko access
as required under the applicable Schemes to the Product, all Materials in the required format as well
as to Customer’s sites and facilities when required for the purpose of the Services.
c. Customer shall give Nemko timely access to the required and agreed number of test samples. Fewer
samples may have effect on the progress of the Services.
d. Upon signing the Agreement, Customer and Nemko shall agree whether test samples shall be sent
back to Customer, or be discarded, both at Customer’s cost. If nothing is agreed, Customer shall
collect any Materials that are in Nemko’s custody after Nemko’s issuance of the agreed Deliverable
without undue delay, and at the latest at the date indicated in the Application form/Additional Product
Information sheet or similar or the Agreement. Subject to any applicable accreditation retention
requirements, Nemko reserves the right to dispose of / destruct any Materials that have not been
collected by the Customer within 60 days after the issuance of the relevant Deliverable. The
documented costs shall be covered by Customer on a time and materials basis, using Nemko’s
standard hourly rates.
e. All packing, unpacking, shipping, insurance, import/export costs and taxes for the transport of
Materials, including samples of the Product (hardware, software, manuals, shipping materials etc)
etc, are the responsibility of Customer. Unless otherwise explicitly stated in the Agreement, Nemko
does not assume any responsibility for Materials that are submitted to Nemko for testing purposes,
and, unless otherwise agreed with Customer in the Agreement, does not undertake any liability
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Nemko Product TIC Scheme Requirements
arising from or in connection with the full or partial loss or destruction of the Materials during testing,
storage or transport.
10. Third parties affected by testing, audits or inspections
If the Services involve or affect a third party/third parties, where the third parties in any way may be
affected by testing or other conformity assessment activities, the Customer shall be responsible for and
ensure notification of all involved/affected third parties in order for them to be enabled to prepare and
take preventive or mitigating actions, when relevant.
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g. Customer shall not adjust or alter the Deliverables in any manner whatsoever, including, but not
limited to, by translating the documents concerned.
h. In case of misleading use of Deliverables or marks, or other breach of the applicable requirements
for the maintenance and use of the Deliverables and marks, Nemko may, based on own discretion
regarding urgency and seriousness of the situation, decide to take proportional, unilateral corrective
actions, including suspension or withdrawal of Deliverables, publication of the transgression and
complaint to relevant authorities.
14. Customer’s reporting
a. Customer shall without undue delay report to Nemko all facts and circumstances which may
reasonably affect the assumptions for issuance or maintenance of a certificate. Insofar they may be
relevant for the validity of the Deliverable concerned, Customer shall inform Nemko of all quality
cases, changes to the quality management systems, modifications of the production processes,
customer complaints, manufacturing problems, identified deficiencies in the Products, major
incidents, changes of key personnel as well as any proposed product alteration etc, which concern
the Products covered by the Deliverables. Nemko may verify that the Customer has taken relevant
corrective actions for recorded complaints in conjunction with routine or extraordinary audits or
inspections, as permitted or required under the applicable Scheme.
b. To the extent required under the applicable Scheme, Customer is obliged to ensure that a record of
all complaints made known to it relating to compliance with the Requirements and Schemes and
subsequent actions taken with respect to such complaints, as well as of any deficiencies found in
Products that affect compliance with the applicable Schemes, is maintained by all parties to the
manufacture of the Product.
The records shall be available for inspection by Nemko representatives at all times.
c. Customer shall immediately notify Nemko in writing if Customer discovers or has grounds to suspect
that the Product has, subsequent to certification or testing, been found to be potentially hazardous,
or that it has been or may have been the cause of personal injury or property damage. In cases
where the results of examination by an agency other than Nemko were relied upon by Nemko for
certification of the Product, Customer shall notify Nemko if Customer subsequently discovers said
results to be invalid.
d. Upon learning, from any source, that any Products covered by a certificate, attestation, report or
other Deliverable with corresponding labelling or marking, did not comply with the applicable
Schemes at the time that such Products left Customer’s control, Customer shall immediately notify
Nemko and relevant authorities. Further, the Customer shall promptly, at its own expense, take all
reasonable or mandatory steps to rework, repair, recall or destroy all such Products, notwithstanding
that such Products may have been delivered to or are being held on behalf of a wholesaler, dealer,
retailer or consumer, or that title to such individual Product has passed from Customer. Customer’s
obligations shall be limited to using its best efforts.
e. Customer shall upon request provide Nemko with a sample of a certified product, sub-assembly or
component of such certified product, for the purpose of re-examination and testing in accordance
with the applicable scheme and in case there in Nemko’s sole discretion are substantiated grounds
to believe that the certified product does not meet the requirements of the applicable Schemes, or
in case there is in Nemko’s sole professional judgment a need to verify that the product remains in
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accordance with the certified design. The documented costs of this shall be covered by Customer
on a time and materials basis, applying standard hourly rates.
f. Customer shall take necessary action in case of any non-conformities, observations, improvement
opportunities and noteworthy efforts reported by Nemko in connection with onsite visits.
g. A certificate may only be transferred from Customer to another legal entity if (i) Customer documents
that the transfer of the certificate does not imply or reflect any changes in the certified product, the
production or other assumptions which form the basis for Nemko’s issuance of the certificate, and
(ii) that the other legal entity signs a certification agreement with Nemko.
15. Audits and inspections
a. In cases where the maintenance of a valid certificate or other Deliverables depends on onsite audits
or inspections, as described by the applicable Scheme, Nemko may at its sole discretion carry out
or have carried out unscheduled visits of Customer and its production sites when in Nemko’s sole
professional discretion it is necessary to verify that the conditions for maintaining the Deliverable
concerned are met.
b. Customer shall upon request provide necessary access for Nemko personnel, its subcontractors
and representatives of accreditation and regulatory authorities ,to all sites, suppliers, personnel,
devices, documentation and other assets as requested by Nemko where relevant to the Deliverable
concerned.
16. Suspension/withdrawal of certificates
a. Nemko may in its sole professional discretion suspend or withdraw a certificate or other Deliverable
if in Nemko’s view the requirements for maintenance of the certificate are not met. The decision to
suspend or withdraw shall be in writing and shall outline the factual basis for the action taken. Unless
safety or environmental grounds dictate otherwise, Customer shall be given a reasonable period of
time to take the necessary corrective actions.
b. Nemko may in its sole discretion suspend or withdraw a certificate or other Deliverable if Customer
does not pay any applicable annual license/subscription fee in a timely manner. Nemko shall notify
Customer 20 work days in advance in case it is contemplated to suspend the certificate due to
delayed payment of the applicable fees.
c. If a Deliverable is suspended or withdrawn, the Customer shall not use, make available or refer to
the Deliverable, regardless of whether the basis for suspension or withdrawal is contested or
appealed or not. Further, the Customer shall ensure that all other active use of the Deliverable,
regardless of technological platform, shall cease with immediate effect.
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Nemko Product TIC Scheme Requirements
b. Unless explicitly agreed in writing, and regardless of anything to the contrary in Schemes concerned,
the Agreement does not imply any obligation or duty of care for Nemko to inform the Customer of
developments in the applicable standards or industry practices taking place after the issuance of the
Deliverables.
19. Marking, labelling and advertising
a. When a certificate is issued, the Customer is granted a non-exclusive, non-transferrable, non-
assignable license to represent the Product as certified by Nemko and to use the assigned
certification mark or label, if any, in the manner set forth in the associated certification documents.
The Product shall be represented as certified only if it is marked or labelled as set forth in the Scheme
concerned.
b. Marks or Labels shall not contain the Scheme certification mark without the prior knowledge and
written general or specific consent of Nemko.
c. Customer’s authorization to use the Scheme certification mark or label may be withdrawn by Nemko
for failure to comply with any part of the Agreement. In such case, for Products in production and in
stock, Nemko may require removal of the Scheme certification mark or label, or require that the
product be made to comply with Nemko’s requirements. For products already shipped, Customer
shall hold Nemko harmless for any costs or claims arising from or in connection with the continued
presence of the Products concerned in the markets concerned.
d. Customer shall be entitled to use appropriate references to Nemko or the text set out in the
certification documents, in communication such as advertising or promotional material solely in
connection with the specific Products that bear the Scheme certification mark, provided that in the
sole discretion of Nemko the materials comply with the requirements of Nemko and the certification
scheme concerned. Materials shall in no way use the product certification issued by Nemko to create
an impression as to the nature of Nemko’s findings, coverages or Service that is or may be perceived
as misleading, or otherwise may bring Nemko into disrepute.
e. Upon suspension, withdrawal or termination of certification, regardless of reason, and regardless of
whether there are pending disputes between Nemko and the Customer, the Customer shall forthwith
cease the use of, or make reference to, any certification marks, certificates and labels.
20. Enforcement activities
a. Unless otherwise explicitly stated in the Agreement with reference to this provision, the following
activities shall be charged to the Customer on a time and materials basis, or based upon a standard
fee:
1. Unannounced/Unscheduled audits.
2. Work associated with the closing of non-compliances identified during audits or inspections.
3. Requests for access to Materials or files by public authorities, courts, counterparties or civil
society stakeholders in connection with or due to products or systems covered by the
Agreement.
4. Costs arising on Nemko’s side in connection with Customer’s notification of circumstances
which trigger follow up from Nemko’s side after issuance of the Deliverables. This applies in
particular for indications that the applicable requirements may not be met, or existing or planned
product alterations or amendments, in order for Nemko to verify whether there is a need to re-
certify or re-examine the product concerned.
5. Costs incurred in connection with suspension or withdrawal of Deliverables, or decision to re-
instate Deliverables.
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e. If Nemko is instructed by Applicant to release information to a third party, the Customer shall hold
Nemko harmless from any claims towards Nemko from the recipient party which exceed the
limitation of liability provision included in the applicable terms and conditions, in case of full or partial
reliance on the reports concerned.
f. The obligations set out in this provision shall not apply to the extent the information is required to be
disclosed by any relevant accreditation body or certification scheme owner, any competent court,
governmental agency, or other relevant public authority in accordance with applicable law, court
order or other public regulation.
g. In addition, information shall not be considered confidential to the extent it: (i) was known to the
recipient prior to the information being disclosed by the other party, (ii) becomes known to the
recipient through a third party without known confidentiality obligations towards Customer; (iii) is or
becomes generally available in the public domain through no act or failure to act on the part of the
recipient, or (iv) is in the professional discretion of Nemko as an independent conformity assessment
body, necessary to issue a warning to the public regarding safety or use.
h. These confidentiality obligations shall survive the completion of the Services, termination of the
Agreement or termination, suspension and withdrawal of certification, and remain in effect for as
long as the relevant information can reasonably be deemed to be confidential information according
to this Agreement.
i. Nemko is not in a position to undertake an obligation to return or delete Materials after the finalization
of the Services. Nothing herein shall prevent Nemko from keeping a copy of all confidential
information related to the provision of the Services for its internal contract, accreditation and risk
management purposes.
j. These Requirements do not constitute confidential information.
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