PD-0070: Can a product claim conformance to an earlier version of the CC?

This decision represents a long-term technical decision based on an OD, and may not be the same as the final results of the source OD. With respect to published criteria documentation and scheme documents, it provides suggested guidance on evaluation direction, but is not authoritative. Authoritative decisions are provided through the published criteria documents and published scheme and international interpretations thereof. With respect to published PPs, PDs are authoritative corrections to the PP, based on input from the PP author (if available), that are in force until the publication of the next revision of that PP.

Issue

How should an evaluation team handle a claim of conformance to a specific earlier version of the CC? Note that ASE_INT.1-3 in the CEM does not qualify itself with a specific version of the CC.

Resolution

In general the scheme does not grant validation certificates for any version of the CC besides the most current version. If a new version of the CC is released during the course of an evaluation, the sponsor will have the opportunity to change to the most recent version or conclude the current evaluation under the expired version. Either course will result in a mutually recognized validation certificate.

However, the scheme needs good reason to accept a proposed evaluation that does not intend to use the latest version of the CC. It may accept as good reason a claim of compliance with a PP evaluated against an earlier version of the CC. In this case, the CCTL should be prepared to demonstrate that the PP references requirements that have been changed in the new version and cannot be retrofitted; that is, the intent cannot be reliably translated into the new requirements.

Should an evaluation encounter an interpretation problem with a PP, they should contact the author of the PP and obtain resolution. They must then report this to the scheme as an OR subject to the usual Chief Validator approval, review by the ODRB, and as appropriate, entry into the PD.

If the author is unavailable, the scheme should be informed so that it may declare the PP unsupported. The evaluation would then need to drop its claim of compliance with that PP.

Modification History:

2004-08-12

Updated effective date to reflect the date the PD was issued. (August 2004 NIB 6.c.xiv)

References:

• CEM Part 2 Version 1.0, ASE_INT.1-3

Related NIs:

• None

Related CCIMB-INTERPs:

• None

Source OD: 0200