The Latvian National accreditation body – Latvian National Accreditation Bureau (LATAK) was founded on August 30, 1994 with the August 30, 1994 Decree No. 295 of the Ministry of Economics of Republic of Latvia
Since March 1, 2018 is called State Agency "Latvian National Accreditation Bureau" (LATAK). Independence, integrity and self-dependence of LATAK in decision making is established in legislative enactments, internal rules and procedures. According to European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) 765/2008, setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products, LATAK operates as a national accreditation body.
Functions of LATAK are established in the law „On Conformity Assessment”, section 14 and are as follows:
- to evaluate and accredit conformity assessment bodies, and to supervise work of such bodies, in conformity with the prescribed requirements of Latvian national standards, regulatory enactments, and European or international standards, as well as multilateral recognition agreements with international accreditation organizations;
- to technically ensure the activities of the Latvian National Accreditation Council;
- to organize skill examinations and to coordinate comparative testing and co-ordinate between laboratories in accordance with Latvian, European Union and international requirements on inter-laboratory comparison;
- to cooperate with the national accreditation authorities of other states;
- to represent Latvia in international accreditation organizations;
- to develop and maintain an accredited body information list in its webpage;
- to publish information in its webpage regarding accredited conformity assessment bodies that operate in the regulated area;
- to inform the Ministry of Economics regarding accredited bodies in the regulated sphere.
Criteria for assessment of conformity assessment bodies are published in Latvian national and/or harmonized European standards, international standards, and other regulatory enactments. Upon assessment, accreditation and surveillance LATAK follows regulatory enactments of the European Union and requirements and recommendations of European and international accreditation organizations (EA, ILAC, IAF).
LATAK provides assessment and accreditation services in a nondiscriminatory manner, observing confidentiality of information. All personnel involved in assessment and accreditation activities works unaffectedly and is free from any commercial, financial or other influence that may have impact on the accreditation results.
LATAK is a signatory of the Multilateral Agreement of the European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA MLA) in the following areas:
- Testing and medical laboratory accreditation;
- Calibration laboratory accreditation;
- Product certification body accreditation;
- Accreditation of certification bodies for persons;
- Management system certification body accreditation;
- Inspection body accreditation;
- Greenhouse gas (GHG) reports and tonne-kilometer reports verifiers accreditation.
See more information about the role of EA, Multilateral Agreement (EA MLA) here: http://www.european-accreditation.org
And since June 8 2022 LATAK is a signatory of the ILAC MUTUAL RECOGNITION ARRANGEMENT :
- Testing ISO/IEC 17025
- Testing ISO 15189
- Calibration ISO/IEC 17025
- Inspection ISO/IEC 17020
LATAK is a full member of IAF since 27 July 2022
Since September 3 2022 LATAK is a signatory of the MUTUAL RECOGNITION ARRANGEMENT :
- Product Certification – ISO/IEC 17065 (03 Sept 2022)
- Management Systems Certification – ISO/IEC 17021-1 (03 Sept 2022)
- Certification of Persons – ISO/IEC 17024 (03 Sept 2022)
- Validation and Verification – ISO 14065 (03 Sept 2022)