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Strategic views of accreditation

The case of an analytical food research laboratory

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Abstract.

This paper summarises the experience we gained while going through an accreditation process in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 Standard. We propose in this paper an initial path finding study stage to evaluate the laboratory's predisposition for, and the benefits of, accreditation. We also present a conceptual framework as part of the path finding study stage to identify and classify different groups of activities in a laboratory into separate business domains. The objective of the study is to assess, for each business domain, the approach, the benefits, costs and implications of working with a systematic QA and then design a priori appropriate working systems tailored to the real needs of each business. Such a study should naturally lead to an appropriate definition of accreditation scope.

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Notes

  1. The Food Products Unit (FPU), part of the Directorate General Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, was until recently located at the Ispra-Italy site. Following a rationalisation restructuring in the year 2002, its activities were joined with those of the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) and it was transferred to the Geel-Belgium site. The mission of the FPU and of the new Food Safety and Quality Unit in Geel was/is to develop, validate and harmonise analytical methods at European level, to monitor chemical, physical and biological parameters and to disseminate the results in the field of food and other consumables.

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Acknowledgment.

The author would like to thank Mr. Hanspeter Ischi, the European Co-operation for Accreditation (EA) chairman of Laboratory Committee for his ideas and debates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, Ispra, Italy

    Ferry Dizadji

  2. Food and Feed Unit, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg, 2440, Geel, Belgium

    Elke Anklam

Authors
  1. Ferry Dizadji
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  2. Elke Anklam
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Correspondence to Elke Anklam.

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Dizadji, F., Anklam, E. Strategic views of accreditation. Accred Qual Assur 9, 317–322 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-003-0659-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-003-0659-z

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