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1 PREAMBLE The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) underthe jurisdiction of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, having itsaddress at 4 Chinan Road, Section 1, Taipei, 100, Taiwan, Repub-lic of China (R.O.C.), and the Japan Quality Assurance Organiza-tion (JQA), a corporation incorporated under the laws of Japanand having its principal place of business at 1-9-15, Akasaka,Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 Japan.The parties both conduct asse-ssments of clients' quality management systems and register suchsystems in accordance with international standards and requirem-ents. The parties recognize the need to effectively respond torequests for registration of quality management systems and tominimize the costs and burdens on clients requesting such regis-tration.This MOU outlines the arrangements between BSMI and J-QA to facilitate the process of assessing and registering quali-ty management systems. 1.0 PURPOSE 1.1 This MOU is to provide a mechanism whereby BSMI and JQA willcooperate to respond efficiently to requests for registrati-on and to minimize costs and burdens on clients in the asse-ssments and registration of quality management systems acco-rding to the International Organization for Standardization's ISO 9001:2000 Standard and other comparable standards suchas JISQ9001, CNS 12681, etc. 2.0 SCOPE 2.1 Both BSMI and JQA intend to offer their services to evaluateand register client's quality management systems. 2.2 This MOU applies to the following situations: (1) Clients seeking registration of their quality managementsystems from both parties. (2) Quality management systems first registered by one partyto this MOU may be recognized for joint registration by the other party subject to reasonable verification and investigation of the particular registration conducted pursuant to this MOU. 2.3 A client should apply for registration to the party locatedin the same country as the client.This party shall be the Primary Registrar and shall be responsible for the assessme-nt and surveillance.The other party may send its personnelto participate in the assessment and surveillance as observ-er in order to understand the on-site operation. 2.4 Upon successful completion of an assessment, the party perf-orming the assessment shall share the results of its work w-ith the other party for the purpose of the other party issu-ing its certificate of registration. Each party reserves theright to comment or request additional information before a-ccepting the results of the other's assessment. 3.0 REQUIREMENTS 3.1 TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS 3.1.1 Lead Assessors and Assessors must meet the minimum criter-ia in accordance with currently accepted practices and gu-idelines as followed by other qualified Registrars and ot-her international standards and practices. 3.2 JOINT APPLICATION PROCEDURES 3.2.1 Separate applications and initial information data will berequired for the BSMI and JQA registration programs. Eith-er party may accept applications and initial information forms on the other's behalf, provided such information is necessary and in accordance with both parties' registrati-on programs. 3.2.2 A client seeking registration must submit documents descr-ibing its quality to the Primary Registrar. 3.2.3 The Lead Assessor of the assessment team will schedule thevisit with the client seeking registration at a time mutu-ally convenient for the client and the assessment team. T-he Lead Assessor will also be responsible for the coordin-ation of arrangements, paperwork, etc., between the parti-es. All such arrangements must be mutually acceptable to each party. 3.2.4 Each party shall have the right to conduct the necessaryverification and investigation for its registration and s-hall have the right to determine the process relating to its registration. 3.3 CERTIFICATES 3.3.1 Each party will be responsible for issuance and control ofits certificate of registration. 3.3.2 In the event that joint registration is in effect, each p-arty agrees to notify the other if the client's use or di-splay of the other's certificate of registration and mark (s) is improper. 3.4 SURVEILLANCE VISITS 3.4.1 Follow-up visits shall be conducted by the Primary Regist-rar. 3.4.2 In the event of joint registration, routine follow-up vis-its will be scheduled and conducted annually. 3.5 FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS Each party will independently determine and administer itsprogram of financial charges associated with assessment and registration. Accordingly, each party shall separately invo-ice the client seeking registration, for its charges for theassessment and registration.Each party shall bear its own costs and expenses incurred in the assessment and registrat-ion. 3.6 INDEMNIFICATION 3.6.1 BSMI shall indemnify and hold harmless JQA, its successorsand assignees, directors, officers, agents, and employees against in respect of any and all damages, claims, losses,liabilities, expenses, fines, penalties, or suits of what-ever nature, from third parties which may, solely by an a-ct or omission of BSMI's, arise as a causal consequence o-ut of: (i) any breach or violation of this MOU by BSMI; (ii) any negligent, fraudulent, defective, or delayed perfo-rmance of BSMI's obligations under this MOU; and (iii) anynegligent or willful misrepresentation in any certificate |