YOKOHAMA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--North American Secure Products Organization (NASPO) and TUV Rheinland reached a Third-Party Auditing Agreement, the first of its kind. Under the agreement, TUV Rheinland will provide auditing and certification on a global basis to the ANSI/NASPO Security Assurance version 2008, a US National Standard.

The ANSI/NASPO Security Assurance Standard version 2008 is recognized as a broad scope approach to security assurance. It encompasses multiple areas of security risk and addresses them in a manner that is appropriate to the needs of the organization and market. While providing a rigorous evaluation process it is designed in a way that allows end-users to specify the level of security assurance requirements for their specific security needs.

NASPO has certified locations in the US, France, Germany, Japan, and Singapore. The growing international demand for Security Assurance certification led NASPO to seek third-party agreements.

"TUV Rheinland's certification experience in Supply Security, Information Security, and Risk Management is an ideal fit with the ANSI/NASPO Security Assurance standard. Their investment in Brand Risk Management and Product Authentication also demonstrates commitment and market understanding.", said NASPO Chairman, Robert Sherwood.

"It is a privilege to be the first certification body to reach an agreement with NASPO," said Ralf Wilde, Executive Vice President, Products and Systems, TUV Rheinland Holding, AG.

Timothy Miller, leader of TUV Rheinland's Supply Security service added, "Augmenting our service portfolio with ANSI/NASPO Security Assurance services is a real advantage to our clients worldwide."

About NASPO

NASPO is a not-for-profit, ANSI Accredited Standards Development Organization that defines, documents, and maintains relevant security risk management standards for reducing financial fraud, identity document fraud, and dilution of brand integrity. NASPO trains and certifies government and business organizations in their roles as both brand owners and suppliers to the appropriate level of these security risk management standards. NASPO participates in organized industry wide anti-fraud initiatives throughout the world and certifies participants globally. NASPO is the Secretariat for ISO TC 247: Fraud and Countermeasures, and on behalf of ANSI, its Chairs that committee. ANSI has also assigned NASPO the role of Administrator of the United States Technical Advisory Group to ISO TC 247, and PC 246, Anti-counterfeiting Tools.

For more information, please visit www.naspo.info

About TUV Rheinland

Established 140 years ago, TUV Rheinland has developed into one of the leading international providers of testing services. It has over 490 offices in 61 countries on all five continents. With a workforce of 13,850, it achieves a turnover of approx. € 1.2 billion a year. The guiding principle in the Group is sustainable development of safety and quality standards. The range of services available to customers all over the world includes product testing, certification of management systems and testing of industrial facilities. Moreover, the Group is involved in industrial, power station and infrastructural projects worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.tuv.com