Accreditation Competence: Requirements for Accreditation Bodies

Abstract

The standard DIN EN 45 003 “was drawn up with the objective of promoting confidence in those accreditation systems and bodies which conform to them and, hence, in testing laboratories assessed or accredited under such systems” (foreword to DIN EN 45 003). Confidence in the accreditation competence of accreditation bodies thus determines confidence in the testing competence of the accredited testing laboratories. DIN EN 45 002 and DIN EN 45 003 therefore impose compulsory duties and obligations to publish, disclose and make statements upon accreditation bodies. The degree of transparency differs for testing laboratories applying and those already accredited and all “interested bodies”; transparency does not arise when confidentiality has to be respected according to clause 13, DIN EN 45 003. This standard determines the “General criteria for Laboratory Accreditation Bodies”. Adopted by CEN/CENLEC as a European standard on 23.06.1989, having achieved the status of a national standard on 01.05.1990, it will probably be replaced in the near future by the ISO/IEC guideline 58:1993 “Accreditation systems for calibration and testing laboratories — General requirements for operation and acceptance”. Thus, the requirements for accreditation bodies will not be presented in an exegetical discussion, but will be dealt with in a more practical and authentic way for both standard and guideline.