UL StandardsInfoNet Memorandum of Understanding

Press Release - UL/INTECO MOU

March 20, 2007 - Today, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) and Instituto de Normas Tecnicas de Costa Rica (INTECO) participated in an historic ceremony to formally sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The MOU recognizes UL as a premier standards development body in the United States and INTECO as the national standardization organization in Costa Rica. The purpose of the MOU is to further the development of Costa Rican national standards and promote the use of UL Standards in Costa Rica. The MOU lays the foundation for accomplishing these goals.

Signing this MOU with INTECO represents a formal union between the standards development organizations and provides for a more defined level of cooperation. Specifically, the MOU

• Promotes communication between the two organizations;
• Reduces duplication of work efforts where possible;
• Increases knowledge of each other's standards development activities;
• Utilizes the resources of UL to strengthen the Costa Rican national standards system; and
• Promotes the acceptance and use of UL Standards in Costa Rica

As part of the MOU, UL:

• Provides INTECO with electronic access to UL's Standards Library for internal use;
• Negotiates terms that will allow INTECO to adopt and distribute UL Standards in Costa Rica;
• Encourages Costa Rican designees to apply for membership on relevant UL standards technical panels ("STPs") so they may contribute to the development of UL Standards.

INTECO will:

• Identify specific industry leaders, stakeholders, and technical experts to apply for membership on UL STPs;
• Adopt specific UL standards as the basis of Costa Rican national standards and reference UL standards where possible;
• Adopt specific UL standards as the basis of Costa Rican national standards and reference UL standards where possible;
• Send an annual report to UL on its involvement in UL standards development activities.

According to Bob Williams, VP Global Standards with UL, "Underwriters Laboratories, Inc (UL) is very pleased to execute this MOU with INTECO. Making UL safety standards easily accessible within Costa Rica fulfills a key element of UL's public safety mission. Executing this agreement provides Costa Rica with the tool to evaluate product safety requirements within UL Standards and determine which of those requirements might be applied most effectively within their infrastructure. This MOU provides an excellent foundation for future communication and exchange of information."

The ceremony that took place today was an historic event, in that this is the first such ceremony for UL. UL will continue to look for opportunities with other country national standards bodies in the interest of improving the country standards system and promoting UL standards in that country.