UL customers in Asia can now enjoy faster CB testing and certification services as UL Apex Co., Ltd (UL Apex), affiliate of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. in Japan, recently qualified as an issuing and recognizing National Certification Body (NCB) in the CB Scheme of the IECEE.

The CB Scheme is the world's first truly international system for acceptance of test reports concerning the safety of electrical and electronic products.

Currently, UL Apex is the only organization in Japan that offers both CB certifications and UL Listings for products in compliance with IEC and UL standards for the product categories of electronic office equipment (OFF) and electronic A/V equipment (TRON).

Prior to the NCB accreditation, UL Apex's laboratory had been a CB Testing Laboratory (CBTL) for five years. Having gone through stringent audits in early 2004, UL Apex successfully gained acceptance with no major discrepancies and consequently acquired the NCB status for the said product categories.

"With the NCB recognition, we are able to provide our clients with greater flexibility and more conformity assessment service options, from the S-Mark in Japan to international certification such as UL Listing for North America as well as the GS Mark for the European market," said Ken Ueshima, president and managing director of UL Apex. "With our one-stop service, customers save both time and money on product certification, and stay away from the hassles for acquiring multiple certifications."