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New Program FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions - New Program Arrangements
Q1: What is the reason for the new approach?
Q2: What type of products will be listed on the Security Equipment Evaluated Products List (SEEPL)?
Q3: What will happen to products outside the SEEPL?
Q4: Is SCEC currently accepting applications to have products evaluated?
Q5: Why is SCEC suspending new applications for up to 12 months?
Q6: What will happen during the suspension?
Q7: During the suspension period, how will SCEC assess whether products will retain their place on the testing program for the new approach?
Q8: What if my product is assessed as being outside the SEEPL categories?
Q9: What if testing has already commenced on my product?
Q10: What if I recently sent in an application?
Q11: What will happen to the SEC?
Q12: Will any products from the 2011 SEC be listed in the SEEPL?
Q13: Following the suspension period, how will I know if my product is eligible for testing for inclusion on the SEEPL before I make a new application?
Q14: When will the first SEEPL be published?
Q15: What if my question is not answered in these FAQs or I have further queries?
Q1: What is the reason for the new approach?
A: The new approach seeks to reflect the greater emphasis on security risk management by Australian Government agencies as the Protective Security
Manual is progressively superseded by the Protective Security Policy Framework. The new approach, together with the initial suspension period, will also enable the backlog of testing to be addressed. [Return]
Q2: What type of products will be listed on the Security Equipment Evaluated Products List (SEEPL)?
A: The SEEPL will list products within high, administrative and specialised security categories in line with the Australian Government’s priorities. The Australian Government reserves the right to admit other types of products for testing, and to the SEEPL, where they consider the product to be in the interests of national security.
The ‘high’ security category generally, but not exclusively, will equate to the current SEC SL3 and SL4 ratings. It is intended that general guidance on the nature of the SEEPL categories and pre-acceptance criteria for each category will be developed and disseminated during the suspension period to assist industry and applicants in assessing whether a product is eligible for testing for inclusion on the SEEPL and in deciding whether to submit an application for testing once the suspension period is lifted. [Return]
Q3: What will happen to products outside the SEEPL?
A: SCEC intends to develop best practice guidelines which the Australian
Government may use when procuring certain products outside the SEEPL categories. [Return]
Q4: Is SCEC currently accepting applications to have products evaluated?
A: The current evaluation program will be suspended for up to 12 months from 6th June 2011. New applications for evaluation received after this date and for the duration of the suspension period will not be progressed until the suspension is lifted. You will be informed via this website when new applications will be accepted. [Return]
Q5: Why is SCEC suspending new applications for up to 12 months?
A: The suspension period is designed to enable the transition to the SEEPL and to address the backlog of testing. [Return]
Q6: What will happen during the suspension?
A: New applications for product evaluation received during the suspension period will not be progressed until the suspension is lifted. You will be informed via this website when new applications will be accepted.
SCEC will assess whether those products already accepted to the testing program fall within the SEEPL categories (high, administrative or specialised security) in line with the Australian Government’s priorities. SCEC reserves the right to admit products for testing, and to the SEEPL, where it is considered to be in the interests of national security. Refer to the answer to Q7: for more information on this process.
Products will be progressively added to the SEEPL, if and when they pass testing for the relevant SEEPL category, and, in some cases, as a result of automatic migration (refer to the answer to Q12).
SCEC intends to develop best practice guidelines which the Australian
Government may use when procuring certain products outside the SEEPL categories. [Return]
Q7: During the suspension period, how will SCEC assess whether products will retain their place on the testing program for the new approach?
A: SCEC will assess whether those products already accepted to the testing program fall within the SEEPL categories (high, administrative or specialised security) in line with the Australian Government’s priorities. The Australian Government also reserves the right to admit other types of products for testing, and to the SEEPL, where they consider the product to be in the interests of national security.
Where SCEC assesses that a product falls within the SEEPL categories in line with the Australian Government’s priorities and will retain its place on the testing program, the applicant will be notified in writing and asked to confirm that they wish testing to proceed. There is no guarantee that products will pass testing for the SEEPL. The risk in making an application lies with the applicant.
Where SCEC assesses that a product falls outside the SEEPL categories in line with the Australian Government’s priorities and intends to remove the product from the testing program, the applicant will be notified in writing and given an opportunity to respond. Should SCEC’s ultimate decision be to remove the product from the testing program, applicants may, at their own risk, request product evaluation despite SCEC’s assessment. This option is only available for those already in the testing program and during the suspension period. If the product evaluation does proceed, costs will be recoverable from the applicant regardless of the evaluation's outcome. SCEC also reserves the right to test those products which it assesses as falling within the SEEPL categories as a priority.
[Return]Q8: What if my product is assessed as being outside the SEEPL categories?
A: Where SCEC has assessed that your product falls outside the SEEPL categories in line with the Australian Government’s priorities and intends to remove your product from the testing program, you will be notified in writing and given an opportunity to respond. Should SCEC’s ultimate decision be to remove your product from the testing program, you may, at your own risk, request product evaluation despite SCEC’s assessment. This option is only available for those already in the testing program and during the suspension period. If the product evaluation does proceed, costs will be recoverable from you regardless of the evaluation's outcome. SCEC also reserves the right to test those products which it assesses as falling within the SEEPL categories as a priority.[Return]
Q9: What if testing has already commenced on my product?
A: SCEC will assess whether your product fits within a SEEPL category (high, administrative or specialised security) in line with Australian Government priorities. If yes, you will be notified and asked to confirm that you want to proceed with the testing, notwithstanding SCEC’s new approach. There is no guarantee that products will pass testing for the SEEPL. The risk in making an application lies with the applicant.
Where SCEC assess that your product falls outside the SEEPL categories in line with the Australian Government’s priorities and intends to remove your product from the testing program, you will be notified in writing and given an opportunity to respond. Should SCEC’s ultimate decision be to remove your product from the testing program, you may, at your own risk, request that testing continue despite SCEC’s assessment. This option is only available for those already in the testing program and during the suspension period.
If further testing does proceed, costs will be recoverable from you for testing regardless of the evaluation's outcome. SCEC also reserves the right to test those products which it assesses as falling within the SEEPL categories as a priority.
If further testing does not proceed, the Australian Government will not seek to recover from you any costs already incurred in undertaking testing. The Australian Government is not responsible for any costs you incurred in developing the product, nor for any additional development undertaken by you before submitting the product for evaluation (for example, any additional hardening).[Return]
Q10: What if I recently sent in an application?
A: Applications received before the commencement of the suspension period i.e. 6th June 2011 will be assessed for testing under the reconfigured testing program. Refer also to the answer to question Q7. [Return]
Q11: What will happen to the SEC?
A: The 2011 SEC will still be available for use by Australian Government agencies for the next three years. Manufacturers of products on the SEC may submit new applications for the SEEPL categories (high, administrative or specialised security) once the suspension period for new applications are lifted.
For products outside the SEEPL categories, SCEC intends to develop best practice guidelines which the Australian Government may use when procuring certain products outside the SEEPL categories. [Return]
Q12: Will any products from the 2011 SEC be listed in the SEEPL?
A: Manufacturers of products on the SEC may submit new applications for the
SEEPL categories (high, administrative or specialised security) once the suspension period for new applications is lifted. Products assessed as falling within the SEEPL categories in line with the Australian Government's priorities, will be admitted to the testing program and will be added to the SEEPL if they pass testing.
Category SL3 & SL4 products which have passed testing since March 2009 will be automatically migrated to the SEEPL without further testing. [Return]
Q13: Following the suspension period, how will I know if my product is eligible for testing for inclusion on the SEEPL before I make a new application?
A: It is intended that pre-acceptance criteria and general guidance on the nature of the categories will be progressively promulgated to assist industry and applicants in assessing whether their product is eligible for testing for inclusion on the SEEPL and in deciding whether to submit an application for testing.
SCEC reserves the right to make the ultimate decision as to whether or not a product is eligible for testing as a high security, administrative or specialised security product, or whether it satisfies the requirements for inclusion on the SEEPL.
In making an application, there is no guarantee that a product will be accepted into the testing program and if accepted into the testing program, there is no guarantee that products will pass testing for the relevant SEEPL category. The risk in making an application lies with the applicant.[Return]
Q14: When will the first SEEPL be published?
A: There is no set date as yet, although SCEC intends for products to be progressively added to the SEEPL during the suspension period if and when products pass testing for the relevant SEEPL category, and, in some cases, as a result of automatic migration (refer to the answer to Q12). As with the current process, there is no guaranteed time period in which testing for a product will be completed.
Further updates will be provided via the SCEC website. We encourage industry and applicants to check for updates. [Return]
Q15: What if my question is not answered in these FAQs or I have further queries?
A: You should submit your question in writing via the Contact Us link. Please note however that questions may not be responded to until further details are known. SCEC reserves the right to respond to questions by publishing responses on this website on a non-attributable basis and without disclosing any confidential information. [Return]
