Home >
National Register of Compliant EquipmentExplanation Notes |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
What is Approval for Listing?Approval for Listing on the National Register of Compliant Equipment (NRCE) is recognition that a marine safety product or system meets the requirements of the relevant Sections of the Uniform Shipping Laws (USL) Code/National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) or the National Standard for Recreational Boat Safety Equipment (NSRB-SE) in accordance with the NRCE Policy and Procedures. The types of safety products accepted as compliant with the NSRB - SE for the purpose of listing on the Register are confined to personal floatation devices (PFDs), flares and navigation lights. Approval for listing is administered by the National Marine Safety Committee (NMSC). What is Compliance?Compliance is recognition that marine safety product or system design and manufacture meets the requirements of the relevant Sections of the USL Code / NSCV or the NSRB-SE. Compliance can apply to new and innovative products and systems for which internationally recognised test protocols exist, as well as to existing commonly used products and systems. Compliance with the USL Code / NSCV or the NSRB-SE can be demonstrated by submission of an Appraiser Report from a recognised product certification body or testing and listing authority. Advantages of Listing on the RegisterAn item approved for listing can be centrally and clearly recognised throughout Australia as fit for purpose in compliance with the USL Code / NSCV or the NSRB-SE. Product certification / testing and listing provides confidence in the equipment/system as long as it is used in accordance with the specified conditions of the Appraiser Report. Listing on the Register should provide nationwide recognition that all State/Territory marine authorities approve the product or system for use on domestic commercial vessels or recreational boats, as applicable. The total cost of compliance assessment and listing (including testing and appraisal) compares favourably with the time and expense of approaching each individual marine authority directly for approval or acceptance. Approval for listing processA marine safety product or system will only be listed on the NRCE following consideration of an application, which includes the details of the Applicant, a declaration that an ongoing compliance audit plan is in place, and an accompanying Appraiser Report indicating compliance with the USL Code / NSCV or the NSRB-SE in accordance with the NRCE Policy and Procedures. The types of safety products compliant with the NSRB - SE for which applications will be accepted are confined to personal floatation devices (PFDs), flares and navigation lights. The procedure to have a product listed, therefore, is a two-stage process. 1. The Applicant must have the product appraised by an independent product certification body to establish compliance with the USL Code/NSCV or the NSRB-SE, and must establish/confirm an ongoing compliance audit program. 2. All Appraiser Reports need to be submitted to the NRCE Administrator with the correctly filled out application form. The NRCE Administrator will list the product details on the Register and issue a letter confirming the listing details, provided that the NRCE Administrator is satisfied that the Appraiser Report verifies that, if manufactured, installed and/or serviced as specified in the appraisal, the product or system will comply with the specified provisions of the USL Code / NSCV, and that the product or system is subject to periodic scrutiny for compliance via audit. The compliance appraisal processThe compliance appraisal process is essentially the technical evaluation of a product or system by an appraiser. This is carried out by direct consultation with the recognized appraiser of choice. The compliance appraisal process culminates in the issuing of an Appraiser Report. Role of the AppraiserIn general the role of the Appraiser is to:
Recognized AppraisersThe following organisations are recognized by the NMSC as being qualified to issue an Appraiser Report for the purposes of the National Register of Compliant Equipment:
Content of the Appraiser ReportThe Appraiser Report must contain the following information:
It should be noted that the Appraiser Report must clearly show the appendix/annex in the USL Code/NSCV against which the product has been approved. Types of Appraiser ReportsThe Appraiser Report indicating compliance with the USL Code / NSCV can take the form of the following documentation:
Additionally, specific to navigation lights,
Validity of a listing on the RegisterListing on the Register will be valid for a period of five (5) years. The currency of an appraisal must be maintained during the life of the Listing. After the five (5) year listing period, the product has "expired" and must be re-listed. Six (6) months before expiry date, the proprietor will be sent a notice that the product or system listing is due to expire. Products or systems can be re-listed in five (5) year increments. Re-listing requires provision of a new application form reflecting product/applicant information current at the time of re-listing and an updated Appraiser report evidencing compliance applicable to the new listing period. The NRCE Administrator may change the status of a listing to "Approval Withdrawn" if the renewal process has not been completed by the due date. AuditTo ensure that products or systems that are listed continue to be manufactured as compliant product, product certification systems provide for an annual independent audit program. The applicant must ensure that an annual audit is undertaken by a recognised appraiser to determine that the product remains unchanged from the original appraisal. The applicant must immediately inform the NRCE Administrator of any failure of the product or system to remain compliant, either at the time of audit or at any time between audits. Withdrawal of approvalWithdrawalThe Registration of Approval incorporates the capacity for withdrawal of approval in the following circumstances:
(ii) Changes in the USL Code / NSCV or the NSRB-SE such that the product or system no longer complies. (iii) Changes to the product or system such that description in the original application no longer applies. (iv) Unsatisfactory annual audit report by the Appraiser. (v) Withdrawal by the Applicant. (vi) Reduction in after sales support, manufacturer product recall or other change in the Applicants business status that negatively impacts on the product or system. (vii) Misrepresentation or concealment of the facts by the Applicant or Appraiser. (viii) Failure of the product in service, where it can be shown that the failure resulted from sub-standard design or manufacture. Notice of Withdrawal Where an approval is withdrawn, the NRCE Administrator shall advise the manufacturer or supplier of the reasons for withdrawal and what action is required for reinstatement. Schedule of FeesThe NMSC National Register of Compliant Equipment scheme is aimed at cost recovery. The costs of administering the applications for listing and maintaining the NRCE are recovered by way of a fee structure comprised of two (2) components: 1. Annual Subscription Fee (includes joining fee), 2. Product Listing Fee. Applicants will be invoiced once the application has been assessed and the product is listed. Subscription Fee(i) Joining Fee: The joining fee is a once only fee payable at the time an applicant lists a product for the first time. (ii) Annual Subscription Fee: Subscription fees are applicable on an annual basis. They will be invoiced each annual anniversary month relating to the Joining Fee for the duration that the applicant has any product or system listed on the NRCE. Example: if the joining fee was paid in May 2002, then subsequent subscription fees are due in May, 2003, May, 2004 etc. Product Listing FeeThe Product Listing Fee is a one-off fee for the full five year listing period. It is applicable each time a product is listed on the NRCE ie it is applied once at the time of the product or system's initial listing and once at each time of re-listing.
The Product Listing Fee is related directly to the Recommended Retail Price of the product being listed and will be levied for each product listed. To encourage efficient listing of products, the product listing fees of all products submitted as a batch at the one time, by a single applicant, will be capped. Fee Structure
Listing ExampleApplicant A applies to list 2 products, one with an RRP of $250 and one with an RRP of $600. The applicant has no product currently listed on the NRCE. The fee levied for the successful application would be:
PaymentPayment should accompany application or be provided on receipt of invoice from National Marine Safety Committee Inc. Cheques should be made payable to National Marine Safety Committee Inc. Credit card payments are acceptable on receipt of authorised faxed instructions. Compliance AppraisalThe cost of compliance appraisal is a matter between the proprietor and the appraisal organisation. ConfidentialityThe NRCE Administrator shall regard information contained in any application for listing on the NRCE as confidential.
|
