Accreditation and PNAC

Accreditation is the formal recognition of a Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) competence to conduct a specific activity such as testing or certification and is meeting the requirement of WTO in terms of Technical Barriers to Trade. This recognition is based on a specific series of International standards. These standards address critical issues such as competence, impartiality and integrity.
The extensive range of products and services available often make it difficult for the customer to decide which product or service best meets their quality and safety requirements. The supplier can therefore apply to have their product or service assessed objectively by an organisation such as a certification body or test laboratory appropriate to the product or service. A certificate of conformance or test report is issued accordingly.
These certificates or reports are only useful or reliable if the organization or individual conducting the assessment or test is competent and qualified. The accreditation of the organization, for a defined scope, is the mechanism that provides the customer with this confidence. The Accreditation Bodies (AB's) assesses the Conformity Assessment Bodies CAB's in accordance with national or international standards and evaluate the competence of the CAB's for the specified scope of operation ie testing, certification or inspection in a given field.
If the AB is satisfied, the accreditation is awarded to CAB for a prescribed period. The developed countries have established accreditation bodies for similar programs and nearly all of them are members of Multilateral Agreement of International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC), the apex agencies in their respective fields.
CAB's accredited by such internationally recognised AB's are recognised internationally and their results and certificates are generally accepted and relied upon. ILAC, IAF also monitor regularly the conduct of AB's through regular assessment. This ensures credibility of the accreditation system at global level.
Accreditation with PNAC The Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) working in accordance with the relevant ISO guides/standards and accredited by PNAC is authorised to issue certificates in the applicable disciplines using PNAC's logo. This will ensure validity of the certificates and enhance credibility of the CAB in the market. Presently PNAC is carrying out accreditation according to ISO/IEC 17025, ISO/IEC 15189, ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO 17021. In the near future PNAC is going to launch accreditation scheme for Halal Certification Bodies, Personnel Certification Bodies (ISO/IEC 17024) and Product Certification Bodies (ISO/IEC Guide 65).
-- Requirement of Accreditation
-- Accreditation is necessary to:
-- Reduce Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).
-- Improve quality of products and services.
-- Build confidence of consumers, importers & exporters.
-- Broaden the export base of the country.
-- Benefits of Accreditation with PNAC
Accredited by PNAC is accepted in every member country of ILAC/APLAC, as PNAC has been given MRA status after week long evaluation by a team of APLAC Evaluators that gives our accredited testing & calibration labs equivalent status all over the world.
Ensure through regular surveillance the continuous improvement in the operation of CAB and conversely improve the performance of enterprises and companies certified by them. Build confidence of the consumers in a product or service certified by an accredited CAB.
Build confidence of the exporter that whatever he exports conform to international requirements. Facilitate the regulators in maintaining security, health, safety, environment and other such requirements. Enhance creditability of the companies and enterprises certified by accredited CAB. Promote quality culture that provides opportunities for business and export. Ensure that conformity assessment bodies consistently follow the applicable standards.
Progress on Activities of PNAC Todate PNAC has accredited "51" Testing & Calibration labs, "3" Certification Bodies and "2" Inspection Bodies. Whereas cases of 32 labs, 10 Medical labs, "2" Certification Bodies and 18 Inspection Bodies are in the process of accreditation. Also PNAC has conducted more than 90 courses/seminars, and in the last 6 month assessor courses on ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17024 have been undertaken. Similarly PNAC officers have attended a number of seminars/workshop both in country and abroad.
International Collaboration In order to establish its regional and international credibility, PNAC has attained membership of the International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC), International Accreditation Forum (IAF), Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (APLAC) and the Pacific Accreditation Co-operation (PAC), the relevant regional and international apex bodies. PNAC is now a signatory to MRA with ILAC/APLAC. Whereas, for the MRA of PAC efforts are in hand to persuade PAC to finalise their peer evaluation team for onsite evaluation of PNAC. For its capacity building PNAC is supported by United Nation Industrial Organisation (UNIDO) and Norwegian Accreditation (NA) that has enabled PNAC to develop a big pool of assessors & technical assessors.