Publication of the revised ISO/IEC 17025
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 specifies requirements for the competence, consistent operation and impartiality of accreditation bodies assessing and accrediting conformity assessment bodies.
This standard enables laboratories to demonstrate that they operate competently and generate valid results, thereby promoting confidence in their work both nationally and internationally. It facilitates cooperation between laboratories and other bodies by generating wider acceptance of results between countries, avoiding the need for further testing.
Since February 2015, the Working Group 44 of CASCO in charge of the revision have regularly met to elaborate the new document to adapt to the changes of market conditions and technology. EA was represented by two representatives, Trevor Thomson, from UKAS, the British NAB, and Laurent Vinson, from COFRAC, the French NAB, respectively Vice Chair and Chair of the EA Laboratory Committee.
CETA Agreement and Conformity Assessment Accreditation, a tool to enhance trade between the European Union and Canada
All countries, and all market sectors, have seen an increase in the number of technical regulations, standards, testing and certification procedures. Generally, these are introduced to meet the requirements of quality and safety that consumers, businesses, and regulators expect of goods and services.The increasing number of specified standards has seen a corresponding growth in the number of organisations providing third party evaluation of conformity and compliance with these standards.
Brochure about CETA find here - CETA Agreement and Conformity Assessment Accreditation, a tool to enhance trade between the European Union and Canada (2017)
20.10.2017.
The EA Inspection Committee met on 14-15 September 2017 in Riga (Latvia)
Photo by LATAK
The EA Inspection Committee (IC), hosted by LATAK, the Latvian national accreditation body (NAB), met from 14 to 15 September 2017 for its 34th meeting in Riga (Latvia)
(EC DG ENV), the meeting was chaired by Rolf Straub from SAS, the Swiss national accreditation body (NAB) and started with the announcement of Rolf’s re-election for an exceptional 3rd term at the last EA General Assembly and the election of Orbay Evrensevdi (TURKAK, the Turkish NAB) as EAIC Vice-Chair for the 2018-19 term.
Read more at EA web page - here
28.09.2017.
Facilitating cross border trade with reliable goods and services
The importance of accreditation of conformity assessment bodies has substantially increased over the last decades. Consumers, businesses, regulators and other organisations all over the world want to be able to trust and have confidence in the goods and services they buy and use. Consequently, there has been a growth in specified national and international requirements for products, processes and services.
The EA MLA brochure about The MLA Multilateral Agreement faciliatating cross border trade in safe and reliable goods and
services (2017). Find here.
20.10.2017.
Feedback on the 34th Certification Committee meeting
Photo by LATAK
The 34th meeting of the EA Certification Committee (EA CC) took place on 12 - 13 September 2017 in Riga, Latvia, where it was hosted by LATAK, the Latvian national accreditation body (NAB).
With more than 60 participants, including representatives from EA stakeholders, such as EFAC (European Federation of Associations of Certification Bodies), EUROLAB, IIOC (Independent International Organisation for Certification), PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes) and IQNet (International Certification Network), the discussions were led by the EA CC Chair, Kevin Belson from UKAS, the UK NAB.
Read more at EA web page - here
26.09.2017.