News

EMF publishes white paper on EMV testing, certification for US acquirers

September 10, 2013

The EMV Migration Forum has released "Current U.S. Payment Brand Requirements for the Acquiring Community," a new resource outlining payment brand EMV testing and certification requirements for acquirers, acquirer processors and direct connect merchants. The document is now available for free download.

According to a news release from the forum, the white paper details the acquirer host and EMV chip terminal testing requirements for each U.S. payment brand — American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa — involved in the move to EMV chip cards.

The processes follow the EMV specification and payment brands' application specifications, with the objective of ensuring interoperability between all host systems, payment devices and cardholder devices.

The white paper also describes common examples and use cases, and provides guidance as to when retesting is required for EMV chip contact and contactless terminals.

Forum director Randy Vanderhoof described the white paper as "a comprehensive document that will be a valuable asset in preparing the acquiring community for the U.S. move to EMV chip payments."

The white paper project was developed with input from Acquirer Systems, American Express, Chase, Discover, ICC Solutions, MasterCard, TSYS, UL Transaction Security, Vantiv, VeriFone and Visa, the news release said.

The 140-member EMV Migration Forum is an independent cross-industry organization whose mission is to ensure a cooperative, coordinated migration to EMV technology in the United States. Member organizations include global payment brands, FIs, merchants, processors, acquirers, regional debit networks, industry suppliers and industry associations. 

Read more about EMV.