Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body , inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks (such as certification, inspection and testing).
13-404: Accreditation bodies are established in many economies with the primary purpose of ensuring that conformity assessment bodies are subject to oversight by an authoritative body. Accreditation bodies, that have been peer evaluated as competent, sign regional and international arrangements to demonstrate their competence. These accreditation bodies then assess and accredit conformity assessment bodies to
26-517: Is an independent , not-for-profit organisation, governed by a board of directors that has representation from NATA members, industry, government and professional bodies. NATA was established in 1947 in response to a call for the formation of a national testing services body to ensure the munitions which the government was manufacturing during the Second World War met a sufficiently high standard. In 1988, NATA's role as an accreditation body
39-585: Is called an ' accreditation body '. The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) provide international recognitions to accreditation bodies. There are many internationally recognized accreditation bodies approved by the IAF and ILAC. The Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) is the largest accreditation body in the Middle East, whereas in South Asia
52-759: Is the largest accreditation body in the Middle East, whereas in South Asia the Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), Quality Council of India (QCI) are the largest. In East Asia, the China National Accreditation Board is the largest, while the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the largest in Europe. The National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) and
65-763: The Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) being the largest in the Oceania region, with the South African National Accreditation System being the largest in Africa. For most of the accreditation schemes, international standards issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are used. Accreditation processes are used in a wide variety of fields: Many accreditation bodies, such as
78-532: The OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). NATA accreditation formally recognises facilities that meet the competency requirements to produce reliable technical results for a particular test method. Service providers are accredited to perform particular tests within their accreditation scope, and are permitted to endorse their test reports with NATA's logo when providing accredited services in compliance with NATA rules. NATA represents Australia in
91-476: The Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), Quality Council of India (QCI) are the largest. In East Asia, the China National Accreditation Board is the largest, while the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the largest in Europe. The National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) and the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) being
104-585: The ISO as specified in ISO/IEC 17011 . Accredited entities in specific sectors must provide evidence to the accreditation body that they conform to other standards in the same series: National Association of Testing Authorities The National Association of Testing Authorities ( NATA ) is the recognised national accreditation authority for analytical laboratories and testing service providers in Australia . It
117-762: The UKAS, EIAC, EGAC, PNAC, IAS, NABCB operate according to processes developed by the ISO as specified in ISO/IEC 17011 . Accredited entities in specific sectors must provide evidence to the accreditation body that they conform to other standards in the same series: Accreditation body Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body , inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks (such as certification, inspection and testing). Accreditation bodies are established in many economies with
130-448: The largest in the Oceania region, with the South African National Accreditation System being the largest in Africa. For most of the accreditation schemes, international standards issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are used. Accreditation processes are used in a wide variety of fields: Many accreditation bodies, such as the UKAS, EIAC, EGAC, PNAC, IAS, NABCB operate according to processes developed by
143-420: The primary purpose of ensuring that conformity assessment bodies are subject to oversight by an authoritative body. Accreditation bodies, that have been peer evaluated as competent, sign regional and international arrangements to demonstrate their competence. These accreditation bodies then assess and accredit conformity assessment bodies to the relevant standards. An authoritative body that performs accreditation
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#1732845141107156-432: The relevant standards. An authoritative body that performs accreditation is called an ' accreditation body '. The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) provide international recognitions to accreditation bodies. There are many internationally recognized accreditation bodies approved by the IAF and ILAC. The Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC)
169-870: Was recognised by the Australian Government in a Memorandum of Understanding which was renewed in 2014. Its head office is situated in Rhodes, New South Wales and it has offices in four other capital cities of Australia. It employs 180 staff and over three thousand volunteer technical experts who assist NATA in the assessment of facilities and on its various technical committees. NATA provides accreditation services to inspection bodies and producers of certified reference materials. It offers both "traditional" testing programs and "specialised" programs in areas such as medical and veterinary testing, forensic science , medical imaging , reference material production and proficiency testing. NATA monitors members' compliance with
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