What is the CIG scheme
What is the CIG scheme
The CIG Factory Inspection Scheme (CIG Scheme) is an international inspection program for electrical products and components.
It operates as a multilateral agreement that allows CIG member organisations to carry out factory inspections at manufacturers’ sites. These inspections are based on harmonised European specifications and international guidelines and are carried out in the same way by all member organisations.
The scheme is used for the surveillance of type 5 certification
All inspections are performed by qualified inspectors using harmonised training and procedures. Inspection reports are handled with strict confidentiality and in line with applicable legal and accreditation requirements defined in the CIG Agreement.
The CIG scheme in a nutshell
Complete set of documents and processes for managing inspections
Defines training, qualification, authorisation, and execution of inspections
Registered CIG Inspectors operate worldwide
Reduces duplication and avoids multiple factory visits
Members follow the same procedures and accept each other’s results
27 member organizations across Europe
CIG documents
One of the most widely used document in the scheme is OD CIG 423, the Factory Inspection Report, which supports the individual certificates issued by member organizations. Additional operational documents define training, qualification, authorization, and inspection procedures for all members.
General information
CBs requesting inspection
Final evaluation
Our story
More than forty years ago, the electrotechnical industry began working to harmonize factory inspections, reduce duplication, and avoid multiple inspections of the same manufacturers by different organizations. This effort led to the creation of the CIG Factory Inspection Scheme.
At its core is a Multilateral Inspection Agreement, now shared by 26 member organizations across Europe. All members apply the same standardized procedures and mutually recognize each other’s inspection results.
The CIG Scheme provides a common framework for supervising manufacturers that produce type-tested electrical products and components in serial production. Over time, a comprehensive set of harmonized European inspection specifications has been developed to support this process.
