About
SERMI
Welcome to SERMI – the Association created to further develop, own, operate and maintain a scheme and process initially proposed by the EU Forum on Access to Vehicle RMI (Repair and Maintenance Information) to approve and authorise independent operators (IO’s) working in the European automotive aftermarket industry sector, to enable them to access security-related RMI.
SERMI has been created as part of the requirements of the Delegated Regulation (EU) N° 2021/1244, Regulation (EU) N° 2018/858 and Regulation (EC) N° 692/2008, which grant standardised access to technical information whilst establishing specific provisions for access to vehicle security features. Subsequently the ‘EU Forum on Access to Vehicle RMI’ was established and issued in October 2009 a report describing the complete process and architecture on access to security related RMI, including an accreditation scheme for Independent Operators. This scheme is currently under revision to align with the latest Regulation.
SERMI has been established as de-facto association under Belgian law. It is organised as a joint responsibility between Vehicle Manufacturers and Independent Operators as stakeholders who are primarily involved in the process to obtain or provide access to security-related RMI, parts and functions.
SERMI acts as scheme owner to the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA).
The updated SERMI scheme is validated by the European Accreditation association on the 3rd of February 2023. The scheme will become operational in August 2023. The SERMI organisation is responsible for this. Currently authorisation for access to anti-theft related RMI is handled by vehicle manufacturers directly. Parties requiring such authorisation in advance of SERMI becoming operational should contact the vehicle manufacturer concerned.
Companies interested in becoming a CAB can apply for this at their NAB. The updated SERMI scheme is available(here).
As defined in the Regulation (EU) N° 2018/858, vehicle manufacturers shall provide unrestricted and standardised access to repair and maintenance information (RMI) to independent operators.
For access to the vehicle security features, specific provisions are established. The legislation provides that access to security-related RMI shall be made available to independent operators, but under the protection of security standards and security certificates and on the condition that independent operators and involved employee(s) are approved and authorised for this purpose on the basis of specific documents and according to specific requirements..
This is why the ‘EU Forum on Access to Vehicle Information’ was established according to Article 13(9) of Regulation (EC) N° 692/2008 and Article 66 of Regulation (EU) N° 2018/858. Its aim is to elaborate a pan-European harmonised accreditation scheme and process architecture to help independent operators to service and repair vehicles in a secure manner even if this involves the security features of the vehicle (e.g. software updates).
The established EU Forum issued in October 2009 a Report which describes the complete process and architecture on access to security-related RMI. Based on this report SERMI has developed a new scheme version following the suggestions from the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) in the course of the requested scheme validation. Due to the recent (July 2021) updated Regulation, the scheme is recently updated and validated accordingly.
Founding members
On behalf of Vehicle Manufacturers:
European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA)
Rond-Point Schuman 6
B-1040 Brussels
Belgium
On behalf of Independent Operators:
Association Internationale des Réparateurs en Carrosserie (AIRC)
Grüner Weg 12,
DE-61169 Friedberg (Hessen)
Germany
European Council for Motor Trades and Repairs (CECRA)
Boulevard de la Woluwe 46, Box 9,
B-1200 Brussels
Belgium
Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)
Rue de la Science 41
B-1040 Brussels
Belgium
European Federation of Automotive Aftermarket Distributors (FIGIEFA)
Boulevard de la Woluwe 42 Box 5,
B-1200 Brussels
Belgium
SERMI has been established based on the recommendation of the Report issued by the EU Forum established under Article 13 of the Regulation (EC) N° 692/2008 and Article 66 of Regulation (EU) N° 2018/858. The task of the Association SERMI is to further develop, own, operate and maintain a scheme and process initially recommended by the EU Forum on Access to Vehicle RMI (Repair and Maintenance Information) to approve and authorise independent operators (IO) working in the European automotive aftermarket industry sector to enable to access security-related RMI.
Independent operator employees will need a security token (MFA) and pin protected electronic certificate and an authorisation when accessing a VM's website. An employee will only be authorised for security-related RMI access if their employer company has also been approved.
- The Independent Operator (IO) who wishes to conduct security related work will approach a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB).
- The CAB will then carry out the necessary approval (for the commercial enterprise/company) and authorisations (for the individual employees).
- After notification, the Trust Centre (TC) will issue certificates and security tokens to be distributed by the CAB to the Independent Operator as appropriate.
- The CAB will be accredited and assessed by the National Accreditation Body (NAB).
Once complete, the individual employee will be able to access the information from each manufacturer with this single certificate and authorisation (i.e. avoidance of multiple certificates and authorisation procedures with each individual vehicle manufacturer). The company approval and employee authorisation are valid for a period of 60 months, unless revoked due to misuse.
The Security Forum Process How does it work?
Overview
of the accreditation scheme
© SERMI 2023 - Legal advice