ILAC News 38

ILAC MRA 10th AnniversaryThis year marks the 10th anniversaryof the ILAC Mutual RecognitionArrangement (MRA). The principle aim ofthis Arrangement is as relevant today, as itwas when it was first established, and thatis to build confidence among accreditationbodies and their ability to determine alaboratory’s competence to perform testingor calibrations.This confidence in turn facilitates theacceptance of testing and calibration resultsbetween countries when the results canbe demonstrated to come from accreditedlaboratories. This ultimately supports thefreedom of world trade by eliminatingtechnical barriers to trade. The creation of aninternational network among accreditationbodies removes the need for suppliers tohave their products or services re-evaluatedin each country they enter on a commercialbasis. The key to the Arrangement is thatthe results of accredited organisationsare recognised as equivalent by signatoryaccreditation bodies. In this way, certificatesissued by accredited organisations cantherefore be accepted throughout the world.On 2 November 2000, 36 laboratoryaccreditation bodies, full members of ILAC,from 28 economies worldwide signedan arrangement in Washington, DC topromote the acceptance of technical testand calibration data for exported goods. Thearrangement came into effect on 31 January2001. Today, there are 66 accreditationbodies from 55 economies that aresignatories to the ILAC MRA.Now that the ILAC Arrangement is wellestablished, governments are takingadvantage of it to further develop or enhancetrade agreements. The ultimate aim continuesto be the increased use and acceptance byindustry as well as government of the resultsfrom accredited laboratories, includingresults from laboratories in other countries.In this way, the free-trade goal of “a producttested once and accepted everywhere” can berealised.At the national level, there is greaterrecognition of accredited activities, inparticular from regulators, who are usingthe ILAC Arrangement to deliver policyobjectives from health and safety to theprotection of the environment, as well asproviding the conditions that support acompetitive economy through their impacton the export performance of businesses.Arrangement can significantly reducecompliance costs by removing unnecessaryrepeat testing or the need to comply withredundant local requirements. This also hasa positive impact on time-to-market, whichcan be reduced through this streamlining ofthe approvals process.The ILAC website continues to provide anever increasing number of examples ofdemonstrated positive outcomes from theimplementation of the ILAC MRA.Looking to the future, ILAC will continue tomeet the expectations of a growing base ofstakeholders in the ongoing implementationof the ILAC Arrangement. This will includeresponding to the needs of both industryand regulators, who are increasingly turningto accreditation to meet their regulatoryresponsibilities. As an internationalorganisation, the primary role of ILAC isto ensure consistency and equal reliabilityamong all accredited activities deliveredunder their jurisdiction, to ensure that the‘Global Acceptance’ of accredited conformityassessment results is universally achieved.The aptly chosen theme for WorldAccreditation Day this year, given this10th anniversary, was ‘Global Acceptance’,a principle aspiration of the ILACArrangement.The IAF and ILAC Annual Meetings will takeplace in Shanghai from 20 – 29 October2010, during which the internationalaccreditation community will holdcelebrations for the 10th anniversary of theILAC MRA. (The 12th anniversary of theInternational Accreditation Forum (IAF) MLAwill also be celebrated because in China,twelve-years represent a cycle in the twelveEarthly Branches. A ten-year period is called‘Xun’ and a twelve-year period is called ‘Ji’.)As the World Expo is being held in Shanghaithis year, it is of commemorative andhistorical significance that these celebrationsby the international accreditation communitywill also be held in China.The Gala dinner, held as part of these annualmeetings will conclude a series of 10thanniversary celebrations from around theworld which began on World AccreditationDay - 9 June 2010.SuccessStoriesfrom ILACSignatoriesJust a reminderthat the ILAC MCCis always interestedin receiving ‘goodnews’ storiesthat demonstratethe benefits ofaccreditation and theILAC Arrangement.A collection ofgood news storiesis available on theILAC website for youto use to promotethe benefits ofaccreditation.If you have any recentgood news stories toshare, please do nothesitate to email theSecretariat onilac@nata.com.auwho will arrange forthem to be added tothe good news storiespage on the ILACwebsite.From a business perspective, the ILACILAC News3

Developing stronger ties between IECCAB, ILAC and IAFCompanies the world over, largeIf the reassessment of a specific CBand small, are pooling resources,(Certification Body) or TL (Testingstreamlining efforts, stepping up their Laboratory) coincides with the relevant ILACattempts to be more efficient andor IAF plan, then the CA System will providecompetitive. However, saving time and costs a list of Technical Experts to choose from.and striving to offer the best products or ILAC or IAF will appoint the reassessmentservices is not just an industry prerogative. team, made up of a Lead Assessor comingNations are joining regional entities that from their ranks and a group of CA Systemare better equipped to defend their interests; technical experts. Once the reassessmentnational, regional and internationalhas been completed, the CA System willorganizations are signing agreements that administer the reassessment report as one ofgive them more weight in the global market. its own.Based on this rationale, the IEC has over theyears finalized numerous agreements andworked in tandem with other internationalor regional electrotechnical standardizationor CA (Conformity Assessment) bodies. TheIEC CAB (Conformity Assessment Board) inparticular has a long history of cooperationwith ILAC (International LaboratoryAccreditation Cooperation) and the IAF(International Accreditation Forum).This common model of cooperation ensuresthat IEC CA Systems-registered assessorsapply IEC International Standards in auniform and consistent way, maintainingconfidence in the rigour of the technicalassessment.New Steering CommitteeCAB, ILAC and IAF proposed theestablishment of a tripartite SteeringCommittee to deal with policy andstrategy issues. Ad hoc task forces will beappointed to deal with specific technical oradministrative issues and will report to theSteering Committee.The following elements will be developedfurther by the Committee:• Common understanding of therequirements laid down in ISO/IEC 17025,General requirements for the competenceof testing and calibration laboratories, andISO/IEC Guide 65 , General requirementsfor bodies operating product certificationsystems, applicable to the electrotechnicalsector (ISO stands for the InternationalOrganization for Standardization.)• Reassessments of CBs and TLs using CASystems expertise“…a new model ofassessment collaboration– the common pool model– was elaborated andagreed upon…”The working relationship between the CABand ILAC began in 2003 and was madeofficial two years later with the signing ofa MoU (memorandum of understanding)that aimed to improve efficiency and reduceassessment costs for testing laboratories.Discussions between the CAB and the IAFwere initiated in 2005 and formalizedin early 2008. CAB/ILAC and CAB/IAFTechnical Panels were established, meetingonce a year to deal with common technicaland policy issues.Reassessment taken one stepfurtherThe three organizations met on 14 October2009 in Vancouver, Canada, to take thepartnership to a new level. There, a newmodel of assessment collaboration – thecommon pool model – was elaborated andagreed upon, whereby the IEC CA Systemswill provide ILAC and IAF with theirreassessment plans for 2010.IECEE Executive Secretary Pierre de Ruvo wasappointed Chairman of the Steering Committee• Use of harmonized assessment forms• Use of harmonized assessmentpreparation guidelinesFrom left, CAB Secretary Gabriel Barta, IEC Vice-President and CAB ChairmanHiromichi Fujisawa, and IEC President Jacques RégisThe appointment of IECEE ExecutiveSecretary Pierre de Ruvo as Chairman ofthe Steering Committee was also agreed,with his three-year term of office startingon 1 January 2010. IECEE is the IEC Systemof Conformity Assessment Schemes forElectrotechnical Equipment and Components.ILAC and IAF will provide the Committee’s“Meeting Secretary”.4 Issue 38 | October 2010

US Environmental Protection Agencyrecognizes accredited laboratoriesThere is a continuing trend of greaterrecognition of accreditation and the ILACMRA from Government and Regulators. “…clearly expressedFor instance, more US regulators such astheir desire to relythe Consumer Product Safety Commissionfor toy testing and the Nuclear Regulatory on laboratoriesCommission in the nuclear area, have clearlyexpressed their desire to rely on laboratories accredited by ILACaccredited by ILAC Full Members. ILAC isFull Members.”now also mentioned as a key player by theUnited Nations. Trade agreements are alsoincluding more references to the ILAC MRA.The US Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) has become the latest RegulatoryAgency to recognize the use of laboratoriesaccredited by an ILAC signatory to underpinthe public credibility of the ENERGY STARProgram.On June 30 2010, the EPA finalized anddistributed the Conditions and Criteria forRecognition of laboratories, which representsan important step in the enhanced testingand verification effort that EPA intends tohave in place for all ENERGY STAR qualifiedproducts at the end of 2010.The ENERGY STAR products program hasgrown to encompass products in morethan 60 categories and is used by millionsof consumers in selecting products thathelp them save money and protect theenvironment. To ensure that ENERGY STARremains a trusted symbol for environmentalprotection, the EPA and the US Departmentof Energy are pursuing enhancements forproduct qualification and verification.These include laboratory qualification andcomprehensive verification testing, throughthe use of accredited laboratories.Further information, including theConditions and Criteria for AccreditationBodies and for Laboratories can bedownloaded from www.energystar.gov/testingandverification. Visitors to thesite will also be able to view a list of theproducts and programs covered by ENERGYSTAR, as well as being able to access therelevant application forms. Due to the shorttimescales set by the EPA, it is advisedthat applications are submitted as soon aspossible.ILAC and IFCC sign MoUILAC has signed a Memorandum ofUnderstanding with the InternationalFederation of Clinical Chemistry andLaboratory Medicine (IFCC).The IFCC is the global body for setting andpromoting high standards of practice inclinical chemistry and laboratory medicineincluding the promotion of worldwidemedical laboratory accreditation. Followingmeetings earlier this year between membersof the ILAC Executive Committee andrepresentatives from the IFCC, ILAC ispleased to announce the signing of this MoUthat formalises the commitment from bothorganisations to work together in thepromotion of medical laboratoryaccreditation. A copy of the IFCC-ILAC MoUis available from the ILAC website.“…formalises thecommitment from bothorganisations to worktogether in the promotionof medical laboratoryaccreditation.”The 2011 IAF/ILAC annual conference isscheduled for 2-11 November 2011 inBangkok, ThailandILAC weblink available fordownloadingThe ILAC Marketing andCommunications Committee hasdeveloped a weblink graphic that canbe used to link to the ILAC website.The link can be used by accreditationbodies, accredited laboratories,liaison partners and other interestedorganisations.People interested in using thelink should visit the ILAC websitePublications and Resources page atwww.ilac.org/resourceswhere they can download aweb-ready graphic in either black andwhite or colour. Instructions are alsoprovided for the use of the weblink.6 Issue 38 | October 2010

The BIPM and ILACThe BIPM and ILAC continue to workclosely in areas of mutual interest,and not surprisingly both organizationsconsider close liaison as being of the highestimportance. The senior representatives ofthe two organizations met in March, anda number of ideas are being developed tostrengthen the links, and particularly tojointly promote the CPM MRA and the ILACArrangement. The BIPM was represented atthe AIC meeting at the end of June by AndyHenson, the new International Liaison Officerat the BIPM.50th anniversary of the SI: theInternational System of UnitsThe year 2010 marks the 50th anniversaryof the adoption of the name “InternationalSystem of Units”, and the symbol “SI” (takenfrom the French words Système internationald’unités), by the General Conference onWeights and Measures (CGPM, ConférenceGénérale des Poids et Mesures) in 1960. This11th meeting of the General Conference wasthus the formal beginning of the SI. Thesuccess of the SI in providing internationallyagreed standards for the world of science,engineering and technology is an occasion tobe celebrated.The BIPM was originally established in1875 by the Metre Convention to ensureworld-wide unification of measurements.At its 1st meeting, in 1889, the GeneralConference decided definitions of the metreand the kilogram in terms of prototypeartefacts. Definitions of the electrical unitsbased on the ampere were added at the9th meeting of the General Conference, in1948, in agreement with the IEC. At thesame conference the candela was adopted asthe name of the unit of luminous intensityin place of the older “new candle”. Thedefinition of the kelvin was added at the10th meeting of the General Conference, in1954, and the formal definition of the secondwas added by the CIPM in 1956. Finally the11th meeting of the General Conference in1960 laid the foundation for the completesystem of units, built upon the six base unitsused at that time and including multiple andsub-multiple prefixes, and adopted the nameInternational System of Units by which theentire system is known today. The definitionof the mole for the quantity amount ofsubstance, the seventh base unit, wasadded at the 14th meeting of the GeneralConference in 1971.There have been many developments tothe system during the 50 years from 1960to 2010. The definitions of many of thebase units have been revised to meet newdevelopments in the experimental basis ofmetrology, and to ensure the coherence ofthe entire system. These changes have beenfaithfully recorded in successive editions ofthe SI Brochure, prepared by the ConsultativeCommittee for Units (CCU) and published bythe BIPM at irregular intervals.The Brochure has grown from the 36 pagesof the original first edition to the 200 pagesof the 8th and current edition, published in2006. The 8th edition is also accompaniedfor the first time by the four-page ConciseSummary of the SI. These publications areavailable free at www.bipm.org and arerecognized around the world as the referencestandard for all quantitative measurements.The SI has reached maturity as the ultimateinternational reference for all standardsof measurement, but it is a living system,forever being revised and improved in avariety of ways to recognize our developingabilities in making measurements. Atpresent there are active plans to revise thedefinitions of four of the seven base units -the kilogram, ampere, kelvin and the mole- as we strive to achieve a more uniformsystem in which the definition of all unitsare referenced to the fundamental constantsof nature.Metre Convention and the CIPMMRA - interest continues to growIn addition to the signature of the CIPMMRA by the WMO (see below), the BIPM hasInternational Updateregistered three further signatories of theCIPM MRA:• The Executive Director of the GhanaStandards Board (GSB), Republic ofGhana, signed the CIPM MRA on 24February 2010. The Republic of Ghanahad become an Associate of the CGPM on17 September 2009.• The Director-General of the InstitutoNacional de Tecnologia y Normalizacion(INTN) of Paraguay, signed the CIPMMRA on 26 October 2009. Paraguay hadbecome an Associate of the CGPM on 6May 2009.• The President of the Instituto Nacionalde Defensa de la Competencia y de laProtección de la Propiedad Intelectual(INDECOPI) of Peru, signed the CIPM MRAon 17 November 2009. The Republic ofPeru had become an Associate of theCGPM on 28 May 2009.As of 18 June 2010, the CIPM MRA has beensigned by representatives of 78 institutesfrom 48 Member States, 27 Associates of theCGPM, and three international organizations,and covers a further 133 institutesdesignated by the signatory bodies as holdersof specific national standards. The full listof participants in the CIPM MRA is availablefrom http://www.bipm.org/en/cipm-mra/participation/signatories.htmlThe Republic of Kenya, previously Associateof the CGPM, became a Member State of theBIPM on 1st January 2010, and the People’sRepublic of Bangladesh became an Associateof the CGPM on 29 March 2010. This bringsthe current number of Member States of theBIPM to 54, and of Associates to 28. For thefull list, see the BIPM website.As of mid-May 2010, about 23 000 CMCswere included in the BIPM key comparisondatabase (KCDB) representing an additional1800 CMCs compared to mid-May 2009.Indeed, over the last year a large numberof newly approved sets of CMCs havebeen published. There is also a continuousmovement linked to approval of QualitySystems (QS): temporary removal (so-called“greying-out”) of CMCs not covered by anapproved QS, and re-instatement of CMCsfollowing approval of the QS. OccasionallyCMCs are also deleted permanently, if theyrelate to services that are no longer provided.Last year the KCDB attracted more thancontinued next pageILAC News | International Update 7

International Updatecontinued from previous page90 000 visitors, who opened a total of about821 000 KCDB web pages. The number ofmonthly visits varied between 5 600 and10 100, and the number of pages openedeach month between 48 800 and 117 500.These counts, however, do not include theadditional fraction of visitors arriving at theKCDB via our free-text search engine on themain BIPM website.Bipm WorkshopsBIPM Workshop on PhysiologicalQuantities and SI Units (BIPM, 16-17November 2009), chaired by Prof MichaelKühne, BIPMIncreasing demands are being placed onmetrologists and other experts to quantifythe effects of a multitude of factors on thehuman body, and this requires the resolutionof a number of complex scientific issues –including assuring the traceability of themeasurements to the International System ofUnits (SI).To this end the BIPM organized a Workshopon Physiological Quantities and SI Unitsto bring together the various interestedcommunities – principally those concernedwith traceable, reliable and comparablemeasurement, and those responsible forwriting and applying specification standardsand/or health and safety legislation. Theprincipal aims of the Workshop were toinitiate:• a collaboration aimed at relatingthe effects on the human body tomeasurements traceable to the SI or toother internationally agreed standards;• harmonization of terms and methodsso that measurements made in differentplaces can be related to each other,thereby enabling comparability ofresearch work and a consistent approachto the estimation of effects on the humanbody;• best practice guides and/or documentswhich may be adopted as the basis forthe measurement aspects of internationalstandardization, regulation and/orlegislation; and• a commitment by intergovernmentalbodies and international organizationsto work together and to encourage theapplication of the agreed best practices.The Workshop took place at the BIPM on16-17 November 2009 and the final reportis available from the BIPM website. Accessto the presentations given during theWorkshop is restricted to the participatingexperts nominated by the IntergovernmentalOrganizations, International Organizations,and National Metrology Institutes.BIPM Workshop on Metrology at theNanoscale (BIPM, 18-19 February 2010),chaired by Dr Alan Steele, NRCRecognizing the importance of measurementscience and metrology in emerging areasof technology, the BIPM organized andhosted a Workshop on Metrology at theNanoscale, bringing together scientists fromthe NMIs and industry with experts fromthe regulatory and standards developmentcommunity. The two-day Workshop, held on18-19 February 2010 and involving morethan 100 participants, approached the verybroad topic of nanotechnology with thematiclectures and round-table discussions in eighttopical areas:• Toxicological testing;• Nanobiology;• Aerosols;• Microscopy;• Surface analysis;• Thin films and coatings;• Mechanical metrology; and• Electrical and magnetic applications andmeasurements.The programme was very lively, and thepresentations were uniformly excellent,allowing the attendees to address the focalquestion of the meeting: “What activitiesare required to establish an effectiveinternational infrastructure for metrology atthe nanoscale?”The full report, which will be releasedin mid-2010, includes a comprehensivesummary of the discussions on this question,including the drivers to work on the topic,technical issues and barriers to progress,status and needs for traceability to the SI,as well as the anticipated use and needfor reference materials and documentarystandards.WMO-BIPM Workshop on MeasurementChallenges for Global ObservationSystems for Climate Change Monitoring:Traceability, Stability and Uncertainty(WMO, 30 March-1 April 2010), co-chairedby Prof Andrew Wallard (BIPM) and DrWenjian Zhang (WMO)The BIPM held a joint Workshop withthe World Meteorological Organization(WMO) on the broad subject of Metrologyand Climate Change, and how satellitebased,ground-based and other monitoringtechniques can be improved by the adoptionof best-practice metrology. This was atwo-day Workshop held in Geneva from 30March to 1 April 2010, with a fascinatingseries of presentations and a great dealof commitment by our colleagues in themeteorological community to take muchgreater advantage of the expertise that is inNational Metrology Institutes.The Objectives of the Workshop were to:• Identify key measurement issues inclimate science, Numerical WeatherPrediction model (NWP) and Earthobservation where there is a requirementfor improved underpinning metrology.• Foster closer links and develop dialoguebetween the metrology and the Earthobservation systems communities.• Drive agenda setting and road mappingwithin National Metrology Institutes(NMIs) and ensure that measurementscience is developed to meet the needsof climate science, NWP and Earthobservation community needs.• Inform the Earth observation systemscommunity about the capabilities andplans of the NMIs.In the words of Professor Wallard, Directorof the BIPM:“For us, it was a major step forwardbecause although there have been a lotof working-level contacts in a varietyof different disciplines between themetrologists and parts of the observationnetworks - the Global AtmosphericWatch and GEOS networks - it reallybecame a major commitment by theWMO at the most senior level.For those of you who would like tolook at it in a little bit more detail,all the presentations that were givenat the Workshop can be found onthe open BIPM website. Our aim is toproduce a report that will contain all therecommendations and the conclusionsthat we drew from the Workshop,and it will probably be a joint BIPM/WMO document. It will be circulatedvery widely, including to governments,intergovernmental organizations, NMIsDirectors, the international panel onclimate change, the UNCCC that dealswith this, and to anybody else we canthink of, because I think it is a majorstep forward to have the commitmentof two of the world intergovernmentalorganizations, tackling the metrologyand measurements issues in what, I amsure we all agree, is one of the most8 Issue 38 | October 2010

From left to right: Dr L Barrie (WMO), Prof A Wallard (BIPM), Dr M Jarraud (WMO), Prof E Göbel (CIPM), and Dr W Zhang (WMO)major challenges of the world at themoment.This is a hugely important and activearea with demands from the practicalobservation community, satellitepeople, calibration, specificationsof what is needed in terms ofmonitoring global greenhouse gases,in terms of concentrations, in termsof temperature measurements in seabasedmeasurements and a variety ofother things. So there is a wide range ofsubjects within this particular topic.From our point of view, we will carrythe work forward with as much energyas we can. One of the things we want todo is to set up clear liaison links betweenthe relevant Consultative Committeesand the WMO, so that the interactionscan be realized in a positive and activeway. We will certainly also be setting upa joint group with the WMO to monitorthe actions and make sure things dohappen.”At the occasion of the Workshop, the WMOjoined the CIPM MRA. The signing ceremonytook place on 1 April 2010, when MichelJarraud, Secretary General of the WMO,signed the Arrangement on behalf of theWMO.The WMO has designated three laboratoriesto represent it in activities organized withinthe CIPM MRA:• World Radiation Centre (PMOD/WRC,Davos, Switzerland), for solar irradiance;• Swiss Federal Laboratories for MaterialsTesting and Research (EMPA, Dübendorf,Switzerland), for surface ozone; and• National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration Earth System ResearchLaboratory (NOAA/ESRL, Boulder,Colorado, USA), for carbon dioxide,methane, nitrous oxide and carbonmonoxide concentrations.World Metrology Day - 20 May2010Measurements in Science and Technology -A bridge to innovationDuring World Metrology Day more thaneighty States celebrate the impact ofmeasurement on our daily life, no part ofwhich is untouched by this essential, andlargely hidden, aspect of modern society.Previous themes have included topics suchas measurements in sport, the environment,medicine, and trade. The 2010 themeconcentrates on how measurement influencesscience and stimulates innovation. As theworld strives to move on from its recentfinancial problems, and as Governmentswork to regenerate economies, we shall findthat science and technology are the enginesof economic growth and prosperity. These, inturn, rely on being able to measure correctlyand to refer measurements to the sameinternational reference standards. A worldwithout accurate measurement is a worldwhere science, technology, trade and societycan’t communicate and where error anduncertainty would reign supreme.National systems of measurement whereverthey are, must, therefore, all rely onagreed standards and units as well asagreed techniques to make consistent,reproducible and accurate measurements.Each national system is linked into a worldwidenetwork of national measurementstandards and laboratories coordinated bythe International Bureau of Weights andMeasures. This network gives society accessto accurate measurement in order to meettoday’s challenges in healthcare, within theenvironment and in all the new technologies.In industry and commerce, it helps ensureproduct quality, to eliminate waste and toraise productivity and trade based on agreedmeasurements and tests. It also enablesscientists to use a common language tounderpin their collaboration across the worldand ensure that their exploits can be takenup by companies where ever they operate.This year, in his message to the worldof metrology, Governments, companies,academics - and the man in the street -the Director of the International Bureauof Weights and Measures highlights therole played by precise measurement. Hechallenges measurement scientists to bemore active in promoting the topic amongdecision makers, as well as with youngpeople, pointing out the value of accurateand reliable measurement to their daily tasksand to the world as it deals with today’sGrand Challenges. Where would we bewithout it?The Director’s address, as well as the postersand other material, can be found on thededicated website www.worldmetrologyday.orgILAC News | International Update 9

International UpdateOIMLOn the basis of the Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MoU) signed betweenILAC (International Laboratory AccreditationCooperation), IAF (InternationalAccreditation Forum) and the OIML, a jointILAC/OIML Working Program was developed.It is revised every year during an annualtripartite meeting.Among the joint actions decided in 2009was the organization of two surveys (onemanaged by ILAC and the other by theOIML, among their respective Members) onaccreditation in the field of legal metrology.Fig 1 Accreditation in testing water meters according to OIML R 49The aim of these surveys was:• to collect information from ILAC membersconcerning the number of accreditationbodies which are actively accreditingorganizations working in the fields oflegal metrology covered by the OIMLDeclarations of Mutual Confidence; and• to collect information from OIMLMembers (Member States andCorresponding Members) concerning:––countries which request accreditationof national type approval bodies,bodies responsible for initial andperiodic verifications;Fig 2 Accreditation in testing load cells according to OIML R 60––the requirements used to evaluate thecompetence of the relevant bodies.Replies to the surveysFrom both sides, unfortunately, very fewreplies were received; consequently it is notpossible to draw any definitive conclusions.However, it has been decided to publish theresults of these two surveys for informationpurposes.Survey conducted by ILACThe questionnaire sent out by ILAC requestedanswers to the following questions:Fig 3 Accreditation in testing non-automatic weighing instruments according to OIML R 76• How many laboratories have youaccredited in the field of:––testing water meters according toOIML R 49;––testing load cells according to OIMLR 60;––testing non-automatic weighinginstruments according to OIML R 76;• If accreditation was delivered, whichrequirements were used?Fifteen ILAC Full Members replied – thesereplies are summarized in Figures 1, 2 and 3.Fig 4 Number of countries which request type approval of certain categories of measuringinstruments and where accreditation is required10 Issue 38 | October 2010

Among those national accreditation bodiesthat declared having accredited testinglaboratories in these three domains oflegal metrology, six indicated that theaccreditations were delivered on the basisof ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements forthe competence of testing and calibrationlaboratories. One mentioned the use of ISO/IEC 17020 General criteria for the operationof various types of bodies performinginspection.It should be highlighted that mostof the time, legal metrology or eventesting according to the relevant OIMLRecommendations is not clearly indicated inthe accreditation scope. This means that thecurrent replies may undermine the reality.2143Notified BodyISO/IEC 17025ISO/IEC Guide 65 andISO/IEC 17025ISO/IEC 17020 andISO/IEC 17025Fig 5 Number of countries regarding the requirements applicable to type approval bodies“…legal metrology oreven testing accordingto the relevant OIMLRecommendations is notclearly indicated in theaccreditation scope.”In addition, if we consider that theaccreditation of notified bodies for theimplementation of the Directive forMeasuring Instruments (MID), notified bodiesfor module B (Type Examination) may beaccredited as product certification bodieson the basis of EN 45011 (ISO/IEC Guide 65General requirements for bodies operatingproduct certification systems) then theaccreditation of the associated laboratoriesmay not be visible as an accreditation in thefield of legal metrology.Survey conducted by the OIMLThe questionnaire sent out by the OIMLrequested answers to the followingquestions:• Does your national regulation requiretype approval for certain categories ofmeasuring instruments?• Does your national regulation requireinitial verification to be carried out oncertain instruments before they are placedon the market or put into use?• Does your national regulation allowthe manufacturer of the instrumentand/or the owner of the type approvalcertificate to be responsible for the initialverification?continued next pageFig 6 Number of countries which request initial verification of certain categories ofmeasuring instruments and where accreditation is required11121214ISO/IEC 17025ISO/IEC 17020ISO/IEC 17020 andISO/IEC 17025ISO 9001 andISO/IEC 17025National requirements basedon ISO/IEC 17020National requirements basedon ISO/IEC 17025National requirements basedon ISO 9001Notified bodiesFig 7 Number of countries regarding the requirements applicable to initial verification bodiesILAC News | International Update 11

International Updatecontinued from previous page• Does your national regulation requiresubsequent verifications for certaincategories of measuring instruments?If the answer was “yes” to any of thequestions, then additional questions wereasked: whether the responsible bodies needto be accredited and if “yes” according towhich reference standards.Twenty OIML Members sent in replies.Among them, twelve were sent by countriesoutside Europe. These replies are summarizedin Figures 4–11.Fig 8 Initial verification by the manufacturer“Analysis of the figuresmay demonstrate atendency for accreditationto be more widelyrequired for bodiesresponsible forsubsequent verification.”312ISO/IEC 17025(Manufacturer’stest laboratory)ISO 9001 certification byan accredited CBISO 9001 certification by anaccredited CB + ISO/IEC17025 (manufacturer’stesting laboratory)No formal conclusions may be drawn.Analysis of the figures may demonstratea tendency for accreditation to be morewidely required for bodies responsible forsubsequent verification. This is probably dueto the fact that for several years, nationalregulations authorize designated third-partybodies to perform subsequent (in service)verifications of measuring instruments.Fig 9 Reference requirements applicable to the manufacturerCB: Certification BodyJoint ILAC/OIML Working Program2010–2011In accordance with the Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MoU) signed in November2007 between ILAC and the OIML, the jointWorking Program has now been revised onthe basis of the conclusions of the ILAC/OIML Meeting held on 1 April 2010 andapproved by the ILAC Chair and CIMLPresident.Laurent Vinson (ILAC) and RégineGaucher (OIML) are responsible for theimplementation of this Program, whichis included for your information and alsoavailable from the ILAC website.(see Working Program on next page)Fig 10 Number of countries which request subsequent verification and which requestaccreditation of subsequent verification bodies11111116ISO/IEC 17205ISO/IEC 17020 +ISO/IEC 17205ISO 9001 +ISO/IEC 17025ISO/IEC 17020National requirements basedon ISO 9001National requirements basedon ISO/IEC 17020National requirements basedon ISO/IEC 17025Other national requirementsFig 11 Number of countries regarding the requirements applicable to subsequentverification bodies when accreditation is required12 Issue 38 | October 2010

Joint ILAC/OIML Working Program 2010–2011Action Comments Leader Means DeadlineImprovement in communicationbetween National AccreditationBodies and National LegalMetrology BodiesDraft joint ILAC/OIMLCommuniquéILACJoint ILAC/OIML Communiqué tobe sent to CIML Members and toNational Accreditation Bodies.Communiqué to be uploaded onboth ILAC and OIML web sites andto be published in ILAC News and inthe OIML BulletinDecember2010Renewal of the R 60 andR 76 DoMCsBIMLBIML Circular to be sent to IssuingParticipants (with copy to CIMLMembers) before launching therenewal of the R 60 and R 76 DoMCsSeptember2010Training for lead assessors fromAccreditation Bodies, ILAC fullMembersDevelopment of trainingmaterialBIML One-day training sessions To be decidedTraining organization OIML One-day training sessions To be decidedProcedure for assessment in thefield of legal metrologyDraft OIML/ILACprocedure to be preparedby a joint ILAC/OIMLWorking Group to be setupBIML/ILACJoint ILAC/OIML PublicationSeptember2010Communication on the use ofaccreditation in legal metrologyArticle to be drawn upjointly by ILAC and theOIML to present theresults of the two surveysconducted in 2009BIMLArticle to be published in ILAC News,posted on the ILAC web site; andpublished in the OIML Bulletin andposted on the OIML web site.BIML Circular to CIML Members andOIML Corresponding MembersMid-2010Changes to Ilac MembershipThe following ILAC membership changeshave occurred since the April 2010 issueof ILAC News.Full Members• Croatian Accreditation Agency (HAA)• Hungarian Accreditation Board (NAT)• Papua New Guinea LaboratoryAccreditation Scheme (PNGLAS)Associates• Kosovo Accreditation Directorate (DAK)Affiliates• Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB)• PPDWithdrawn• DARILAC Membership• ILAC membership as at 26 August 2010 isas follows:• 66 Full Members (Signatories to the ILACArrangement) representing 55 economies;• 22 Associates representing 22 economies;• 20 Affiliates representing 19 economies;• 4 Regional Cooperation Bodies• 25 StakeholdersThe ILAC membership (total 137organisations) now covers a total of 89different economies worldwide and over34,000 laboratories and 6,000 inspectionbodies are accredited by the 88 ILAC FullMembers and Associates.2011MetrologyConferenceThe first announcement and call forPapers for the 4th InternationalConference on Metrology - Measurementand Testing in the Service of Society, tobe held in Jerusalem, Israel on 23-24 May2011 has been launched.The conference program, including detailsof the list of topics and instructionsfor the submission of abstracts can beaccessed from the ILAC website.ILAC News | International Update 13

Regional CooperationsFrom the APLAC SecretariatWe would like to thank KOLAS forhosting the recent ISO/IEC 17011training course, the MRA Council and Boardof Management meetings. The meetingswere very successful and we especiallyappreciate KOLAS’s hospitality in hostingthe very enjoyable MRA Council dinner andentertainment.APLAC Mutual RecognitionArrangementAt the recent MRA Council meeting PNGLAS(PNG) was accepted as a signatory to theAPLAC MRA for testing and the recognitionof A2LA (USA) was extended to include ISO15189. Congratulations to PNGLAS andA2LA!Congratulations also go to PAO, (Philippines)for the continuation of its signatory statusfor testing and calibration.APLAC Workshops/Training Coursesin 2010A successful 2 day training course on ISO/IEC 17011 was held in Seoul, Korea on the 10and 11 May.At the time of writing this report a 3 daytraining course on the recently issued ISO/IEC 17043 has been scheduled to be hostedby TAF, Chinese Taipei from the 14 to 16September.Also a 3 day training course on the updatedversion of ISO Guide 34:2009 has beenscheduled to be hosted by CNAS, People’sRepublic of China from the 20 to 22September.APLAC meetings in 2010The 2010 General Assembly and associatedmeetings will be held in Osaka, Japan in theweek 4-10 December. The meetings will bejointly hosted by IAJapan, JAB, JCLA andVLAC.APLAC web siteOur website has frequent updates so pleasefeel to visit it at www.aplac.orgNew MembersAPLAC welcomes the Quality ManagementProgram – Laboratory Services (QMP-LS),Canada as a new Full Member and theKorea Association of Standards and TestingOrganisations (KASTO) as a new AssociateMember.APLAC SecretaryMr Michael Fraser has now assumed therole of APLAC Secretary. Michael can becontacted at: aplac@nata.com.au. JanetClark continues in her role as APLACAdministration Coordinator and can bereached via the same email address.Helen Liddy retired from NATA on the 30June and we wish her all the very best forthe future.From Michael Fraser and Janet ClarkAn Overview of MajorDevelopments within EaEA full members and signatories tothe EA MLAIn accordance with European Regulation(EC) no 765/2008 which states that nationalauthorities in each EU Member State shallestablish one single national accreditationbody (NAB) in charge of all accreditations,some adjustments are being completedwithin the EA membership. Further to theappointment of ACCREDIA as the Italiannational accreditation body in early 2010,and after calibration activities previouslyaccredited by COPA were taken over byACCREDIA in April 2010, the 25th EAGeneral Assembly held on 20-21 May 2010in Zurich, Switzerland (see photo) confirmedthe termination of COPA’s full membershipwith immediate effect.EA was very pleased to welcome RoxanneRobinson (APLAC), Ileana Martinez (IAAC),Annabel Brewka (European Commission),Tore Nyvold Thomassen ( EFTA), HoangLiauw (CEN), Guy Jacques (Eurolab –Chair of the EA Advisory Board), MartinStadler (Business Europe – Vice-Chair ofthe EA Advisory Board), Pavel Klenovsky(EURAMET), Jean-Marc Aublant (Eurolab),Natasa Mejak-Vukovic (WELMEC),Hinrich Schaub and Herbert Egolf (CEOCInternational), and Erik Janssens (EOQ) to theEA General Assembly held in Zurich.To date the whole EA family counts 33 fullmember accreditation bodies, out of which29 are signatories to the EA MLA. HAA andNAT, the Croatian and Hungarian NABsrespectively, have recently been allowed tobecome EA MLA signatories for every scopecovered by the agreement. So far a total of22 accreditation bodies have now signed forall accreditation activities currently coveredby the EA MLA.EA-1/08: Multi- and Bilateral Agreementsignatories has become an informationbrochure with a completely renewedformat aiming at raising stakeholders’and regulators’ awareness about the peerevaluation process, and the values andbenefits of the EA MLA.As for the Statement of Equivalence to beused by EA MLA signatories to communicateon the equivalence of accreditation systemsoperated by EA MLA signatories and thereliability of reports and certificates issuedby the conformity assessment bodiesaccredited by EA MLA signatories, the finaldraft should be made available by the endof 2010.Increasing cooperation beyond theEuropean UnionEA gathers 20 non-European accreditationbody signatories to a contract ofcooperation, out of which 11 have developedinto bilateral agreements with EA. With aview to develop its cooperation outside theEU-member states, EA approved a policy -published in Document EA-1/13 - to provide14 Issue 38 | October 2010

for a better framework for cooperation withaccreditation bodies of countries not beingmembers of the EU and EFTA but fallingwithin the European Neighbourhood Policy(ENP), and particularly belonging to theEuro-Mediterranean area. A detailed reviewof the existing contracts of cooperationand bilateral agreements was subsequentlycarried out by the EA Executive Committeein late 2009.At its meeting in May 2010, the EAGeneral Assembly resolved that:• in accordance with the recently revisedEA Articles of Association, the associatemembership is offered to the accreditationbodies located within the countriesthat are either potential candidatecountries to the EU/EFTA or in theEuropean Neighbourhood Policy. Wherean associate member has a bilateralagreement with EA on its recognition inrelation to the EA MLA, it will be askedto sign a new BLA specific to associatemembers;• for accreditation bodies that areoutside of the EU/EFTA and EuropeanNeighbourhood Policy area, the existingcontracts of cooperation and bilateralagreements are allowed to remain in forcefor the time being, in line with the earlierGeneral Assembly resolutions.Additional actions are being taken to definecriteria, call for and evaluate applicationsfrom accreditation bodies interested in anon-going relationship with EA in line withEA-1/13. The results of the evaluations bythe EA Multi-Lateral Agreement Councilshould be presented to the General Assemblyin November 2011.Boosting EA perspectivesThe EA Executive Committee held a strategysession in combination with its first 2010meeting in January. The objective was torevise the EA Strategic Plan and develop avision for the Secretariat in accordance withthe new role and enhanced status given toEA by Regulation (EC) 765/2008. This wasa first step in the process: discussions aregoing on within the Executive Committeewith a view to present a revised plan to theEA General Assembly in November 2010.“The objective was torevise the EA StrategicPlan and develop a visionfor the Secretariat inaccordance with the newrole and enhanced statusgiven to EA by Regulation(EC) 765/2008.”employment contract.The EA Executive Committee has completedthe second stage of revision of the EAArticles of Association and Rules ofProcedure. The first stage had been achievedat the end of 2009 with the adoption andpublication of the Articles, after Articles 1through 4 of the Articles had been revisedto align the EA membership criteria with theEuropean Regulation requirements. Now therevised draft is ready to go out for commentsin due course for the final draft to be ratifiedand published by the end of 2010.Formal adoption of ILAC and IAFresolutions and documents withinEAIn May 2010 the EA General Assemblyresolved that the EA Executive Committeeshall review the resolutions from ILACand IAF at the first Executive Committeemeeting following the ILAC and IAF GeneralAssemblies, before making proposals toformally adopt within EA any resolutionthat impacts on the operation of EA-memberaccreditation bodies.A parallel procedure should soon providethat ILAC and IAF documents which aremandatory for EA MLA signatories, aswell as for EA as the regional cooperationbody that administers and manages theevaluations of EA signatories to the ILACand IAF arrangements, shall be submittedto EA members for endorsement. ApprovedILAC or IAF documents will be proposedto the EA General Assembly for formalapproval. ILAC and IAF documents endorsedas EA documents will be available throughthe EA website.In case ILAC or IAF documents containprovisions, principles or policies conflictingwith those adopted for the Europeanaccreditation system, the EA ExecutiveCommittee shall bring the matter to theattention of the EA Advisory Board, askingthe latter for advice on how to resolvethe conflict. A proposal supplemented bya recommendation to solve the conflictidentified will be submitted to the EAGeneral Assembly. This recommendation mayconsist of drafting a specific EA document toreplace the international document.continued next pageAs a very first outcome, the Paris EASecretariat is getting support. Further to theneed approved by the last General Assemblyin May 2010 to increase the EA Secretariat’shuman resources, EA has just selected anadditional person to reinforce the team inParis in their daily activities as from summer2010 on the basis of a fixed-term part-timeThe 25th EA General Assembly held on 20 and 21 May 2010 in Zürich, Switzerland, brought togethermore than 80 delegates representing 40 EA members and contract of cooperation signatories.ILAC News | Regional Cooperations15

Regional Cooperationscontinued from previous pageDocument revision within theEA Horizontal HarmonisationCommittee (HHC)Revision of EA-3/09: Surveillance andreassessment of accredited organizations: atits meeting in March 2010, the HHC agreedto recommend to downgrade EA-3/09 statusto that of an advisory document. If agreedby the General Assembly, EA evaluatorswill have to be informed. In addition, theHHC decided to develop a new guidance onISO/IEC 17011 focusing on surveillance andreassessment rules. Feedback on EA workwill be provided to ILAC/IAF and the Chair,Merih Malmqvist-Nilsson, offered to drafta paper on accreditation cycles for furtherdiscussion at the HHC September meeting.Revision of EA-2/11: EA Policy forConformity Assessment schemes: the policyencapsulates a process for dealing withapplications from schemes to be acceptedin EA. It also outlines a proposal for anMoU meant to formalize relations andinteraction between EA and the scheme.Accepted schemes will be published on theEA website. Currently there are 13 HHCreviewedschemes operating in the privateand regulatory areas.The EA Laboratory Committee (LC):a buoyant committeeIn light of the results of a survey launchedin April 2010 to evaluate EA-memberaccreditation bodies’ activity and the needfor accreditation in the field of referencematerial producers, the EA General Assemblyhas recently endorsed the principle thatEA should expand its MLA to cover theaccreditation of RMPs in the future. Theproposed timeframe for when the activityshould be covered by the EA MLA will bedefined in due course.The WG Healthcare of the EA LaboratoryCommittee should elect its new Chair toreplace Andreas Steinhorst on 15 September2010.At the LC meeting held in March 2010,Christian Lehmann (DAkkS), the convenor ofWG ILC Testing, provided a presentation onthe results achieved in recent PT activities.He also presented a Table of Learning Pointsthat should become a very useful tool forEA accreditation bodies’ use in their systemand structure, in particular, but not only, fortraining of assessors.The WG ILC Calibration is about to start aninter-laboratory comparison for calibrationof roughness measurements in line withthe agreed five-year plan for regional ILCs.An invitation to nominate laboratorieswas circulating until 1 July 2010. Formore information, please contact the EASecretariat.EA enters into a formalpartnership with the CommissionThe European Accreditation Co-operation(EA) and the European Commissionsigned a Framework Partnership Agreementin Brussels on June 30, 2010. The signingceremony was attended by Graham Talbot,EA Chairman and Ms Liliana Brykman,Director on behalf of Mr Heinz Zourek,Director General Enterprise and Industry.The agreement formalises the relationshipbetween the two organisations thatstarted with the adoption of the newEuropean legislative package, in particularRegulation (EC) 765/2008 of the EuropeanParliament and of the Council of 9 July2008, and the recognition of EA as theofficial European accreditation infrastructure.Further progress was made with thesigning of the “General Guidelines forthe Cooperation between the Europeanco-operation for Accreditation and theEuropean Commission, the European FreeTrade Association and the competentNational Authorities” on 1 April 2009 inBrussels.The partnership agreement sets out the termsand conditions of the relationship, with aview to achieving the common policy aimsand objectives stated in the CooperationGuidelines. It covers a period of four yearscommencing on 1 January 2010.“This is a significantachievement for EA…”EA also signed a Specific Agreement onan Operating Grant for 2010, which detailsfinancial contributions from the Commissionin the form of operating grants for EA tocarry out elements of its work as the officialaccreditation infrastructure in Europe. Asimilar agreement should be signed with theEFTA countries by the end of the year.There is still work to be completed, notablyestablishing the processes and proceduresnecessary to administer the SpecificAgreement on the Operating Grant. The EAExecutive Committee will therefore pursueits planned work programme and updatestakeholders in due course.On signing the agreements GrahamTalbot commented: “This is a significantachievement for EA and I would like tothank those within EA and the Commissionwho contributed to reaching this importantmilestone. EA will strive to carry outits new role with diligence, impartiality,independence and professionalism to ensurethat the trust that has been placed in EA iswell-founded”.16 Issue 38 | October 2010

EA’s Reinforcing its relations withstakeholdersSome changes within the EAABThe EA Advisory Board (EAAB), chairedby Guy Jacques from EUROLAB since thesecond semester 2009, held its 24th meetingon 15 April 2010 in Brussels. The nominationof Michael Nitsche as the German nationalauthorities’ representative and the NACollege’s Chair at the Board’s last meeting,has resulted in Michael being appointed asthe second EAAB Vice-Chairman, togetherwith Martin Stadler from BUSINESSEUROPE,the Industry College’s Chair.A strong focus on the cross-borderissuesThe last meeting’s debates focussed onthe implementation issues of the crossborderaccreditation policy as enshrined inArticle 7(1) of Regulation (EC) 765/2008,i.e. the multisite, multiple accreditation,competition and flexible scope issues. Aspecific EAAB TFG had been previously setup to collect and analyse current practicesand options so as to make recommendationsfor harmonised pragmatic solutions. TheBoard drafted and circulated a couple ofdocuments, i.e. a background document andan EAAB position paper accommodating theBoard’s recommendations for each specificissue. Both documents were approved withinthe EAAB in mid-May 2010, shortly beforebeing presented at the EA May GeneralAssembly in Zürich.Becoming EA RecognisedStakeholdersRegulation (EC) 765/2008 laying downa comprehensive regulatory set ofrequirements for the organisation andoperation of accreditation at national andEuropean levels emphasises and strengthensthe important role to be played bystakeholders in accreditation.Further to the obligation put on EA tointeract in a more efficient and transparentway with its stakeholders, an EA Policy forRelations with Stakeholders was adoptedand published in Document EA-1/15 in late2009. This policy provides that a distinct“recognised stakeholder” status withassociated rights and obligations is grantedto organisations that wish to become moredirectly involved in EA’s associative lifeand have a particular institutional interestin contributing to EA’s technical activitieswithout, however, meeting the criteria forbecoming EA members.All applications for the recognisedstakeholder status are carefully consideredby the EA Executive Committee, whichmakes recommendations to the EA GeneralAssembly after consultation with the EAAdvisory Board. The status of becominga recognised stakeholder is formalised byan agreement in writing between eachorganisation and EA in order to define therights and obligations of the particularrecognised stakeholder based on thegeneral principles set forth in EA-1/15. Theagreement is reviewed every two years.IAAC ReportThis report includes IAAC activities fromJanuary 2010 to July 2010.IAAC MLA scope extensionCurrently, IAAC is a Regional CooperationBody signatory of the ILAC MRA with ascope in Testing and Calibration Laboratoriesand a signatory of the IAF MLA with a scopein QMS.IAAC has started operating MLAs for thescopes of EMS Certification Bodies, ProductCertification Bodies and Inspection Bodies.IAAC has submitted an application to extendits IAF MLA for the scopes of accreditationof EMS Certification Bodies, ProductCertification Bodies and for InspectionBodies.The ILAC-IAF evaluation team leaderperformed an evaluation of the IAAC MLAGroup, and the MLA Committee, on 29-30August 2009 and evaluated the IAACSecretariat on 1-2 September 2009, in CostaRica. The IAF-ILAC evaluation team has alsowitnessed several IAAC evaluations in 2009.New Signatories to the IAAC MLA’s• INN of Chile was accepted as a signatoryto the IAAC MLA for calibration andtesting laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025),including medical/clinical laboratories(ISO 15189) as of 22 March 2010.• ECA of Costa Rica was accepted as asignatory to the IAAC MLA for calibrationlaboratories (ISO/IEC 17025), as of 22March 2010.• FQS of the United States was acceptedas a signatory to the IAAC MLA for thescope of Testing Laboratories (ISO/IEC17025), as of 22 March 2010.• ema of Mexico was accepted as asignatory to the IAAC MLA for InspectionBodies (ISO/IEC 17020), as of 22 March2010. (ema will sign the IAAC MLA forthis scope when there is a minimum of 3signatories.)Signatories to the IAAC MLAFor Testing and Calibration Laboratories(13)Argentina - OAA (and clinical/medicallaboratories)Brazil - Cgre/INMETROCanada - SCC (and clinical/medicallaboratories)Chile - INNCosta Rica - ECACuba - ONARCGuatemala – OGA (Testing only) (andclinical/medical laboratories)Mexico - ema (and clinical/medicalcontinued next pageILAC News | Regional Cooperations17

Regional Cooperationscontinued from previous pagelaboratories)USA - A2LA (and clinical/medicallaboratories)USA – ANSI-ASQ National AccreditationBoard, Doing business as ACLASSUSA – ASCLD-LAB (Testing only)USA – FQS (Testing only)USA – NVLAPFor Quality Management SystemsCertification Bodies (6)Argentina - OAABrazil - Cgre/INMETROCanada - SCCMexico - emaPeru - INDECOPI/SNAUSA – ANSI-ASQ National AccreditationBoard, Doing business as ANABFor Environmental Management SystemsCertification Bodies (5)Argentina – OAABrazil – Cgcre/INMETROCanada – SCCMexico – emaUSA – ANSI-ASQ National AccreditationBoard, Doing business as ANABFor Product Certification Bodies (4)Argentina – OAABrazil – Cgcre/INMETROCanada – SCCMexico – emaFor Inspection Bodies (1)Mexico – ema (ema will sign the IAAC MLAfor this scope when there is a minimum of 3signatories)IAAC MembershipIAAC currently has a total of 41 membersfrom 23 countries in the Americas. 23 arefull members, 7 are associate members and11 are stakeholders.IAAC OfficersThe current list of IAAC officers is asfollows:• IAAC Chair, Beatriz Garcia of OAA(Argentina)• IAAC Vice-Chair, Ileana Martinez ofNVLAP (USA)• Interim Treasurer, Keith Greenway ofANSI-ASQ Nat. Acc. Board Dba ACLASS(USA)• MLA Committee Chair, Mauricio Soares ofCgcre/INMETRO (Brazil)• MLA Committee Vice-Chair, AlexanderPineda of OGA (Guatemala)• Technical Committee Chair, JohannaAcuña of ECA (Costa Rica)• Technical Committee Vice Chair, PeterUnger of A2LA (USA)• Laboratories Subcommittee Chair, BerthaMunguia of A2LA (USA)• Laboratories Subcommittee Vice Chair,Barbara J Belzer of NVLAP (USA)• Certification Bodies Subcommittee Chair,Ignacio Guerreiro of OAA (Argentina)• Certification Bodies Subcommittee Vice-Chair, Steve Cross of SCC (Canada)• Inspection Bodies Subcommittee Chair,Eduardo Ceballos of INN (Chile)• Inspection Bodies Subcommittee Vice-Chair, Sergio Hurtado of ema (Mexico)• Management Committee Chair, ElizabethTejeda of ema (Mexico)• Management Committee Vice-Chair,Cynthia Jimenez of ECA (Costa Rica)• Training Subcommittee Chair, AndreaJimenez of ema (Mexico)• Training Subcommittee Vice-Chair,Nicolas Molina of DTA-IBMETRO (Bolivia)• Promotions Subcommittee Chair, Jo AnnGiven of ASCLD-LAB (USA)• Promotions Subcommittee Vice-Chair,Sandra Saraiva of Cgcre/INMETRO (Brazil)• Documentation Subcommittee Chair,Maria Miranda of ONARC (Cuba)• Documentation Subcommittee Vice-Chair,Liliane Somma of OUA (Uruguay)TrainingIAAC has an extensive training program. Thefollowing is a list of training activities for2010:• Workshop on ISO/IEC 17021 Part 2 tobe held in the United States, betweenOctober and November 2010.• Peer evaluator training workshop forexperienced evaluators to be held in Riode Janeiro, Brazil on 20 August 2010.• Workshop on Accreditation Best Practiceswas held in Asuncion, Paraguay on 14-16June 2010. The workshop was sponsoredby PTB of Germany.• Workshop on ISO/IEC 17024 was heldin Guatemala City, Guatemala, on9-10 March 2010. The workshop wassponsored by OAS.• Workshop on the Analysis of ProficiencyTesting Results was held in Quito,Ecuador, in March 2010. The workshopwas sponsored by PTB of Germany.IAAC Proficiency Testing programsIAAC T006 Proficiency Test for SugarAnalysisAn IAAC regional proficiency testingprogram on sugar analysis is being organisedby OGA of Guatemala and will be startingsoon. Invitations will be sent to IAAC,APLAC and SADCA members.“IAAC currently has atotal of 41 membersfrom 23 countries inthe Americas.IAAC T005 Proficiency Test forPreservatives in Non-alcoholic BeveragesAn IAAC regional proficiency testingprogram on preservatives analysis in nonalcoholic beverages is being organised byOAA/INTI of Argentina. The program beganin March 2010. Samples have been sent toIAAC, APLAC and SADCA participants.IAAC T004 Proficiency Test for WineAn IAAC regional proficiency testingprogram on wine analysis was carried outby DTA-IBMETRO of Bolivia. This programbegan in April 2009 and concluded in March2010. Laboratories from the IAAC regionparticipated, as well as laboratories from 4APLAC members, and 1 SADCA member.The final report is available from the IAACwebsite.Cooperation with Internationaland Regional OrganisationsCooperation with IAF:Ileana Martínez, IAAC Vice-Chair, attendedthe IAF Executive Committee meetings inMexico City, in June 2010.Beatriz García, IAAC Chair, became amember of the IAF Executive Committee,and attended the IAF Executive Committeemeetings in Paris, in March 2010.Randy Dougherty, IAF Chair, attended the18 Issue 38 | October 2010

IAAC Executive Committee meetings held inMontevideo, Uruguay, in March 2010.At the request of IAF, IAAC will provide 2regional peer evaluators (team members)for the evaluation of PAC in 2010/2011, andIAAC will also provide a regional evaluatorfor the evaluation of EA in 2010/2011.Cooperation with ILAC:Ileana Martínez, IAAC Vice-Chair, attendedthe ILAC Executive Committee meetings inMexico City, in June 2010.Beatriz García, IAAC Chair, attended theILAC Executive Committee meetings in Paris,in March 2010.Peter Unger, ILAC Vice-Chair, attended theIAAC General Assembly meetings held inSan Jose, Costa Rica, in September 2009, andthe IAAC Executive Committee meetings heldin Montevideo, Uruguay, in March 2010.At the request of ILAC, IAAC provided aregional evaluator for the evaluation ofAPLAC.Cooperation with PAC:Fabian Hernandez of ema, Mexico, attendedthe PAC MLA Committee meeting as theIAAC representative during the PAC Plenaryheld in Wellington, New Zealand, in June2010.Shinichi Iguchi, PAC MLA Chair, attendedthe IAAC MLA Committee and MLA Groupmeetings which were held in Montevideo,Uruguay, on 22 March 2010.Cooperation with APLAC:Barbara Belzer of NVLAP, USA, will attendas the IAAC representative, the ISO/IEC17043 course organised by APLAC, to beheld in Taipei in September 2010.Laboratories from 4 APLAC membersparticipated in the IAAC regional proficiencytesting program on wine analysis carried outby DTA-IBMETRO of Bolivia. The programconcluded in March 2010.APLAC has invited IAAC members toparticipate in its proficiency testingprograms during 2010.Cooperation with EA:lleana Martinez of NVLAP, USA, representedIAAC at the EA General Assembly in May2010.Cooperation with SADCA and AFRAC:Victor Gandy, IAAC Secretary, attended the3rd workshop regarding the creation of theAfrican Regional Accreditation Cooperation(AFRAC) which was held in Cairo, Egypt, inApril 2010.Laboratories from 1 SADCA memberparticipated in the IAAC regional proficiencytesting program on wine analysis carried outby DTA-IBMETRO of Bolivia. The programconcluded in March 2010.Technical Cooperation Projects:2009-2010 Organization of American States(OAS) ProjectIAAC is currently implementing a technicalcooperation project with the OAS foraccreditation bodies in developing countrieswithin the Americas region.The project includes the following activities:• Witnessing of IAAC peer evaluations;• 2 peer evaluations of accreditation bodies;• Training for 3 peer evaluators;• 3 technical training courses;• 1 webinar;• 3 consultancies for developing ABs;• 3 internships for staff of developing ABs;• 1 regional seminar on accreditation;• 2 national seminar programs onaccreditation; and• 2 proficiency testing programs.2010 Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt(PTB) ProjectIAAC currently has a technical cooperationproject with the PTB of Germany.The project activities for 2010 include:• Workshops on Good Practices inAccreditation held in Paraguay, in June2010.• Workshop on the Analysis of ProficiencyTesting Results held in Quito, Ecuador, inMarch 2010.• 3 internships for accreditation bodiesthat are developing an Inspection Body(IB) scheme were held at ema, Mexico, inNovember 2009. ema has an establishedIB program.• Training for peer evaluator trainees.• Support to carry out the internationalevaluations of IAAC and witnessing ofIAAC evaluations.Improvement of IAAC documentsand proceduresThe Executive Committee reviewed changesto several IAAC documents in order toimprove the functioning of IAAC, includingthe MLA process and the IAAC Bylaws.IAAC has a new category of mandatorydocuments which include IAAC, ILAC andIAF mandatory documents for the MLA. Thedocuments may be downloaded from theIAAC website at www.iaac.org.mx2010 IAAC meetings• The 15th IAAC General Assemblymeetings will held in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil, from 20-27 August 2010.• The IAAC 33rd Executive Committee,MLA Committee and LaboratoriesSubcommittee meetings were held inMontevideo, Uruguay, on 22-24 March2010.IAAC Information and PublicationsInformation on IAAC members anddocuments is available at the IAAC website:www.iaac.org.mx.The16th IAAC GeneralAssembly Meetingswill be held in Quito,Ecuador from20-27 August 2011.This series of meetingswill include the IAACGeneral Assemblymeeting, Committeeand Subcommitteemeetings as wellas a Seminar onaccreditation and atraining course.ILAC News | Regional Cooperations19

Accreditation UpdateA2LA: Forensic Accreditation ProgramIn early 2009 in the United States aOn 23 April 2010, A2LA hosted the first accreditation under this option will bereport was published by the Committee meeting of its Forensic Examinationassessed for compliance to internationalon Identifying the Needs of the ForensicSciences Community, National ResearchAdvisory Committee (FEAC). At the meeting,technical experts from various disciplinesstandard ISO/IEC 17025 and A2LA policiesand requirements.Council, entitled “Strengthening Forensic within the forensic sciences discussedThe second accreditation offering isScience in the United States: A Pathkey issues and made motions regardingfor the assessment and accreditation ofForward.” In the report, a detailed description A2LA policy for the developing forensicforensic inspection bodies (eg crime sceneof the status of forensic science in the United accreditation program. Also in 2009units, forensic engineering – structuralStates was given and key recommendations and 2010, A2LA attended many forensicfailure inspection). Organizations seekingwere made to help improve the quality and conferences and discussed with key contacts,accreditation under this option will bereliability of forensic science in America. needs within the forensic community andassessed for compliance to internationalIncluded in the list of recommendations what A2LA could offer the community in thestandard ISO/IEC 17020 and A2LA policieswas mandatory accreditation and personnel way of accreditation.and requirements.certification.Upon reviewing this report and in responseto requests from our customers, the AmericanAssociation for Laboratory Accreditation(A2LA) began work to create a forensicaccreditation program. While the main focusof the program was considered to be forensictesting and inspection (scene investigation)conducted by medical, mechanical, electrical,engineering, software and environmentalorganizations, it was determined that theprogram should be designed so that it couldapply to all those organizations performinginspections and testing for use in criminaland civil proceedings including governmentand private laboratories and inspectionbodies.In July 2010, after many months of researchand development, A2LA is proud toannounce the launch of the A2LA ForensicAccreditation Program. It is hoped thatthe addition of this program to A2LA’saccreditation offerings will help to bridgethe gap between what is normally consideredforensic examination (DNA, Fingerprints,Crime Scene Examination) and the oftenoverlooked work of the commercial industryfor civil litigation (Forensic Engineering,Failure Analysis, Accident Analysis).The program consists of two separateaccreditation options. The first offering isfor assessment and accreditation of forensictesting laboratories. Laboratories seekingIt is hoped that with further research anddevelopment and with the support of theforensic community, that the A2LA forensicprogram will offer accreditation to all thoseorganizations performing such work. Forfurther information regarding A2LA’s newprogram, please visit the A2LA website(www.A2LA.org).Mauritas Develops An Inspection BodyAccreditation ProgrammeThe Mauritius Accreditation Service(MAURITAS) was established underthe Mauritius Accreditation Service Act1998 as a department within the Ministryof Industry and Commerce to provide anational unified service for the accreditationof Conformity Assessment Bodies (CAB’s)such as Calibration and Testing Laboratories,Certification Bodies and Inspection Bodies.One of the objectives of MAURITAS is toprovide formal recognition of the technicalcompetence of Conformity AssessmentBodies to operate in accordance withinternational standards.MAURITAS has already accredited ten (10)Laboratories to the International StandardMS ISO/IEC 17025 and one (1) CertificationBody to MS ISO/IEC 17021 since February2008.20 Issue 38 | October 2010MAURITAS has now embarked on anAccreditation Programme for all InspectionBodies against ISO/IEC 17020: GeneralRequirements for the operation of varioustypes of Bodies performing Inspection. Thisprogramme aims at meeting the accreditationneeds of Inspection Bodies in Mauritiusand providing a high standard service inassessing and accrediting Inspection Bodiesover a wide range of schemes in order torecognize their integrity and reliability. Theprogramme is being funded by the FrenchDevelopment Agency (AFD) under theTrade Capacity Program – “Programme deRenforcement des Capacités Commerciales(PRCC)”. The PRCC was established in 2002and has granted subsidies to a large numberof projects. Accreditation of InspectionBodies in Mauritius will provide formalrecognition that an Inspection Service iscapable of meeting standards of quality,performance, technical expertise, competenceand professional judgment, both at thenational and international level.The Programme is due to start in August2010 and will last three (3) years. Afterthat period MAURITAS will run itsInspection Body Accreditation Programmeindependently.

ACCREDIA celebrates ‘Global Acceptance’This year marks the 10th anniversary Technical quality is considered to be theof the ILAC Mutual Recognitionstrategic objective in the new ServiceArrangement (MRA) and the 12thContract between the Italian Governmentanniversary of the IAF Multilateraland the RAI.Recognition Arrangement (MLA).On the occasion of World Accreditation Day,ACCREDIA – the Italian Accreditation Body– in collaboration with RAI – public servicebroadcaster, CONFINDUSTRIA SIT – Italianbusiness association for technology services,and AICQ – the most important Italianquality association, organised a roundtablewith the theme “Make Quality - Productsand Services to compete” for the 7 June. Theevent took place at the RAI head office inRome and the opening speech was made byACCREDIA President Federico Grazioli.The aim of the meeting was to strengthenthe message that certified quality is theinstrument which gives tangible advantagesto the economic system and to collective life:to companies – reinforcing competitivenessand efficiency with the recognition ofcompetencies also on an international level– and to the general public – guaranteeinginnovative services and products as well asbetter consumer goods from the point ofview of safety.RAI, through the Direction of TechnologyStrategies, confirmed, thanks to thisroundtable, its commitment to technicalquality of service as an essential requirementof the relationship with users.ACCREDIA was recognised as the guarantorfor quality and safety of Italian products.AICQ bore testimony to its role for thedissemination of the Culture of Quality inItaly.Confindustria SIT has acknowledged thecommitment of associated companies forquality in Italy and in the rest of Europe.Contributions were made by other importantleaders of top companies to whom qualityand customer satisfaction are a majorstrategic factor for market competitiveness.Another event of great importance to furtherreinforce the value of accreditation in Italytook place at the Chamber of Deputies (SalaMarini) in Rome on the subject of “Qualifiedprofessional persons and the free market”.The meeting, held on 21 June, was organisedwith UNI – Italian National StandardisationBody – and Assoprofessioni – the Italianassociation for non-classified occupations.Many qualified leaders and representativesfrom various professional associations tookpart.One of the main speakers was AntonioPaoletti, Vice-President of ACCREDIA whosecontribution discussed the principal topic ofaccredited professional persons and was agreat success.Professional persons have a fundamentalrole in improving competitiveness, asthey represent a key factor for businessdevelopment and the quality of products andprocesses for the benefit of consumers.ASSOPROFESSIONI have begun, with UNI,procedures for the recognition – throughthe establishment of technical standards –of each occupation based in the nationaleconomy, with the aim that they will befollowed by audit certification and accreditedby ACCREDIA.There was a general agreement (includingfrom Members of Parliament whoparticipated in the roundtable) about theunsuitability of the classified occupationassociations to ensure for the country alevel of expertise in traditional sectors andto respond to the growing needs of newprofessional persons.The way to standardisation, certification,accreditation – currently at an advancedstage at an international level – seemsto provide the best response to currentproblems and ACCREDIA will have animportant role to play in this area.Swedac celebrated the World AccreditationDay at the head office in Borås and atthe Stockholm office. Swedac’s internationalsecretariat lectured on the theme ‘GlobalAcceptance’. Mrs Merih Malmqvist Nilsson,Head of the secretariat, and Mrs IngridArremark, Technical Expert, developedthoughts on the importance of theinternational and national work to promoteaccreditation to really enforce the goal of‘Tested/certified once, accepted everywhere’.The staff took part in a Swedac quiz totest their knowledge of various mattersSwedac celebrated the WorldAccreditation Dayconcerning the international work andrules eg agreements on mutual recognition.The reward for taking part was coffee,strawberries and icecream. The winners ofthe quiz also received a Swedac rugsack.Swedac also published special articles on‘Global Acceptance’ in its magazine SwedacKvalitetsaktuellt for customers and in itsnewsletter for the staff. On 9 June Swedac’snew website was launched, and of course,the first news to appear was information onthe World Accreditation Day!Webmaster Heléne Johansson shows Swedac’snew website launched on 9 June.Photo: Johan MikaelssonILAC News | Accreditation21

Accreditation UpdateDubai Accreditation Department (DAC) celebratedWorld Accreditation day on 9 June 2010Dubai Accreditation Department (DAC)celebrated World Accreditation day on 9June 2010.Under the theme of ‘Global Acceptance’Dubai Accreditation Department celebratedWorld Accreditation day on 9 June 2010.An internal e-quiz competition at the levelof Dubai Municipality employees wasorganised. A total of 97 correct answers werereceived and three winners were selectedby draws conducted by Eng Salah AbdulRahman Al-Amiri, Assistant Director-Generalfor Environment and Public Health of DubaiMunicipality.Eng Salah Amiri conducting a draw to select the winners of the e-quiz competitionAs part of the celebrations DAC organiseda ceremony to award the 1st and 100thaccredited conformity assessment bodies inrecognition of their association with DACin the quest of quality and to encourage allconformity assessment bodies to participatein raising the quality of services providedto customers. The awards were given tothe 1st accredited - M/S Al Hoty StangerLaboratories, Dubai accredited in 2002 andthe 100th accredited - M/S TUV SUD MiddleEast, Dubai accredited in 2010.DAC re-structured technical taskforcesDAC technical committees and task forcesconducted their annual meetings afterrestructuring. DAC restructured four taskforces for laboratories (medical, calibration,food and environmental testing andconstruction material testing), one taskforce for inspection bodies (pressure vesselsinspection) and the personnel certificationtask force.Representatives from M/S Al Hoty Stanger Laboratories, Dubai and M/S TUV SUD Middle East, Dubaireceiving their awardsDAC will publish four new requirementdocuments by the end of 2010 followingreview by the task forces coveringcalibration, food and environmental testing,pressure vessels inspection, and personnelcertifications for crane operators.Meeting of DAC task force for medical laboratories22 Issue 38 | October 2010

DAC accredited first type “B”inspection bodyDAC accredited DP World TechnicalDepartment, Dubai as a type “B” inspectionbody in the field of lifting equipmentinspection. This is the first type “B”inspection body accredited by DAC.DAC’s accreditation schemes are receivingattention from all types of conformityassessment bodies.DAC training courses- Pressure Vessel Equipment InspectionDAC has conducted the second practicaltraining course this year for “Pressure VesselInspection”. The course was held from 26to 28 April 2010. A total of 28 delegatesfrom governmental and private InspectionBodies attended the course. DAC staff alsoparticipated in this training course. Thiscourse provided the basic knowledge andskills for the inspection of pressure vessels.It highlighted the special approach neededto develop the inspection of different typesof pressure equipment (vessels, boilers,pipelines, assemblies) and their safety andcontrol accessories.Ms Amina Ahmed, Director of DAC presenting the accreditation certificate to the Quality Director ofDP World, Dubai.Uncertainty of measurementDAC conducted the third public course thisyear on “uncertainty of measurement”. Thecourse was held from 17 to 19 May 2010.Twenty-two delegates from governmentaland private laboratories, representingdifferent types of testing, calibration andmedical laboratories, attended the course.Eng Lina Qudah, former director of DAC, wasthe resource person for the training course.Delegates at the training course on uncertainty of measurementEGAC holds a successful Seminar on ConformityAssessment for Medical DevicesOn 6 July the Egyptian AccreditationCouncil (EGAC) held a seminar onConformity Assessment for Medical Devicesas part of the EU/EGYPT TWINNINGPROJECT EG08-AA-TR11 activities toenhance building the capacity of EGAC.In his opening remarks and presentation,Eng Hassan Shaarawi the Executive directorof EGAC, explained EGAC’s mandate andobjectives and introduced its plan to developinto a full portfolio leading accreditationorganisation.Shaarwi also stated that EGAC since itsinception has accredited a total of 285conformity assessment bodies includingsome African and Arab laboratories andduring the last year alone trained more thana thousand participants.Then Mr Bright, a world class expert fromBSI presented the Medical Directives 93/42/EEC and 90/385/EE including 2007/47/ECand the classification of Medical devices,Declaration of Conformity and CE Marking.The presentation by Mr Lewis from BSI, arenowned expert, covered the Medicines& Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency(MHRA) in the UK including how the systemworks, the role of Notified Bodies, theDesignation Handbook and the Internationalupdates to Certification of Medical Devices.The seminar was successfully attendedby 70 participants from medical devicesmanufacturers, users, assessors, regulatorsand other stakeholders from both the Publicand private sector. The seminar concludedwith an open panel discussion that showeda great interest from the medical devicescommunity delegates in accreditation pavingthe way and to include this activity inEGAC’s Portfolio in the foreseeable future.ILAC News | Accreditation23

Accreditation UpdateWorld Accreditation Day celebrations in MexicoFrom 7 to 10June, emaconducted the thirdweek of celebrationof Accreditation, incommemoration of9 June: World Dayfor Accreditation.On this occasion, 7 June was devoted toclinical laboratories and testing, and 8 Juneto calibration laboratories.The 50 participants involved in the medicallaboratory meetings had the opportunity tolearn about international developments inthis field. The National Metrology Center(CENAM), also explained the documentationof metrological traceability of clinicallaboratory measurements.About 250 people attended the testinglaboratory meetings and 90 attended thecalibration laboratory meetings. In thesesessions, officials from the DirectorateGeneral of Standards of the Ministry ofEconomy, National Water Commission(CONAGUA) and Ministry of Labor andSocial Welfare (STPS) discussed theimportance of technically competent andreliable conformity assessment agenciesin supporting compliance with the rulesto safeguard our security, health andenvironment.Also on 8 June, conferences for stafffrom certification bodies were attendedby 60 participants. These participantshad the opportunity to learn about thesustainable forests certification, the genderequity standard and appellations of originprograms.Inspection bodies were the focus for the 10June. With 140 people in attendance, theseconferences were addressed by authoritiesfrom the Ministry of Labor and Social(STPS); Secretariat of Communicationsand Transports (SCT); and Ministry ofAgriculture, Livestock, Rural Development,Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), on theexisting verification programs in each oftheir areas.For the third time on 9 June, in severalcountries, World Accreditation Day wascelebrated with joy, and Mexico was noexception! The community who makeup the Mexican System of Metrology,Standardization and Conformity Assessment,gathered to commemorate this importantdate and address issues of interestsurrounding accreditation.This year we had major figures participatingas members of the presidium for the openingceremony and sharing their messages andgreetings on this special day:We were privileged to have one of thehighest authorities of the environmentin Mexico, Mr Sandra Denisse HerreraFlores, Undersecretary of Promotion andRegulations of the Ministry of Environmentand Natural Resources;We were accompanied by Dr FranciscoRamos, General Director of Standards of theMinistry of Economy;And we were honored with the participationof Mr Jorge Remedi, representative of theAccreditation Body of Argentina, OAA.To inaugurate the work of our Day, IngSalomón Presburger, President of theConfederation of Industrial Chambers ofthe United Mexican States (CONCAMIN)honored us with his presence, and reiteratedthe need to strengthen SISMENEC, statingthat “this is one of the priorities of theplans and strategies for the development ofMexican society and economy. “The central theme for this year was“Global Acceptance” and to address it threeworkshops were conducted:• Mutual Recognition Agreements, MRA;• Policies and Procedures of ConformityAssessment; and• Accreditation and Approval Difference.We thank all those who made possible thecelebration of our World AccreditationDay.24 Issue 38 | October 2010

EA MLA signatory–ILAC MRA signatory–5thbirthday of HAA!This year the Croatian AccreditationAgency (HAA) has plenty reasons forcelebration! One of the greatest successes ofHAA, in the first part of 2010, was becominga signatory to the multilateral agreementwith EA for all accreditation schemes(calibration laboratories, testing and medicallaboratories, inspection bodies, certificationbodies for QMS, EMS, certification ofproducts and certification of personnel). HAAwas, in a demanding three year evaluationprocedure, assessed by EA as a competentand confident institution.HAA submitted an application to sign theEA MLA on 1 March 2007. The pre-peerevaluation of HAA was undertaken in June2008 and the full evaluation was performedin July and November 2009. Finally, on29 April 2010 HAA signed the EA MLA.Following this, HAA submitted applicationto ILAC and became an ILAC full memberand signed the ILAC MRA. This greatachievement of HAA is excellently timedto match with the 5th anniversary of HAAworking independently.The beginning of an accreditation servicein Croatia started, much earlier however, in1996. At that time the accreditation servicewas organized within the State Office forStandardization and Metrology (DZNM-NSO). HAA was established on 1 July 2005as a result of a re-organization of the DZNM.• the value of accreditation (recognitionand position of accredited bodies in themarket and increase of CAB’s activities/services after accreditation);• financial impact of accreditation (increasein CAB’s income after accreditation,increase in the number of supply/demandfor services after accreditation);• the main reason for application foraccreditation (legal stipulations or qualityimprovements);• the strong and weak points of HAA work;and• HAA work in 2009 in comparison withprevious years.HAA conducts this kind of survey every3 years as it is an important tool foridentifying improvements in the HAAmanagement system. We have informed ourHAA in numbers - 5 years of HAA independent workclients about the results of the survey andthis information is available from the HAAwebsite www.akreditacija.hrTo gather feedback from the users ofaccredited services, HAA in cooperation withthe Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK),conducted the Survey on accreditationawareness and implementation of qualitysystems in practice among Croatianeconomic operators (sample of 20 000companies). The survey was launched inApril 2010 and was the first time such acomprehensive survey in this area wasconducted in Croatia. The main points of thesurvey were related to:• the company’s data (number ofemployees/size of company, sector ofoperation);continued next pageTo seek feedback from accredited bodiesand users of their services, HAA launchedtwo comprehensive surveys. In February2010 HAA conducted a survey on Clients’Satisfaction of HAA services. The survey wasforwarded to all the accredited conformityassessment bodies with the questions relatedto:• the application for accreditation (clarityof application documentation, availabilityof information about accreditation beforethe CAB’s application for accreditationand the ease of completing applicationdocuments);• the accreditation service (on siteassessment, price, duration ofaccreditation process);• the HAA staff (availability, kindness,professionalism, quality of informationgiven by HAA staff);Number of accredited bodies in Croatia by years (status 2010-06-30)108Testing laboratories HRN EN ISO/IEC 17025Calibration laboratories HRN EN ISO/IEC 17025Medical laboratories HRN EN ISO 15189Certification of products HRN EN 45011QMS Certification HRN EN ISO/IEC 1702112EMS Certification HRN EN ISO/IEC 170214Certification of personnel HRN EN ISO/IEC 170241439Inspection HRN EN ISO/IEC 170202 1 6Number of accredited bodies in Croatia according to the accreditation schemes (status 2010-06-30)ILAC News | Accreditation25

Accreditation Updatecontinued from previous page• the management system in the company(has the company implemented any kindof management system, is it certified, is itcertified by accredited certifying body);• knowledge about accreditation (are theyfamiliar with the terms: certification,accreditation, difference betweencertification and accreditation, HAAactivities);• the use of services of conformityassessments bodies (does companyuse services of CABs, does companyuse services of accredited CABs, doescompany use services of CABs abroad andmain criteria for choosing specific CAB(price, CAB’s accreditation, recognition byministries, others); and• implication of Croatian negotiationprocess with EU on the quality issues ingeneral.KINGSTON JAMAICA, 11 June 2010: TheJamaica National Agency for Accreditation(JANAAC), on World Accreditation Day(WAD), Wednesday 9 June 2010, presentedits first Certificate of Accreditation. Thecertificate was presented to the AnalyticalServices Department of the ScientificResearch Council (SRC) during the WADcommemorative breakfast.On this day JANAAC also introduced the twoaccreditation symbols that will now be usedto identify medical and testing laboratoriesthat have achieved the level of technicalcompetence necessary to be accredited tothe international standards ISO 15189 andISO/IEC 17025.These symbols were introduced by Jamaica’sMinister of Industry, Investment andCommerce Karl Samuda, during a CEOBreakfast hosted by JANAAC at the TerraNova Hotel in Kingston on 9 June. Thebreakfast was one of several commemorativeevents hosted by the accreditation body asthey joined other countries world-wide inobserving World Accreditation Day under thetheme Global Acceptance.One accreditation symbol is for medicallaboratories and the other for testinglaboratories. Both symbols are in the Jamaicanational colours of black, green and gold.26 Issue 38 | October 2010Number of HAA assessors according to the accreditation schemes (status 2010-06-30)The results of this survey will be presentedto the Croatian economic operators viathe media and other joint HAA and HGKpromotion activities from September 2010.A plan for a comprehensive education andAccording toJANAAC’s CEOMargueriteDomville,this signifies‘national pride’.The Ministerlauded thestaff of JANAAC for their achievementsover the two years since the agency beganoperations, pointing out that their work wassignificant in enhancing the competitivenessof Jamaican products in the internationalmarketplace.He also used the opportunity to urge the over80 laboratory representatives in attendanceto ensure that their laboratories becomeaccredited to enable smoother trade relationswithin CARICOM (Caribbean Communityand Common Market) and greater access ofJamaican goods and services to internationalmarkets.In presenting the first Certificate ofAccreditation, Minister Samuda expressed hisconcern that only one of all the laboratoriesin the country had achieved the level to beaccredited by JANAAC. He also pointed outthat “Accreditation of Jamaican laboratoriesto international standards will directlyimpact the country’s ability to developtraining program for economic operatorshas also been agreed with HGK and will beperformed during 2010 and 2011.Janaac Achieves Another Milestone onWorld Accreditation Dayproducts to satisfy local needs and to meetglobal acceptance, as accreditation facilitatesglobal trade by allowing goods tested oncein the country of origin to be acceptedelsewhere without the need for furthertesting.”“Failing this,” the Minister expanded,“Jamaica’s trading partners includingCARICOM member countries could have thebasis to refuse our exports. When we are allaccredited, products can flow more freelyand facilitate (fair) trade.”The certificate of accreditation was presentedto the SRC following months of rigorousMinister of Industry, Investment and CommerceKarl Samuda presents the Jamaica NationalAgency for Accreditation’s (JANAAC) firstcertificate of accreditation to Carol Thompson,Team Leader in the Scientific Research Council’sAnalytical Services Department and MargueriteDomville of JANAAC.

assessment, by JANAAC’s assessors, of itsoperating procedures and testing methodsto ensure they conformed to the standardsoutlined by the International Organizationfor Standards (ISO) and the Guidelines ofthe International Laboratory AccreditationCooperation (ILAC).With the accreditation of the SRC’sAnalytical Services Department by JANAAC,Jamaica now has two local laboratories thatare accredited to international standards.The other accredited laboratory is the MassLaboratory at the Bureau of Standards,which was accredited by an overseas basedaccreditation body, before the establishmentof JANAAC.CEO of JANAAC, Marguerite Domville said“although the SRC’s chemistry laboratorywas the only laboratory to be accredited thusfar, she was heartened by the response ofthe other laboratories to the call for them tobecome accredited. To date 27 laboratorieshave picked up applications.JANAAC CEO Breakfast: Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Karl Samuda,(right) and from left: Giselle Guevara, Manager of the Caribbean Laboratory Accreditation Schemeproject, Reginald Budhan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry Investment andCommerce, Marguerite Domville, Omar Azan, President of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association(JMA) and Simon Roberts, Chairman of the JANAAC Accreditation Council.Meanwhile guest speaker at the breakfast,President of the Jamaica Manufacturers’Association (JMA), Omar Azan, called for anurturing of the goods producing sectors ofthe Jamaican economy in order to build theircapacity to comply with international qualitystandards. He pointed out that the detentionof Jamaican products at the ports of entryfor retesting by importing countries, can bevery costly to exporters.“One major problem that exists in theCaribbean is the lack of traceability fromthe inputs to the finished product. We needmeasures to be put in place to verify thesource of inputs, so that we can vouch forthe integrity of our products” Mr Azan said.The day’s activities also included a livebroadcast of the CEO Breakfast on Jamaicanradio, a Poster Exhibition and a TechnicalConference entitled “Testing for Accuracyand Global Competitiveness.”A very pleased Carol Thompson, Team Leader in the Scientific Research Council’s (SRC) AnalyticalServices Department (left) is all smiles as she uses a chart to explain how the SRC prepared itselffor the accreditation process to: from left - AnnMarie Smith of the SRC, Simon Roberts, Chairman ofthe JANAAC Accreditation Council and Sonia Morgan, JANAAC Senior Lead Assessor.The Technical Conference which took placein the afternoon was a joint activity done incollaboration with the Caribbean LaboratoryAccreditation Service (CLAS) Project ofthe CARICOM Regional Organization forStandards and Quality (CROSQ).JANAAC, an agency of the Industry,Investment and Commerce Ministry, wasincorporated in March 2007 to provideaccreditation services to ConformityAssessment Bodies (CABs) such aslaboratories, certification and inspectionbodies.Ms Marguerite DomvilleChief Executive OfficerMarguerite Domville, CEO of JANAAC left, has the attention of: from left - former JLP spokeswomanon Commerce Shirley Williams, Noel Osbourne Executive Director of the Bureau of Standards andClaudette Brown Technical Manager, JANAAC. Mrs Williams, who is CEO of the Polydiagnostic CentreLtd, was among numerous CEOs and senior executives from laboratories across the island whoattended a CEO Breakfast hosted by JANAAC.ILAC News | Accreditation27

Accreditation UpdateKenya Accreditation Service (KENAS)Celebrates World Accreditation Day (WAD)Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS), thesole National Accreditation Body (NAB)for Kenya and a statutory organizationunder the Ministry of Industrialization,celebrated the third World Accreditation Day(WAD) during the 29th World Congress ofBiomedical Laboratory Science.This was the first time this conference hasbeen held in Sub-Saharan Africa. The venuewas the Kenyatta International ConferenceCenter (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya from 6 to10 June 2010. The conference was organizedjointly by the Association of Kenya MedicalLaboratory Scientific Officers (AKMLSO),the host and the International Federationof Biomedical Laboratory Science (IFBLS).IFBLS was founded in 1954 by Ms ElizabethPletscher.The purpose of this congress was to promoteexcellence in biomedical science, enhanceprofessional development, and providenetworking opportunities in research,education and business. The focus was onthe role of Biomedical Laboratory science inthe management of the global health burdenwith emphasis on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.KENAS was a key participant in the congress,having both an exhibition booth, and apaper which was presented by Doris MueniMengo from KENAS titled “Do doctorsuse laboratory results prior to treatment ofpatients?”. KENAS used the opportunity toorganize a symposium to elucidate the themeof this year’s WAD focusing on medical/clinical laboratory accreditation.The WAD was established three yearsago in 2008 under the auspices of theInternational Accreditation Forum (IAF) andthe International Laboratory AccreditationCooperation (ILAC), the umbrella bodies thatare globally responsible for accreditationactivities in the field of certification andinspection/laboratory testing respectively.This was the third WAD to be celebrated.The first WAD was celebrated in the year2008 and the theme was “Accreditationdeliveringglobal trust” while the secondone was celebrated in 2009 with the theme“competence”.The theme for this year was “GlobalAcceptance”.clinical results, goeshand in hand withthe InternationalAccreditation Forum(IAF) and InternationalLaboratoryAccreditation Cooperation (ILAC) principle of“tested once, accepted everywhere”.The big gathering comprised of delegatesthat are experts in the field of BiomedicalScience drawn from all over the world.KENAS took this opportunity to reach outto the laboratory scientists, first to increaseawareness, educate them and to outline thesignificance and benefits of medical/clinicallaboratory accreditation taking into accountthe requirements of customers (physicians/clinicians, patients) and applicable standardsparticularly ISO 15189:2007-MedicalLaboratories-Particular requirements forquality and competence as well as applicableregulatory requirements.The symposium was officiated by thePermanent Secretary of our parentMinistry of Industrialization, Prof John KLonyangapuo CBS, HSC who was representedby Ms Pamela A Dede, Deputy Directorof Industries. Other key representativeswere from the Ministry of Medical Services(MOMS), Ministry of Public Health andSanitation (MOPHS), Centre for DiseaseControl (CDC), A Global Healthcare PublicFoundation (AGHPF), Family HealthInternational (FHI), Pathcare Laboratories(K) Ltd, the private sector and donor supportpartners amongst many other partners in thehealth sector.The KENAS symposium took place between11.00 and 13.00. Participants in thisworld accreditation day symposium werebiomedical scientists who were present atthe congress and who chose to celebrate thisday with KENAS together with other keymedical/clinical laboratory stakeholders.The Director KENAS, Mr Sammy K Milgowelcomed the participants to the symposiumand gave a brief history of KENAS.Welcome remarks were made by Dr MosesNjue Head of the Department of Diagnosticand Forensic Sciences (DDFS) - MOMS,Mr Valentine Magero – A Laboratoryspecialist from Family Health International(FHI) - Africa Regional office, and Dr JaneMwangi from Centre for Disease Control andPrevention - Global AIDS Program (CDC-GAP) Kenya.Presentations were given by Dr KhadijahKasachoon from KENAS, who talked aboutGlobal acceptance for medical/clinicallaboratory results. Mr Eric Wakaria fromthe Human Quality Assessment Services(HUQAS) which has been accredited byKENAS as a Proficiency Testing (PT) providerfor medical/clinical laboratories gave apresentation on External Quality Assurance(EQA) programs in relation to accreditation.Mr Paul Okwach from Pathcare Laboratory(K) Ltd, a medical laboratory accredited bySANAS of South Africa, gave a presentationon the process of accreditation. Mr KevinOmondi, on behalf of Prof Kilian Songwe,the President of A Global Healthcare PublicFoundation (AGHPF) gave a presentationon WHO-AFRO Accreditation process usedas tool for strengthening laboratories andas a stepping stone towards ISO 15189accreditation of laboratories in Africa.Sammy K MilgoDirector-Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS),Kenya.Put simply with medical/clinical laboratoriesin mind – Global acceptance of medical/28 Issue 38 | October 2010Speakers at the KENAS symposium held during the 29th World Congress of Biomedical LaboratoryScience.

World Accreditation Day 2010 in KoreaKOLAS organized a series of events tocelebrate the 3rd World AccreditationDay at the Korean Agency for Technologyand Standards on 9 and 11 June 2010.The expert conference was held on 9 June2010, by inviting experts in conformityassessment fields to share information aboutthe ILAC-MRA and accreditation system, andto discuss plans for reinforcing internationalconfidence by ensuring trust and competenceof KOLAS.The theme of this conference was ‘the keyof new market development and tradevitalization’. The discussions covered theimportance of mutual recognition forproduct/test certificates, KOLAS policiesand its future plan to strengthen globalcompetitiveness in new industry areasincluding medical testing laboratories,software, reference materials, etc.The experts emphasized establishing thecredibility of KOLAS schemes, governmentinvestment for building safety in softwarefields, development of new products in hightechnology business and clinical fields, andthe need to develop reference materials forsafety assessment.“…importance of mutualrecognition for product/test certificates, KOLASpolicies and its futureplan to strengthenglobal competitivenessin new industry areasincluding medical testinglaboratories, software,reference materials.”As part of the celebration, KOLAS heldthe commemorative seminar for WorldAccreditation Day on 11 June 2010 atthe Korean Agency for Technology andStandards. This seminar attracted 350domestic experts in conformity assessment,including corporate personnel, KOLASaccreditedlaboratories, interested parties,and assessors.Prior to the seminar, an award ceremonywas performed for eight individualsParticipants and delegates at the World Accreditation Day events.and three organizations that havecontributed to the testing fields ofKOLAS-accredited laboratories, includingthe “Telecommunications TechnologyAssociation”.During the seminar KOLAS introduced theinternational framework of the accreditationsystem, the restructuring of the KOLAS, andthe guideline for management of technicalrecords that has been recently published.The experts made suggestions for thedirection of KOLAS policies and the priorityfor a medical laboratory accreditationprogram (ISO 15189) that KOLAS hasrecently launched. Also, they proposed theplan for establishing an assessment systemin the software fields. Accordingly, theKOLAS system with the addition of the newindustries and field programs, now operates18 tasks in 5 fields - energy, environment,software, forensic science, and medicallaboratory testing (ISO 15189).ILAC News | Accreditation29

Accreditation UpdateWorld Accreditation Day in MongoliaMongolia’s accreditation body has been We are going to launch accreditationthanks and appreciation to them for theircelebrating World Accreditation Day programs for medical laboratories, inspection continued support.since 2008 and World Accreditation Day and personnel certification bodies, and2010 was organized under the theme “Global UNIDO has confirmed that it is prepared toAcceptance” in Mongolia.support these programs.In the framework of this event a workshopwas held and almost all accreditationrelatedparties such as governmentaland non-government organizations,businesses, and national and foreigninvestedaccredited testing and metrologylaboratories participated. More than 80 headsand managers from such organizations,businesses, and laboratories discussedchallenges they face and exchangedinformation and experience. In addition,recommendations were made for furthercooperation to address such challenges.A multitude of testing laboratories fromAustralia, Canada, China, Russia, and SouthKorea are accredited as part of Mongolia’sNational Accreditation System (MNAS)of conformity assessment bodies underMongolia’s laws and operate in the miningand construction industries in Mongolia.Mr Mungunbayar M, Director of theAccreditation Department, MongolianAgency for Standardization and Metrology(MASM), gave interviews to three majornational television programs and wrotearticles, for press release, on the consistencyof standardization, accreditation, andconformity assessment and the contributionsthey make to society.Mongolia’s accreditation body was createdand started with the accreditation of testingand metrology laboratories in 1999. Now,it is a party to regional and internationalaccreditation cooperation organizationsand has a team of highly qualified assessorsand technical experts competent to conductpeer evaluations of equivalent conformityassessment bodies and is making preparationto enter the APLAC MRA.The UNIDO project on the capacity buildingof Mongolia’s Accreditation body hasbeen implemented since 2006. More than200 assessors and technical experts haveparticipated in a series of training sessionson the ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17011standards and internal audits held by expertsfrom India, Norway and South Korea.We endeavor to take an active role in APLACand ILAC activities and would like to takethis opportunity to express our sincereParticipants and delegates at the World Accreditation Day workhop.On behalf of MNAS (Mongolian accreditationsystem) we would like to wish every successin your activities in ensuring GlobalAcceptance.30 Issue 38 | October 2010

Sadc Countries Commemorate 2010World Accreditation DayWorld Accreditation Day is a globalinitiative jointly established by theInternational Accreditation Forum (IAF) andthe International Laboratory AccreditationCooperation (ILAC) to raise awareness of theimportance of accreditation. It is celebratedon 9 June each year with the inauguralWorld Accreditation Day having beencelebrated in 2008.To commemorate World AccreditationDay 2010 various activities were heldin SADC countries ranging from pressreleases to conferences. A press release onWorld Accreditation Day adapted by SADCAccreditation Services (SADCAS) and basedon the IAF/ILAC 2010 World AccreditationDay joint statement was circulated to thenetwork of National Accreditation FocalPoints (NAFPs) who in turn circulatedthe press release to stakeholders intheir respective countries and the localnewspapers. The press release was widelypublicized in the newspapers in Botswana,Malawi, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.In Botswana, a World Accreditation Dayconference was held at the BotswanaBureau of Standards (BOBS) Headquartersin Gaborone to commemorate the day.The conference was jointly organized bySADCAS, the BOBS ISO/IEC 17025 Forumand the NAFP for Botswana which ishoused within the Department of IndustrialAffairs Ministry of Trade and Industry. Over120 stakeholders mainly from conformityassessment bodies ie calibration, testingand medical laboratories as well ascertification and inspection bodies attendedthe conference. The theme was “GlobalAcceptance” in line with the IAF/ILAC themefor 2010.The conference which was the first ofits kind held not only in Botswana, butin the whole of the SADC region. It wasofficially opened by Mrs Banny Molosiwa,Permanent Secretary Botswana Ministryof Trade and Industry. Mr Graham Talbot,Chairman of the ILAC/IAF Joint Marketingand Communications Committee and alsoChairman of the European Cooperation inAccreditation (EA) gave the key note address.In her opening address, Mrs Molosiwaapplauded the creation of an internationalnetwork for accreditation bodies whichremoves the need for repetitive testing,certification and inspection which is not onlytime consuming but costly, as certificatesissued by accredited organizations can beaccepted throughout the world. She said thataccreditation is paramount as it providesassurance and confidence that tradedproducts and services not only conformto specifications, but also meet legal andregulatory requirements thus serving toprotect public interests in general. MrsMolosiwa also commended SADC on theestablishment of SADCAS, a multi economyaccreditation body which provides SADCMember states without their own nationalaccreditation bodies, ready access tocost effective accreditation services. Sheencouraged the Botswana calibration andtesting laboratories and certification andinspection bodies to take up the SADCASservices to improve the competitivenessof Botswana products and services as thecountry diversifies its economy and addsvalue to its products.In his key note address Mr Talbot notedthat the use of accreditation is wideningand expanding into new sectors. “We areseeing a continual growth of accreditationinto areas that up to now have not reliedon accreditation to provide users withconfidence such as healthcare, forensicscience, climate change, sustainability, foodsafety and so on”, he said.The opening ceremony was followed by asession during which delegates were updatedon regional and international developmentsin accreditation by various experts includingDr Oswald Chinyamakobvu the SADC SQAMExpert, Mrs Masego Marobela, the Chairmanof SADC Cooperation in Accreditation(SADCA), Mr Ron Josias the Chief ExecutiveOfficer of the South African NationalAccreditation System (SANAS) and Mr Talbotin his capacity as the Chairman of EA. Thesession which was Chaired by Mrs MaureenMutasa, the SADCAS Chief Executive Officerended with lively interactive discussions withparticipants wanting to know more aboutthe linkages between the regional (SADCA)and African Cooperation in Accreditation(AFRAC) which is due to be launched inSeptember 2010. Participants also discussedthe implications of the new Europeanregulation 765/2008 on accreditation andmarket surveillance in trade with SADCcountries.The second session of the conference whichwas Chaired by Mr Josias and was onsharing experiences in the journey towardsglobal acceptance of technical competence.The session started with a paper by MrsMutasa who gave an overview of SADCAS,briefly outlined the prerequisites andrequirements for the ILAC/IAF Arrangements,as well as the process followed to achieveinternational recognition. She theninformed participants about the progressof SADCAS so far, in its journey towardsglobal acceptance of certificates issuedby accredited laboroatories and bodies.Very informative and lively presentationsby Mr Tebogo Kajane, BOBS ManagerLaboratory Services, Dr Kitenge Kalenga alocal hospital superintendant, Dr KekgonneBaipoledi, Deputy Director BotswanaNational Veterinary Laboratory and MrsOliviah Zimba, Director Quality AssuranceStandards Association of Zimbabwe outlinedthe respective conformity assessment bodies’triumphs and tribulations in their journeytowards accreditation.In her vote of thanks, Ms Verily Molatedi,SADCAS Board member thanked all thespeakers for their excellent and informativepresentations and more importantly forsharing their experiences in accreditationwith other stakeholders at the conference.Judged by the level of attendance andinteractions and feedback from participants,the workshop was indeed a success!In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ahalf day workshop was held in Lubumbashito commemorate World Accreditation Dayon 9 June 2010 thus raising awareness of theimportance of accreditation in the mineralsrich Southern region of DRC. The workshopwhich was attended by 200 participants, wasorganized by the Congolese Control officewhere the NAFP is housed. The workshopwas graced by Honourable Tsiakwiza, DRCMinister of Trade, Finance and Economy andHonourable C Mwando Ministers of Industry.ILAC News | Accreditation31

Accreditation UpdateAccreditation In ThailandThis is an extract of a story that appearedin the Bangkok Post on Wednesday 9 June2010.Accreditation in Thailand emergedwith the use of standards for qualitymanagement systems, such as ISO 9000and ISO 14000, to screen imports. Afterthe World Trade Organisation (WTO)adopted guidelines for mutual recognitionof inspection and certification, Thailandsaw it as necessary to protect its nationalinterests by creating an accreditation systemin accordance with international systems.The Cabinet therefore appointed the NationalAccreditation Council (NAC) on 11 August1997 to formulate accreditation policies andmeasures for mutual recognition betweenThailand and other countries and make surethat such policies and measures correspondto the international accreditation systems. Inthe initial stage, an office was set up to workas a secretariat for NAC.Since then, accreditation has become moreimportant in the country, prompting theThai government to expand accreditationto more sectors. At present, there are fouraccreditation organisations in Thailand, asfollows:• The Thailand Industrial StandardsInstitute (TISI) accredits certificationbodies, inspection bodies, testinglaboratories and calibration laboratories.• The Department of Science Service (DSS)accredits physics, chemical and biologicalscience laboratories as well as proficiencytesting programmers.Representatives from accreditation bodies in Thailand• The Department of Medical Sciences(DMSC) accredits public health andmedical laboratories.• The National Bureau of AgriculturalCommodity and Food Standards (ACFS)accredits certification bodies which certifyfood security systems, organic productsand Good Agricultural Practice (GAP).In 2008, the National StandardisationAct B.E.2008 was enacted to authoriseNAC to formulate policies and regulateand coordinate accreditation activities inThailand to achieve unity and effectivenessamong Thai accreditation bodies.Benefits Of The NationalStandardisation Act• It integrates the government’saccreditation activities for unity of Thaiaccreditation bodies with a mutual use ofpersonnel and budget.• It is a tool to enhance transparency andaccountability of accreditation activities.• It creates economic recognition in termsof inspection and accreditation forinternational trade.• It reduces burdens shouldered by supplierswho are required to abide by manystandards.Four ministers and senior high-rank officers of NAC and the Thai accreditation bodies32 Issue 38 | October 2010

Thai bag and penWorld Accreditation Day: FourUnits Collaborate To Organise“Building Confidence With GloballyRecognised Accreditation” SeminarOn the occasion of World Accreditation Day9 June 2010, TISI, ACFS, DMSC and DSSwill jointly present a seminar entitled, to bein line with the IAF/ILAC theme, “BuildingConfidence with Globally RecognisedAccreditation”. This will be held in the GrandHall of the Bangkok International Trade andExhibition Centre (BITEC) from 08.30 – 16.30hrs.Minister of Industry with pressDeputy Prime Minister TrairongSuwannakhiri will preside over the openingceremony and deliver a special lecture on thetopic of “National Standardisation Strategyfor Economic Sustainability”. In addition,special lectures on a theme of “Thai PublicSector Roles and Global Acceptance” will begiven by four relevant ministers as follows:• “Accreditation of Testing Laboratories andProficiency Testing Programmers” by theMinister of Science and TechnologyAccreditation day seminar• “Inspection of Agricultural CommodityStandards” by the Minister of Agricultureand Cooperatives• “Developing Thailand into anInternational Health Hub” by the Ministerof Public Health• “Enhancing Potential and Competitivenessof Thai Entrepreneurs with InternationallyRecognised Conformity AssessmentStandards” by the Minister of IndustryThe TISI Secretary-General will also give alecture on the topic of “Creating Recognitionfor Thai Test Results and Accreditation in theGlobal Arena”. Before the event concludes,success stories of entrepreneurs involved inaccreditation will be shared with seminarparticipants. An interesting exhibition tocelebrate World Accreditation Day will alsobe included in the event.Seminar: Building confidence with globally recognised accreditationILAC News | Accreditation33

Accreditation UpdateECA: The Accreditation of conformity assessmentbodies (CABs) as support to Regulatory AuthoritiesThe Law 8279 of the National Systemfor Quality of Costa Rica, establishes inChapter IV the creation of the Costa RicanAccreditation Body (ECA) as the only onewith the competence to provide accreditationservices in the country. This law states that,to fulfill their functions, the Governmentinstitutions that require the services of CABsshould hire the ones who are accredited, orrecognised, by ECA.The CABs, public or private, are responsiblefor fulfilling the regulations that guarantee,in any way, the protection of healthand safety of the population. Throughaccreditation, ECA ensures the technicalcompetence of these CABs using a unique,transparent and participatory approach. Thisincludes the use of technical criteria anda reproducible assessment process, therebyguaranteeing confidence in the servicethey provide. This is achieved throughan independent mechanism that ensuresthe technical competence, impartialityand integrity of the CABs, strengtheningconfidence in the global market and theconsumer in general.Therefore, in Costa Rica every day thereare more state institutions using accreditedCABs to fulfill a facilitator role andbecome a bridge in the nation’s economicdevelopment. The MLA in testing andcalibration achieved by ECA with IAAC andILAC has become a competitive advantagethat ensures international support in theservice that ECA provides.By Maritza Madriz, Manager ECABenefits of Accreditation forRegulatory AuthoritiesThe regulatory authorities and other usersoften must make decisions about fulfillingthe State’s legitimate objectives amongwhich are: protecting health, consumer’swelfare and environmental protection;in addition to the development of newrequirements and regulations, control of thecompliance of the statutory and regulatoryrequirements and allocation of technical andfinancial resources.To make decisions on these objectives,there must be confidence in the resultsgenerated by the accredited CABs, thatbenefit the population in general, in areassuch as: reduction of uncertainty associatedwith decision making; increase people’sconfidence because accreditation is arecognised seal of approval; elimination ofredundant services and cost reduction inassessment processes; the use of in-houseresources decreases; citizen’s confidencein public institutions strengthens; and alsoencourages the appearance of new selfregulatoryschemes, as well as the adoptionof good practices and reducing the creationof unnecessary regulation by regulatoryauthorities.Mr Juan Maria Gonzalez, President of the Chamber of Industries; Mrs Clotilde Fonseca, Minister ofScience and Technology and Mrs Maritza Madriz, Manager of ECA at the launch of the CalibrationMLA on 24 June 2010.Participants at the launch of the Calibration MLA 24 June 2010.34 Issue 38 | October 2010

Argentine Accreditation Body, OAA - MonitoringAuthority for Good Laboratory Practice (OECD)Last May, Resolution nº 274/2010 of theNATIONAL AGRIFOOD HEALTH ANDQUALITY SERVICE (SENASA) was issued inthe Official Bulletin of Argentina. In thatresolution the President of SENASA resolvedthat the companies that request recognitionfor the requirements of biological studies,residues of chemical and biological pesticidesstudies, or other non-clinical safety studiesof products, physicochemical properties,analytical chemistry or other studies,for registration purposes, by a Nationalor Foreign Laboratory, must provide thesupporting documentation relevant to GoodLaboratory Practices (GLP) developed by theOrganization for Economic Co-operationand Development (OECD) and issued by theArgentine Accreditation Body (OAA).The resolution also established a periodof three years in order for laboratoriesbelonging to the National Network of Testingand Diagnosis Laboratories to comply withthe said prescriptions.Additionally, the Directorate of Laboratoriesand Technical Control will be entitled tocarry out additional audits, according tothe current legislation of this NationalService, which are not required by the GoodLaboratory Practices (GLP) developed by theOrganization for Economic Co-operation andDevelopment (OECD).EGAC hosts the third preparatorymeeting of AFRACIn accordance with the Abuja Treaty (Thetreaty establishing the African EconomicCommunity), and to adopt a common policyon standardisation, quality and accreditationin order to promote trade and economicdevelopment in Africa, the EgyptianAccreditation Council (EGAC) hosted thethird preparatory meeting of the AfricanAccreditation Cooperation (AFRAC).Representatives from several Africancountries and organisations includingSADCA, NEPAD, Mauritus from Mauritius,SANAS from South Africa, KENAS fromKenya, TUNAC from Tunisia, Botswana,National and internationalregulationsThe Monitoring Program, implemented bythe OAA, that to date covers pesticides andindustrial chemicals, is of great importancefor Argentina as it conforms to national andinternational regulations on topics directlyrelated to the health and safety of people andthe environment.An example of this importance, at thenational level, is the recently issuedResolution nº 274 and the Resolution nº 617of SENASA regarding the use of OECD GLPin the non-clinical studies performed bylaboratories for the purpose of registrationof phytosanitary products. Evidence ofconformity with the OECD GLP requirementsthrough inspections carried by the OAA,Monitoring Authority must be provided withthese products.Another important example within theinternational arena is the registrationsystem of the European Union, REACH –Registration, Evaluation, Authorization andRestriction of Chemicals - that establishesthe requirements that European producers,as well as those who sell products to thisregion, must comply with in order toregister industrial chemicals. One of theserequirements is the application of the OECDGLP Principles when new toxicological andecotoxicological tests are carried out onindustrial chemicals.Burkina Faso and Tanzania attended themeetings. The meeting was also attended byPTB staff from Germany, IAAC Secretariatstaff from Mexico and a representative of theCenter for Disease Control and Preventionfrom USA.The attendees formed several committees toprepare for the formal launching of AFRACand decided to hold the launch meeting inCairo in September 2010.This is a pivotal step towards thedevelopment of African trade and inter-African accreditation cooperation andintegration.In addition, OECD countries require thatnon-clinical studies for the purpose ofregistration, carried out on a great variety ofsubstances and/or products, are performedin line with the GLP and that a nationalmonitoring authority verifies this condition.Roles of the Regulatory Authority(SENASA) and the GLP ComplianceMonitoring Authority (OAA).The strengthening and success of aMonitoring Program requires a permanentand fluid communication between theRegulatory Authority, recipient of the data,and the Monitoring Authority in chargeof the inspection, in order to coordinateactions while each of them meets its ownobligations.The Regulatory Authority must review thefinal report issued by the laboratory andmust ensure that the laboratory has beeninspected by the Monitoring Authority.In addition it may request the MonitoringAuthority to carry out audits of questionablestudies and/or the inspection of thelaboratory facilities.On the other hand, the Monitoring Authorityis responsible for conducting GLP inspectionsin the laboratories, as well as audits of thestudies sent to the Regulatory Authority.Likewise, it must inform the NationalRegulatory Authority and the OECD WorkingGroup when a laboratory no longer complieswith the GLP principles.The document‘Application of ISO/IEC17011 for the Accreditationof Proficiency TestingProviders’ has beenapproved as a result of therecent ballot. It will nowbe published as a P-seriesdocument on theILAC website.ILAC News | Accreditation35

Accreditation UpdateNews From TafBy Wanji YangTAF Becomes an EPA-RecognisedAccreditation Body for the ENERGYSTAR® ProgramTAF has been formally recognised by theUS EPA to accredit laboratories to conducttesting for ENERGY STAR® qualifiedproducts, starting from 21 July 2010.TAF had been receiving requests fromits accredited laboratories regarding theaccreditation for ENERGY STAR® productstesting. In order to prepare for earlyrecognition by the US EPA, TAF startedto conduct technical meetings, seminarsand training courses a few months ago. Itsapplication for “Recognition of AccreditationBody for ENERGY STAR® LaboratoryAccreditation” was submitted as soon asthe recognition was open to ILAC MRASignatories. TAF is pleased to announce thatit is now a US EPA-recognised accreditationbody and has launched its “AccreditationProgramme for US EPA Recognised ENERGYSTAR® Laboratory” on 23 July 2010.International Workshop onWorldwide Accreditationand Certification ofTelecommunications EquipmentThe “International Workshop on WorldwideAccreditation and Certification ofTelecommunications Equipment”, co-hostedby TAF, the National CommunicationsCommission (NCC) and the TelecomTechnology Center (TTC), was held on 10May 2010 in parallel with the APEC TEL41 meetings in Taipei. Honourable speakersfrom several mature governmental agencieswere invited to share technical regulationsand requirements and the MRA acceptancestatus in their own countries: Mr GeorgeTannahill from the FCC (USA), Mr PeterChau from the Industry Canada (Canada),Dr Nob Nakanishi from the JVLATE (Japan),Ms Melinda Tan from the iDA (Singapore)and Mr Roger Sheng from the TTC (ChineseTaipei). As telecommunication productsare very much related to laboratory testingand product certification, Mr Nigel Joufrom TAF represented both APLAC and PACand provided information on these twointernational cooperations and the link withAPEC TEL. Some 140 people participatedin this workshop, including 90 laboratoryheads from TAF accredited EMC testinglaboratories. The hosts received positivefeedback from participants, and appreciatedthe contributions from all speakers.World Accreditation DayCelebrationsTAF has organised a series of activities tocelebrate the World Accreditation Day and itstheme “global acceptance”. The joint messagefrom the ILAC and IAF Chair has been postedon the TAF website in both Chinese andEnglish languages and the poster has beendisplayed at all TAF activities since March.The celebration activities include:Seminar on the Benefits of theMRA/MLAs, 7 June 2010TAF invited representatives from the traderelated government agencies, accreditedlaboratories and certification bodies, toexchange information on the benefits ofadopting TAF accreditation, using TAFaccredited conformity assessment bodies andissuing reports bearing the ILAC LaboratoryCombined MRA Mark. Questions coveringtopics such as data on economic impacts ontrade, connection with WTO/TBT activitiesand acceptance level by regulators, etc wereraised and discussed. More than 70 peopleparticipated in the seminar.“Accreditation Once, AcceptedGlobally” Forum, 8 June 2010TAF invited six representatives from variousgovernmental and private sectors to sharetheir views on how to promote the ultimategoal of global acceptance. It was particularly36 Issue 38 | October 2010

noted that a unified mark, such as the ILACMRA Mark, would be an easier way forrecognition and acceptance by regulators aswell as consumers. In addition, the aftermarketsurveillance would become more andmore important as the acceptance level ofsuch a unified mark increases.Celebration of the 20thAnniversary of LaboratoryAccreditation–MovingForward with Confidence in anIndependent, Impartial andTransparent MannerTAF celebrated its 20th anniversary oflaboratory accreditation on 9 June 2010, theWorld Accreditation Day. Standing on thestrong foundation established by CNLA, andwith insistence on its core values:“Independent, Impartial, Transparent andObjective” TAF continues to provide afull-range of accreditation services to assistits customers in coping with the changingworld. At the celebration event, Dr Jay-SanChen, TAF President, presented hand-craftedcustomised TAF lamps, as a gift, to 18honourable guests who had played a key rolein the milestones of the 20-year history. TAFalso made a 20 minute video tape recordingspecial moments from the past 20 years andinvited a few good friends of TAF, includingDr Helen Liddy, Mr Terence Chan and MrBarry Ashcroft from APLAC, to say a fewwords on the tape. Some 830 participantsattended the celebration ceremony and theGala dinner. TAF is grateful for all the helpthat CNLA and TAF has received fromnumerous people and organisations. TAF willcertainly continue serving its customers in aprofessional manner, cooperating withregulators by providing trustworthyaccreditation results and playing an activecontribution in the internationalaccreditation society.World Accreditation Day in GuatemalaBy Alexander Pineda MSc, Head of OGAOGA organized aSeminar called“Global Acceptance”to celebrate the WorldAccreditation Day inGuatemala. The activitywas held in the Grand Tikal Futura Hotelwith the participation of representatives fromlaboratories, the government, private sectorand universities. During the seminar, thePresident of the National Accreditation Boardand the Vice Minister of Economy, Mr AbelCruz presented to more than 150 participantshis appreciation for their participation andhighlighted the importance of accreditationfor global trade. Mr Cruz also remarked onthe significance of OGA´s recognition at theinternational level through the ILAC MRA.There were three conferences focused on theacceptance of laboratory results based oncustomer and regulatory requirements.The seminar was opened by the NationalQuality Director, Mr Juan Alberto Hernándezwho welcomed all the participants andremarked on the role of accreditationOGA Staff (From left to right): Mr Erik Alvarado, Mrs Lucrecia Arriola, Mr Alberto Meléndez,Mrs Duberly Barillas and Mr Alexander Pineda.within the National Quality System andthe relationship with Standardization andMetrology.The invited speakers were from companiesbased in the country that bring accreditedcontinued next pageILAC News | Accreditation37

Accreditation Updatecontinued from previous pagelaboratory services of their own but alsofor third parties. The representative ofNestlé Guatemala presented an over viewof the services that they provide in CentralAmerican and the Caribbean locations andhow the accredited analysis brings trust totheir partners for the food global trade. Onother hand, the FOGEL Group, a companythat produce and export refrigerators andfreezers for commercial purposes focusedtheir presentation on the importance ofaccreditation in order to fulfill technicalregulations for energy efficiency in Mexico,United States, Central America and otherscountries where they export the products andaccreditation is required. A representativefor INTERTEK Guatemala presentedtheir experience in fulfilling technicalrequirements for export to USA. The servicesthat the INTERTEK laboratory offers inGuatemala, and for other clients in LatinAmerica, are analyses of textiles, food andtoys. In particular, the regulation of the CPSC(Consumers Product Safety Commission) todetermine the level of lead in paint in metaland non metal products including jewelryfor children was highlighted. INTERTEKcommented on the acceptance that theaccreditation in Guatemala had for itsrecognition with the USA CPSC.With these conferences OGA confirmed theimportance of laboratory accreditation inglobal trade and for consumer protection anddemonstrated how the ILAC MRA opens thedoor for Global Acceptance.OGA takes this opportunity to congratulateILAC on its 10th Anniversary of the MutualRecognition Arrangement.Polish Centre for Accreditation (PCA) – co-producer ofaccreditation awareness programme for Polish RadioPromotion of the benefits ofaccreditationThe survey conducted among Polish RadioFirst Programme listeners, a popular“Number One” Programme, revealed that theword ‘accreditation’, for most Polish people,was associated with journalism or diplomacyand only occasionally with conformityassessment, economy and free movement ofproducts and services.The Programme organised an interviewwith the director of the Polish Centre forAccreditation, Dr Eugeniusz W Roguski.This took place on the occasion of WorldAccreditation Day on 9 June 2010. Duringthe interview the listeners, of this oldest andwidest reception range Polish broadcastingstation, had the opportunity to broaden theirunderstanding of the meaning of the word‘accreditation’. They also had the chance tolearn about the activities performed by thePolish Centre for Accreditation that has aninfluence on them. This was probably thefirst time most of them had heard about theinstitution, PCA. Nevertheless, the 15 minuteinterview was not enough to present, in anaccessible way, the whole scope of activitiesundertaken by PCA, as well as the realmeaning of accreditation.A director of the Polish Radio FirstProgramme therefore proposed that the PCAdirector co-produce a cycle of programmeswith the objective to promote accreditation.After acceptance of the initiative by thePCA management, the contract betweenthe Polish Radio First Programme and thePolish Centre for Accreditation was signed.According to the clauses of the contract,there will be a series of 10 educational radioprogrammes transmitted in various bands.In the programmes it is planned to explainthe issues connected with the confirmationof competences of testing and calibrationlaboratories and certification and inspectionbodies participating in the conformityassessment system.After the transmission of the finalprogramme, there will be a survey conductedof the listeners of this radio station, to assessthe appeal and effectiveness of this formDr Roguski on airof social education on accreditation. If thesurvey results in a positive answer to thisquestion, the contract between the PolishRadio First Programme and PCA will beextended.Finally, it is worth mentioning that in 2011,the Polish Centre for Accreditation willcelebrate its 10th anniversary. Moreover, inthe second half of 2011, Poland will assumethe Presidency of the European Union andin November 2011, PCA will host the EAGeneral Assembly.38 Issue 38 | October 2010

EGAC-UNIDO-EU Seminar: The application of theOECD Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) in EgyptIn the presence of representatives from theUnited Nations Industrial DevelopmentOrganization (UNIDO), the European Union(EU), the Turkish Accreditation Agency(TURKAK) and senior officials of theEgyptian Government from the ministriesof Trade and Industry, InternationalCooperation, Health, Agriculture and theEgyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC), theseminar on the application of the OECDGLP in Egypt was held at the Grand HyattHotel in Cairo on 19 January 2010 under theauspices of the Egyptian Minister of Tradeand Industry.The presentations highlighted the role ofEGAC in accreditation, particularly sincesigning the ILAC MRA and the IAF MLA.They also covered GLP and the role ofaccreditation, GLP from a GLP compliantlaboratory point of view, the successfulestablishment of a recent GLP monitoringauthority in Turkey, the role of theaccreditation body in GLP and the benefitsof GLP to Egypt.After the presentations, the floor was openedfor a panel discussion which showed agenuine interest from different stakeholders.The event was a great success attended by140 attendees and raised the awareness ofthe importance of GLP and accreditation.It also provided an opportunity for pavingthe way to starting a plan for adopting andapplying GLP in Egypt.StakeholdersEuropean Inspection, Testing and CertificationAssociations Join Forces in BrusselsBrussels, 14 April 2010.CEOC International, the InternationalConfederation of Inspection andCertification Organisations, and EFNDT, theEuropean Federation for Non DestructiveTesting, have signed yesterday in Cyprusco-operation agreements with EUROLAB,the European Federation of NationalAssociations of Measurement, Testing andAnalytical Laboratories.EFNDT President Vjera Krstelj, EUROLABPresident Jean-Luc Laurent and CEOCInternational President Hugo Eberhardtstated after the signing ceremony that thisco-operation marks an important step inthe further development of the Europeaninspection, testing and certification sectorand enhances the political visibility andtechnical influence towards the EuropeanInstitutions and Organisations in Brussels.These Memoranda of Understanding aredefining the co-operation issues betweenCEOC, EFNDT and EUROLAB in the fieldof testing and certification of productsand technical installations in Europeand will position these organisations asEurope’s leading inspection and testingrepresentations/bodies.The growing number of unsafe productsreaching the European markets and theongoing aging of technical and industrialinstallations call for a concerted actionbetween these inspection organisationsproviding enhanced safety to the Europeansocieties and its citizens.CEOC International – the InternationalConfederation of Inspection and CertificationOrganisations – was founded in 1961 inZurich in Switzerland and acts as thevoice of the inspection and certificationsector at EU and international levels. Itsheadquarters are now based in Brussels. Theconfederation represents the joint interestsof many of the world’s leading inspectionand certification companies, employingmore than 70,000 highly qualified persons,of which over 42,000 are graduate engineersand technicians. CEOC members are worldwideinvolved in the periodical inspectionof technical installations as well as thecertification of new products and services toprotect the workers and citizens of Europeagainst unsafe products and technicalinstallations.EUROLAB – the European Federation ofNational Associations of Measurement,Testing and Analytical Laboratories – was setup in Brussels on 27 April 1990 as a networkof the laboratory community and in responseto the evolution of the European Union andis since 1998 registered as a legal entityin the form of an international associationunder Belgian law (aisbl – associationinternationale sans but lucratif).Composed of 24 national associations fromthe EU and EFTA, EUROLAB is groupingover 2,000 conformity assessment bodiesrepresenting over 100,000 technical expertsand laboratory practitioners. Associatedmembership is open world-wide and includesrepresentatives from East and MiddleEast, South Africa and America. Besidesformulating and voicing the opinion oflaboratories regarding economical, politicaland technical issues, EUROLAB aims atpromoting cost-effective testing, calibrationand measurement services, for which theaccuracy and quality assurance requirementswere adjusted to the actual needs. Theseare particularly addressing Europeancontinued next pageILAC News | Stakeholders39

Stakeholderscontinued from previous pagelegislation, consumer protection, product andoccupational safety.EFNDT The European Federation for Non-Destructive Testing was founded in May1998 in Copenhagen at the 7th EuropeanConference for Non-Destructive Testing(ECNDT). Full membership is open tonational NDT societies, one per country.Associate membership is open world-wide.EFNDT aims at establishing a Europeansystem of personnel qualification by EFNDTin the sense of creating a partnership forsafety and quality. EFNDT offers a route tomore than 40 NDT Societies (including allthose in Europe), more than 20,000 membersof these individual national societies,more than 1,000 businesses in NDT whichare corporate (company members) of thenational societies, more than 190,000 NDTpersonnel certificates which are recognizedunder the EFNDT Multilateral RecognitionAgreement.For more information please contact AstridSilvia Grunert, EU Affairs Manager CEOCInternational: astrid.grunert@ceoc.com orconsult the related web sites: www.ceoc.com,www.eurolab.org, www.efndt.org.7th Workshop on Proficiency Testing in AnalyticalChemistry, Microbiology and Laboratory MedicineIstanbul (Turkey), [3]-4-6 October 2011The EURACHEM Proficiency TestingWorking Group (www.eurachem.org), in co-operation with CITAC (www.citac.cc) and EQALM (www.eqalm.org),is organising the 7th event of a series ofWorkshops addressing current practice andfuture directions of proficiency testing (PT)and external quality assessment (EQA) inanalytical chemistry, microbiology andlaboratory medicine.VenueThe Workshop will be held in Istanbul, anhistoric city where east meets west. Themonth of October is a pleasant time of theyear to enjoy scenery and historic sites, someof which dates back 8000 years. There aregood airline connections from most majorinternational cities to Atatürk Airport, atthe European side of the city. There is also asecond international airport, Sabiha GökçenAirport which is in the Anatolian side ofIstanbul. The Workshop will be held in PolatRenaissance Hotel, close to Atatürk Airport(www.polatrenaissance.com).Technical ProgrammeThe Workshop will be structured to includetraining sessions, key-note lectures, shortpresentations, working group discussionsand poster sessions, to enable interactiveparticipation and cross-fertilisation of ideas.The official language of the Workshop willbe English. Invited lectures and acceptedpresentations/posters will be considered,through peer-review, for publication as fullpapers in a special issue of Accreditation andQuality Assurance (Springer Verlag).Training SessionsTraining sessions, which are opento Workshop participants, will be on“Establishing traceability and uncertainty ofassigned values and assisting participantsto assess/estimate their measurementuncertainty using PT results”.Lectures and Working Group Topics• Implementing the requirements of ISO/IEC17043 by PT/EQA Providers• Accrediting PT/EQA Providers to ISO/IEC17043• Establishing acceptability criteria inmicrobiology PT/EQA schemes• Evaluating participant performance inqualitative PT/EQA schemes• Establishing PT/EQA schemes indeveloping countries• Pre and post analytical aspects in EQAWho should attend?The Workshop will provide an excellentopportunity for PT/EQA scheme organisers,and end-users of PT/EQA (laboratories,accreditation bodies, regulators and thelaboratories’ customers) to come togetherand share their views.RegistrationSubmission of abstracts, registration andhotel reservations is now open via theWorkshop website.Workshop SecretariatPhone: +90 312 210 4889Fax: +90 312 210 5668Web: www.labkar.org.tr/EURACHEM2011Ender OkandanChair of Local Organising CommitteePetroleum Research Centre, Ankara, TurkeyBrian BrookmanChair of Scientific CommitteeLGC Standards Proficiency Testing, Bury, UK40 Issue 38 | October 2010

ILAC News | PublicationsILAC PublicationsThe following is a listing of titles of all ILAC documents. These can be downloaded from the ‘ILAC Documents’ section under‘Publications and Resources’ on the ILAC website www.ilac.org. Many of the brochures have also been translated into languagesother than English.Brochures• The ILAC Mutual RecognitionArrangement• Signatories to the ILAC Arrangement• Why Use An Accredited Laboratory?• Why Become An Accredited Laboratory?• How Does Using an Accredited LaboratoryBenefit Government & Regulators?• The Advantages of Being An AccreditedLaboratory• Laboratory Accreditation or ISO 9001Certification• Benefits for Laboratories Participating inProficiency Testing Programs• The route to signing the IAF/ILACArrangementGuidance Documents (G Series)• ILAC-G3:1994 Guidelines for TrainingCourses for Assessors• ILAC-G7:06/2009 AccreditationRequirements and Operating Criteria forHorseracing Laboratories• ILAC-G8:03/2009 Guidelines on theReporting of Compliance withSpecification• ILAC-G9:2005 Guidelines for theSelection and Use of Reference Materials• ILAC-G10:1996 Harmonised Proceduresfor Surveillance & Reassessment ofAccredited Laboratories• ILAC-G11:07/2006 Guidelines onAssessor Qualification and Competence ofAssessors and Technical Experts• ILAC-G12:2000 Guidelines for theRequirements for the Competence ofReference Material Producers• ILAC-G13:08/2007 Guidelines for theRequirements for the Competence ofProviders of Proficiency Testing Schemes• ILAC-G17:2002 Introducing the Conceptof Uncertainty of Measurement in Testingin Association with the Application of theStandard ISO/IEC 17025• ILAC-G18:04/2010 Guideline for theFormulation of Scopes of Accreditationfor Laboratories• ILAC-G19:2002 Guidelines for ForensicScience Laboratories• ILAC-G20:2002 Guidelines on Grading ofNon-Conformities• ILAC-G21:2002 Cross FrontierAccreditation — Principles for AvoidingDuplication• ILAC-G22:2004 Use of Proficiency Testingas a Tool for Accreditation in Testing• ILAC-G24:2007 Guidelines for thedetermination of calibration intervals ofmeasuring instrumentsProcedural Documents (P Series)• ILAC-P3:07/2007 ILAC MutualRecognition Arrangement (Arrangement):Procedures for the Evaluation ofUnaffiliated Bodies for the Purpose ofRecognition• ILAC-P4:2003 ILAC Mutual RecognitionArrangement (Arrangement): PolicyStatement• ILAC-P5:04/2007 ILAC MutualRecognition Arrangement (Arrangement)• ILAC-P6:2003 Application for FullMember Status• ILAC-P8:07/2006 ILAC MutualRecognition Arrangement(Arrangement):SupplementaryRequirements and Guidelines for the Useof Accreditation Symbols and for Claimsof Accreditation Status by AccreditedLaboratories• ILAC-P9:2005 ILAC Policy forParticipation in National andInternational Proficiency TestingActivities• ILAC-P10:2002 ILAC Policy onTraceability of Measurement Results• ILAC-P11:09/2009 MonitoringPerformance of ILAC Evaluators• ILAC P12:04/2009 Harmonisation of ILACWork with the RegionsRules Documents (R Series)• ILAC-R1:09/2009 Classification andPublication of ILAC Documents• ILAC-R2:09/2009 ILAC Rules• ILAC-R3:09/2009 ILAC Strategic Plan• ILAC-R4:03/2010 Use of theILAC Logo and Tagline• ILAC-R5:09/2009 ILAC Procedurefor Handling Complaints• ILAC-R6:09/2009 Procedure forExpansion of the Scope of the ILACMutual Recognition Arrangement• ILAC-R7:09/2009 Rules for the Use of theILAC MRA MarkJoint ILAC/IAF Documents (Aseries)• IAF/ILAC A1:07/2010 IAF/ILAC MRAs:Requirements and Procedures forEvaluation of a Regional Group• IAF/ILAC A2:07/2010 IAF/ILAC MRAs:Requirements and Procedures forEvaluation of a Single Accreditation Body• IAF/ILAC A3:05/2007 IAF/ILAC MRAs:Key Performance Indicators - A Tool forthe Evaluation Process• IAF/ILAC A4:2004 Guidance on theApplication of ISO/IEC 17020• IAF/ILAC A5:04/2009 IAF/ILACMRAs: Application of ISO/IEC17011:2004 Accreditation Body• IAF/ILAC A3:05/2007 IAF/ILAC MRAs:Key Performance Indicators - A Tool forthe Evaluation Process• IAF/ILAC A4:2004 Guidance on theApplication of ISO/IEC 17020• IAF/ILAC A5:04/2009 IAF/ILAC MRAs:Application of ISO/IEC 17011:2004ILAC News | ILAC Publications