Conformity Magazine - February 2009 - (Page 26)

3. 4. Participation in international inter-laboratory comparisons and proficiency testing programs; Participation of accredited laboratories in domestic and international inter-laboratory comparisons and proficiency testing programs; Evaluations of applicants and re-evaluations of signatories to this Arrangement conducted in accordance with the relevant ILAC and regional cooperation documents; Observations of assessments undertaken by applicant accreditation bodies and Arrangement signatories, during which the bodies determine whether their customers meet the requirements of ISO/IEC 170251 or other standards that ILAC deems to be suitable for accreditation; and Confidence in the metrology institutes which underpin the traceability claims of the laboratories by the Arrangement signatories, and support of the measurement comparison activities of CIPM (Comite International des Poids et Mesures) and/or regional metrology organisations.2 relevant rules and procedures contained in several ILAC publications.3 Each accreditation body that is signatory to the ILAC Arrangement agrees to abide by its terms and conditions and by the ILAC evaluation procedures, and shall: • Maintain conformance with ISO/IEC 17011 (and future versions thereof),4 related ILAC guidance documents, and a few, but important, supplementary requirements; and • Ensure that all accredited laboratories comply with ISO/ IEC 17025 (and future versions thereof) and related ILAC guidance documents. The signatories have, in turn, been peer-reviewed and shown to meet the ILAC criteria for competence. The ILAC Arrangement builds upon existing or developing regional arrangements established around the world. The bodies participating in these regional arrangements are responsible for maintaining the necessary confidence in accreditation bodies from their region that are signatories to the new ILAC Arrangement. Each recognized Regional Cooperation Body must abide by the procedures defined in ILAC requirements documents. Currently, the European cooperation for Accreditation (EA) and the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) are the only ILAC-recognized regions with acceptable mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) and evaluation procedures. The Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) and Southern African Development Cooperation for Accreditation (SADCA) are still under development. Other regional cooperation bodies being developed in other parts of the world are in their infancy. Accreditation bodies that cannot be affiliated with a recognized regional cooperation body may apply directly to ILAC for evaluation and recognition. The evaluation of an accreditation body to establish its qualifications to be a signatory involves a team of peers (generally senior staff of experienced accreditation bodies). Evaluations include time spent at the head office of the applicant body to determine compliance with ISO/IEC 17011. The evaluators also witness the performance of the applicant’s assessors during actual assessments to determine if the laboratories are in compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 and that there is sufficient depth of examination to determine competence. Maintenance of the Arrangement In order to maintain the value and meaning of the Arrangement, the signatories agree to notify each other about any significant changes in the status or operation of the body. Issues of significance include changes in name or legal/corporate status; new agreements negotiated with other accreditation bodies or the revision, suspension or termination of any agreements; changes in key senior staff 5. 6. 7. How Does the Arrangement Work? The ILAC Arrangement is based on the results of an intensive evaluation of each body carried out in accordance with the 2 Conformity february 2009 http://www.okaya.com http://www.okaya.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Conformity Magazine - February 2009

Conformity Magazine - February 2009 Contents Editor's Note FCC Clarifies Closed Captioning Requirements for DTV Receivers Commission Cracks Down (For the Fifth Time!) On Junk Fax Marketer FDA Requests Comments on Global Harmonization Documents Australia Now Requires Solar Panel Testing and Certification EU Drafting New Directive on Toy Safety EU Commission Revises Standards List for EMC, R&TTE Directives Additional Standards Published For the EU's Medical Devices Directive EU Commission Publishes Additional Standards for Directives on Active Implantable, In Vitro Medical Devices EMC For the Functional Safety of Automobiles ESD Open Forum The ILAC Arrangement: Facilitating Trade Efficient Methodology for the EMI Analysis of Optical Transceivers Including PCBs and/or Flex Circuits The EuP Directive - Implementation, Design Requirements and Issues Chambers, Shielding, and Accessories Buyer's Guide CPSIA Lead Requirements Apply to Existing Inventory, Says CPSC CPSC Clarifies Certifcation Requirements Other CPSC Actions in the News IEC Standards Update Product Reviews UL standards Update Telcordia Standards Update From Our "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" Department Looking Back: Items from Past Issues of Conformity Advertisers

Conformity Magazine - February 2009

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