What
is Accreditation?
Accreditation
is the formal recognition of the competence, impartiality,
integrity and technical capabilities of Conformity Assessment Bodies to carry out specific conformity assessment
activities according to internationally agreed criteria.
Accreditation provides a structure
and indicates a process to achieve reliable testing
and calibration reports and certificates.
Accreditation is the mechanism to assure customers
of the competence of laboratories and other types of
conformity assessment bodies.
Conformity Assessment Bodies include:
- Testing Laboratories (ISO17025)
- Calibration Laboratories (ISO17025)
- Medical Laboratories (ISO15189)
- Inspection Bodies (ISO17020)
- Certification Bodies (ISO17021, EN45011, etc.)
International trade relies on
certificates and reports issued by competent bodies.
Confidence in accreditation is based on a series of
confidence building steps between the accreditation
bodies and accredited organizations and the
assurance given by the accreditation body that the
accredited body constantly implements the relevant
criteria and maintains and develops its competence
continuously as defined in the relevant standard as
an ongoing process. This assurance is achieved
through accreditation which includes an initial
assessment, regular surveillance and reassessment
visits, enhance, where appropriate, by other
surveillance activities.
For further information on what is
accreditation, you may download the following
EA brochure which is mainly intended for
regulators however contains relevant general
information regards accreditation.
