National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA)

摘要

I attended the NACLA Annual Forum, AGM and Board meeting in Columbia, Maryland earlier this month. The Forum agenda included several presentations on the new ISO/IEC 17011:2004 standard, "Conformity assessment - General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies. " Emphasis was made of the new requirements that demand impartiality both in the verification of competence and an AB's relations with conformity assessment bodies (CABs) and CAB's clients. An AB cannot provide both conformity assessment services and consultancy. The witness of performance of laboratory staff must now assure competence across the full desired scope. Proficiency testing requirements for laboratories have been strengthened in the new standard. ILAC requires that ABs conform by January 1, 2006, and NACLA has implemented the same time frame for its recognized and applicant ABs. Signatories to the NACLA MRA must conduct a 17011 internal audit and management review, and provide to NACLA documentation of this review, before the deadline.