History
ICRT was created as a not-for-profit association under UK law in 1990, but collaboration on product testing between independent consumer organisations began more than 50 years ago.
- 1968
The first joint tests between the Dutch and Belgian organisations included hairdryers, dishwashers, stereo receivers and model trains.
- 1972
The name European Testing Group (ETG) was created – the first formal iteration of what was to become ICRT.
- 1974
ETG comprised 12 consumer organisations, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
- 1982
The ETG Secretariat moved to London and the number of joint tests continued to grow.
- 1990
International Consumer Research & Testing Ltd (ICRT) was created to formalise the arrangements of ETG.
- 1992
First ICRT Guidelines issued
- 1995
ICRT became a founder member of the Euro NCAP crash test programme
- 1999
Guido Adriaenssens appointed CEO. ICRT now has 26 members
- 2002
Nordic Testing Group formed
- 2004
Consumers Reports (USA) joins ICRT; Asia-Pacific Regional Group met for the first time
- 2007
Capacity building project in new EU Member States leads to formation of Central & Eastern Europe Regional Group in 2010
- 2008
Worldwide test on Breakfast Cereals published and joined by 30 partners
- 2010
Latin NCAP launched
- 2011
Global NCAP launched
- 2021
ICRT has 37 members
We now have an office in London, a subsidiary in Germany and a branch in Denmark. Our team of 12 full-time staff is dedicated to coordinating and supporting member organisations to collaborate in knowledge sharing and testing of consumer products.