Modern economies still need trust: digital methods can strengthen conformity assessment, provided the adoption of emerging technologies upholds non-negotiable principles of independence, impartiality, technical competence, confidentiality.
The publication Quality Infrastructure Framework for the Digitalised World is a starting point for discussion on how innovation can be adopted responsibly reinforcing the foundations of trust in a digitalised world.
Brussels, February 16, 2026 – TIC Council, the global trade association representing the independent third-party Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) industry, today announced the publication of its membership view on digitalising assurance services. This publication is a blueprint framework for a digitalised Quality Infrastructure: Quality Infrastructure Framework for the Digitalised World
As digital innovation accelerates across global markets, the publication sets out how conformity assessment must evolve by updating existing internal processes and strategically adopting emerging technologies, while preserving the fundamental principles that underpin third-party assurance.
The paper calls for the freedom to adopt emerging technologies in conformity assessments — including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) systems and digital twins — while reaffirming non-negotiable principles of independence, impartiality, technical competence and confidentiality, and embedding a clear Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) framework. It underscores that human oversight and human accountability remain central safeguards, ensuring that responsibility for conformity assessment outcomes stays with accredited TIC organisations.
Modern economies still need trust
Digital transformation is reshaping how conformity assessments are performed. TIC Council members are modernising how trust is delivered through agile, digitally supported approaches that reflect current industrial practices, shaping the future of efficient, scalable and trustworthy conformity assessments.
At the same time, the publication underscores that innovation must not erode the foundations of third-party assurance.
The human element: oversight, accountability and red lines
Central to the publication is the HITL principle. TIC Council defines HITL as a system configuration in which human approval, input or supervision is required at defined decision points for the system to proceed or for outputs to be acted upon.
Within this framework, the publication distinguishes between two complementary dimensions:
- Human oversight: active monitoring, validation, and, where necessary, intervention by qualified professionals
- Human accountability: the clear allocation of responsibility to identified natural or legal persons for decisions, outcomes, and compliance
The framework makes clear that automation must be proportionate to risk. Stronger oversight and accountability are required for safety-critical or enforcement-relevant determinations. Full automation of conformity decisions is not acceptable in the current state of innovation and adoption within the Quality Infrastructure eco-system.
Enabling innovation while maintaining public trust
To enable innovation while maintaining public trust, the publication identifies structural gaps that must be addressed, including the lack of accreditation schemes for hybrid digital-human models and insufficient recognition and guidance for digitally collected or continuously validated evidence.
It calls for technology-neutral, principle-based regulatory frameworks that provide transparent, consistent rules encouraging responsible innovation while safeguarding the core values that underpin conformity assessment.
“Digital methods can strengthen conformity assessment, provided the adoption of emerging technologies upholds non-negotiable principles of independence, impartiality, technical competence and confidentiality.” said Hanane Taidi, Director General of TIC Council
“We embrace the freedom to adopt AI and other emerging technologies — but human oversight and accountability remain the safeguard.”
Driving global dialogue
The publication Quality Infrastructure Framework for the Digitalised World serves as a starting point for continued dialogue among regulators, accreditation bodies, standard-setters and industry leaders on how to align technological progress with trusted assurance models.
By defining both the opportunities and the boundaries of digitalisation, TIC Council’s membership view aims to ensure that innovation strengthens — rather than weakens — the integrity, reliability and public confidence that modern economies depend on.
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About TIC Council
TIC Council is the global trade association representing the independent third-party Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) industry which brings together about 100-member companies and organizations from around the world to speak with one voice. Its members provide services across a wide range of sectors: consumer products, medical devices, petroleum, mining and metals, food, and agriculture among others. Through provision of these services, TIC Council members assure that not only regulatory requirements are met, but also that reliability, economic value, and sustainability are enhanced. TIC Council’s members are present in more than 160 countries and the wider TIC sector currently employs more than 1 million people across the globe.
About TÜV AUSTRIA Group
TÜV AUSTRIA, founded in Vienna in 1872, is an independent Austrian service provider in the fields of testing, inspection, certification as well as training and further education – based on the principles of objectivity, impartiality and integrity.
With currently more than 4,000 employees in 40 countries, TÜV AUSTRIA operates internationally.
TÜV AUSTRIA is a member of 180 national and international standardization committees and interest groups.
The field of activity extends to all areas of the economy and offers comprehensive services, for example in the area of AI, Certified Security Operations Center. Cybersecurity, export conformity, IoT, robotics and OT security, industrial computer tomography (CT) as well as information security, machine and process safety, quality management, noise emission, play, sports and leisure facilities, materials testing, wind energy, drinking water hygiene, environmental protection, sustainability, CSRD.
TÜV AUSTRIA Annual Report | www.tuvaustria.com/annualreport
TÜV AUSTRIA #wecare | www.tuvaustria.com/wecare
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