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How IAF and ILAC manage the recognition of Regional Accreditation Groups: the peer evaluation system of IAF and ILAC for Regional Accreditation Groups

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Abstract

The peer evaluation of single accreditation bodies in order to sign an Arrangement for Recognition of the international accreditation organizations International Accreditation Forum, Inc. (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), whether performed by Regional Accreditation Groups or directly by IAF and/or ILAC, is standard practice. The fundamental requirements for such evaluations are well specified in documents. However, the careful evaluation of all their Arrangement members poses an enormous logistic task for IAF and ILAC, and the signatories can be evaluated more thoroughly within their Regional Groups. Hence, IAF and ILAC typically evaluate only the Regional Accreditation Groups and accept all signatories of a Regional Accreditation Group once successfully evaluated by their respective Regional Group. However, the requirements for the evaluation of a Regional Group are extensive, and the evaluation procedure is highly complicated and must be conducted very carefully in order to assure that the results of accreditation can be trusted. This article describes the evaluation procedure used by IAF and/or ILAC for Regional Groups wishing to sign the IAF/ILAC Arrangement. We wish to inform and to aid these Regional Groups setting out for evaluation, and also to build confidence in the IAF/ILAC Arrangements.

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References

  1. ISO/IEC 17000 Conformity assessment–Vocabulary and general principles (ISO/IEC 17000:2004); Trilingual version EN ISO/IEC 17000:2004

  2. IAF/ILAC-A1:05/2007 IAF/ILAC Multi-Lateral Mutual Recognition Arrangements (Arrangements): Requirements for Evaluation of a Regional Group

  3. IAF/ILAC-A2:05/2007 IAF/ILAC Multi-Lateral Mutual Recognition Arrangements (Arrangements): Requirements for Evaluation of a Single Accreditation Body

  4. IAF-PL-2:2005 Bylaws of the IAF

  5. IAF PL-01-007, issue 3-2001 Memorandum of Understanding

  6. ILAC-S2:07/2008 ILAC Rules

  7. ISO/IEC 17011 Conformity assessment—General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies (ISO/IEC 17011:2004)

  8. Behrens F, Wloka M (2009) How to approach membership of IAF/ILAC Arrangements: the peer evaluation system of IAF and ILAC for single accreditation bodies. Accred Qual Assur 14:53–61. doi:10.1007/s00769-008-0424-4

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  1. BAM Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205, Berlin, Germany

    Frauke Behrens & Monika Wloka

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  1. Frauke Behrens
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  2. Monika Wloka
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Correspondence to Frauke Behrens.

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Behrens, F., Wloka, M. How IAF and ILAC manage the recognition of Regional Accreditation Groups: the peer evaluation system of IAF and ILAC for Regional Accreditation Groups. Accred Qual Assur 15, 57–66 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-009-0591-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-009-0591-y

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