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The Latvian National Accreditation Bureau (LATAK) was
established on August 30, 1994 by the Order No 295 of the Ministry of
Economics of the Republic of Latvia issued on August 30, 1994.
Since January 1, 2004 LATAK operates as a State Agency supervised by the
Ministry of Economics in compliance with the By-laws „By-laws of the
State Agency „Latvian National Accreditation Bureau”” approved by the
September 2, 2003
Regulation No 498 of the Cabinet of Ministers.
LATAK provides a common system for conformity assessment of
laboratories, certification and inspection bodies, and environment
verifiers. This system ensures the results of the above bodies are
recognized internationally and meet the requirements of the Latvian
national economy, and provides confirmation of the conformity of the
products produced by the Latvian entrepreneurs to the requirements of
the European and international standards.
LATAK’s functions:
- taking into consideration the needs of the Latvian national economy
provide assessment, accreditation and surveillance of the conformity of
testing and calibration laboratories, certification and inspection
bodies and environment verifiers to the requirements specified in the
Latvian National standards, normative enactments, European or
international standards in both mandatory and voluntary sector;
- provide technical support to the activities of the Latvian National
Accreditation Council;
- organize the work of the Accreditation Branch Technical Committees;
- train accreditation experts and experts involved in the accreditation
process;
- organize and coordinate the proficiency testing activities in
accordance with the requirements effective in Latvia, the European Union
and internationally;
- cooperate with the national accreditation bodies of other countries;
- represent Latvia in international accreditation organizations;
- maintain and update the database of accredited bodies;
- upon request of the ministries provide information on accredited
bodies and their scope of activities;
- provide the Ministry of Economics with information on the bodies
accredited in the mandatory sector.
LATAK administers the assessment and accreditation processes in a
non-discriminatory way, safeguarding the confidentiality of the
information. The entire personnel, involved in the assessment and
accreditation activities, acts impartially and is free from any undue
commercial, financial and other pressures that could compromise the
impartiality of the accreditation results.
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