1. Standardization
Standardization is the procedure through which Standards are created. Standards are prepared for activities, processes and products. The term product is used for materials (e.g. industrial products), non-materials (like services and software) or a combination of both.
In Greece, ELOT is the sole national body responsible for the elaboration, approval, publication and distribution of Hellenic Standards. The elaboration of Standards is entrusted to ELOT’s Technical Committees and Working Groups, in which interested parties from both the Public and the Private Sector are represented, in order to achieve maximum possible consensus among them.
In this framework, ELOT operates more than 190 Technical Committees and Working Groups, members of which are more than 1100 distinguished Greek scientists.
The founding law of ELOT establishes the 15-member National Standardization Council, which is the responsible advisory body for the State concerning standardization matters. In the National Standardization Council the members represent Ministries, scientific and professional bodies as well as the consumers.
ELOT’s membership and active participation in the European and international Standardization activities and the Organizations that administer them (ISO & IEC for the International Standardization, CEN, CENELEC, ETSI, EOTA for the European Standardization) lend to Hellenic Standards the necessary international recognition. Furthermore, ELOT’s participation to these Organizations provides for the opportunity to express and support the Hellenic views and interests, while through the adoption of International and European Standards the necessary compatibility is achieved and valuable know-how is transferred.
2. Certification
In accordance with the standing legal framework, ELOT is entrusted with the development and implementation of certification procedures and systems. In this respect, ELOT grants conformity marks and awards conformity certificates, which denote the conformity of products, services, processes, activities, organizations, systems, personnel, or a combination of the above, to the requirements of normative documents. The governing body for granting conformity marks and awarding conformity certificates is the Certification Council of ELOT, whose members are delegates from representative sectors of the Hellenic economy and public administration.
Conformity Marks /Conformity Certificates granted by ELOT, in accordance with the requirements of Hellenic and European Standards or other normative documents issued by the European Organizations (CEN/CENELEC/ETSI), are defined as Hellenic Conformity Marks / Hellenic Conformity Certificates and are exclusively granted by ELOT.
ELOT is the only Certification organization from Greece, which participates together with National Organizations from more than 30 other countries in the International Certification Network (IQNet). In this context, ELOT is entitled to issue the IQNet certificate along with the ELOT certificate, assuring therefore the mutual recognition and acceptance of its certificates worldwide.
ELOT is accredited by the National Accreditation System (ESYD – Greece) as well as by the Italian Accreditation Board (SINCERT – Italy) for the certification of Management Systems. ELOT is also accredited by ESYD-Greece for Products Certification.
A large number of highly trained and specialized assessors contribute to the realization of the certification activities.
3. Testing Laboratories
Since 1978 and with the support of the State, ELOT established the first Household Appliances Laboratory. At that era, this was a contribution towards the effort made by Greece to gradually build the necessary laboratory infrastructure and satisfy on time all the relevant preconditions to become a Member of the EEC. At present times, more laboratories are established to cover the needs for testing, especially those based on the provisions of the “New Approach” European Directives. The test reports issued by ELOT's Laboratories are recognized by the relevant Greek authorities (especially for market surveillance) and all the laboratories, in Europe and internationally, which participate along with ELOT in Mutual Recognition Agreements.
ELOT currently operates the following testing laboratories, accredited by ESYD:
1. The Low Voltage Laboratory, testing:
Household appliances
Lighting equipment
Electrical equipment
2. The Electric Cable Laboratory, testing:
Low voltage cables, up to 1000V
3. The Toys Laboratory, testing:
toys
4. The Testing Laboratory of Polymer and Elastic Products, testing :
plastic tubes and accessories made of PVC, PE, PEX, PP and PB
plastic and elastic products.
4. Information - Training
ELOT provides information services on Standardization, Certification, Testing, Quality and EU Legislation issues, either electronically or by phone, mail etc.
ELOT also provides specialized open or in house training courses, in topics related to Standardization, Certification, Testing, Quality and EU Legislation.