Tic Council
TIC Council is an international trade association headquartered in Brussels that represents over 100 independent testing, inspection, and certification companies across 160 countries. It provides membership services, regional summits, publications, and policy advocacy across sustainability, AI governance, and product compliance.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Tic Council does
TIC Council is an international trade association headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, that represents independent testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) companies. Founded in 2018, it operates as a non-profit membership organization with 11-50 employees and maintains regional presence in the Americas, China, Europe, and India. The association serves companies that provide conformity assessment services, including quality and safety controls, supply chain certifications, industrial site inspections, product testing, management system auditing and certification, periodic car inspections, pre-shipment inspection, and consignment-based conformity assessments.
TIC Council's portfolio consists of membership services, a professional certification programme inherited from IFIA (covering agricultural superintendent, petroleum inspector, and chemical cargo inspector credentials), an extensive publications library of white papers, position papers, and guidelines, an annual Merit Awards programme, and eight specialized industry committees covering Accreditation, Commodities, Ethics and Legal, Government Services, Industrial Life Cycle Services, Product Testing & Certification, Strategic Communications, and Strategic Coordination. In 2026 it extended its product surface with a dedicated Sustainability Process Certification Website, and in 2025 it engaged in AI governance through the AIQI Consortium's recognition in the UK AI Assurance Roadmap.
The association generates revenue through tiered annual membership subscriptions. Full Members are categorized into nine turnover-based tiers ranging from A(1) at €81,000 per year (for members with turnover above €2,500M and 12 votes) down to C(3) at €7,000 per year (turnover below €10M and 1 vote). Associated Members pay €5,500 per year, and Observer Members pay 50% of their respective Full Member category fee. The organization had 114 Full Members, 16 Associated Members, and 2 Observer Members as of the latest disclosed composition, with members collectively generating €30B in turnover, employing 500,000 people, and operating 16,000+ certified inspectors across 160 countries.
Tic Council firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tic Council
- Legal name
- TIC Council
- Website
- https://tic-council.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- TIC Council is an international trade association headquartered in Brussels that represents over 100 independent testing, inspection, and certification companies across 160 countries. It provides membership services, regional summits, publications, and policy advocacy across sustainability, AI governance, and product compliance.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tic Council industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Trade Association / Conformity Assessment Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)
Keywords
Where Tic Council is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brussels
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tic Council business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: TIC Council generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees. The organization has three membership categories: Full Members (further divided into A, B, and C tiers based on company turnover), Associated Members, and Observer Members. Fees range from €81,000 for the largest Full Members to €5,500 for Associated Members.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership A(1) - Turnover over €2,500M |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership A(2) - Turnover €1,000-2,500M |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership A(3) - Turnover €750-1,000M |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership B(1) - Turnover €500-750M |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership B(2) - Turnover €100-500M |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership B(3) - Turnover €60-100M |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership C(1) - Turnover €25-60M |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership C(2) - Turnover €10-25M |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership C(3) - Turnover less than €10M |
| Subscription | Annual | Associated Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Observer Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Tic Council product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TIC Council is an international trade association that represents independent testing, inspection and certification (TIC) companies, providing a coordinated industry voice in regulatory and policy matters. It offers tiered membership subscriptions, the IFIA Certification Programme for inspectors, industry committees, policy advocacy, and publications covering sustainability, digital policy, AI governance, international trade, and product compliance.
Product overview
TIC Council operates as an international trade association representing the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) sector, not a product company with commercial offerings. Its portfolio consists of membership services, professional certification programmes (IFIA Certification Programme with agricultural superintendent, petroleum inspector, and chemical cargo inspector tracks), industry publications (white papers, position papers, reports, and guidelines), an annual Merit Awards programme, and eight specialized industry committees. The organization serves as a coordinating body providing political monitoring, regulatory guidance, and industry representation rather than delivering commercial products or technology platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TIC Council Membership Programme Tiered membership programme for independent testing, inspection and certification organisations, offering Full (A/B/C tiers based on turnover), Associated, and Observer categories with annual subscription fees ranging from €5,500 to €81,000, voting rights, and access to political monitoring, policy advocacy, and industry positions.
- IFIA Certification Programme Professional certification programme offering credentials for agricultural superintendent, petroleum inspector, and chemical cargo inspector professionals, with examination scheduling and inspector badge guidelines for individual inspectors in the TIC sector.
Quantifiable outcome
- Conformity assessment services help protect people and the environment
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Tic Council
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Tic Council technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Tic Council partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- IFIA (International Federation of Inspection Agencies)coreTIC Council has historical ties with IFIA. The Compliance Code referenced on the TIC Council website was originally developed by IFIA, with IFIA Compliance Code (Third Edition, April 2007) and IFIA Compliance Code Guidelines on Implementation documents being referenced for membership compliance requirements.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Tic Council competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CEN-CENELEC: European standards bodies for non-electrotechnical and electrotechnical standards; sets many of the harmonized standards TIC Council's members test against in the EU.
- ISO (International Organization for Standardization): Global standards-setting body whose conformity assessment committee (CASCO) shapes the regulatory frameworks TIC Council's members operate within; broader in scope but thematically overlapping.
- ASTM International: Internationally recognized standards development organization; broader than TIC Council but operates adjacent standards ecosystem relevant to TIC Council's standardization committee work.
- UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe): UN body hosting working parties on regulatory cooperation and quality infrastructure (e.g., WP.6); TIC Council participates in adjacent international standards and trade policy forums.
- OECD Quality Infrastructure: OECD's work on quality infrastructure and free-trade-zone certification (e.g., Barcelona FTZ recognition in TIC Council's 2025 news) overlaps directly with TIC Council's policy agenda on trade and conformity assessment.
- ANSI (American National Standards Institute): U.S. national standards body coordinating conformity assessment in the Americas; complements TIC Council's Americas regional activities and serves overlapping stakeholders.
Direct peers
- IFIA (International Federation of Inspection Agencies): Historical predecessor/peer federation of inspection agencies; TIC Council's Compliance Code was originally developed by IFIA, making it the closest direct peer in the TIC trade association space.
- ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation): International cooperation of laboratory and inspection accreditation bodies; overlaps directly with TIC Council's laboratory and inspection member base (e.g., A2LA, UKAS, ANAB are TIC Council Associated Members).
- IAF (International Accreditation Forum): Worldwide association of conformity assessment accreditation bodies; closely aligned with TIC Council's mission of ensuring accredited certification and inspection.
Regional players
- EA (European co-operation for Accreditation): European network of nationally recognized accreditation bodies; regional peer operating alongside TIC Council's EU advocacy work and several of whose members (e.g., UKAS) are TIC Council Associated Members.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Tic Council social profiles
Digital presenceTic Council financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tic Council leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Tic Council funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tic Council M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tic Council
What does Tic Council do?
TIC Council is an international trade association that represents independent testing, inspection and certification (TIC) companies, providing a coordinated industry voice in regulatory and policy matters. It offers tiered membership subscriptions, the IFIA Certification Programme for inspectors, industry committees, policy advocacy, and publications covering sustainability, digital policy, AI governance, international trade, and product compliance.
Is Tic Council a public or private company?
Tic Council is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Tic Council founded?
Tic Council was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Tic Council based?
Tic Council is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Tic Council make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Subscriptions.
Who are Tic Council's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CEN-CENELEC, ISO (International Organization for Standardization), ASTM International, UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe), OECD Quality Infrastructure and ANSI (American National Standards Institute). Direct peers are IFIA (International Federation of Inspection Agencies), ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) and IAF (International Accreditation Forum). EA (European co-operation for Accreditation) is listed as a regional player.
Does Tic Council have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tic Council.
What industry is Tic Council in?
Tic Council's product category is Industry Trade Association / Conformity Assessment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAIAL, Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services, with a secondary code of BPADANAB, Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.