IJCA - Volume 2 - Flipbook - Page 11
2023 | Volume 2, Issue 1
11
The ISO/IEC 17011:2017, clause 4.2 requires ABs
to formulate a legally enforceable agreement
Anyone interested solely in the objective of complying with each CAB that covers the obligations of ABs
as well as CABs, including the use of the legally
with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011 and who
protected accreditation symbol and claims. This is to
operates an accreditation scheme may assume that
the fulfillment of minimum requirements is adequate. prevent misuse or misleading of interested parties.
Compliance with clauses 4.2 and 4.3 of ISO/IEC
Such a false belief, however, will contribute towards
17011 minimizes the risks towards ABs.
creating an uncertain situation for the AB.
Nonavailability of Terms and Conditions for
Making Information Available Publicly
maintaining accreditation and accreditation
At the very beginning of the accreditation process,
agreement prior to application in the websites
availability of and reading, as well as understanding
was identified as a common discrepancy of many
with clarity the rules, procedures, terms and
accreditation bodies.
conditions of ABs for accreditation, complaints, and
Clause 8.2.2 of ISO/IEC 17011 requires ABs to make
appeals, etc. (clause 8.2.1-b of ISO/IEC 17011) as
available accreditation information as required
well as legally enforceable agreements to be entered
in clause 7.8.1. This concerns information on
between AB and CAB, and information about the
suspension and withdrawal, including dates and
accreditation body (clause 8.2.1-a of ISO/IEC 17011)
scopes. Compliance with this requirement reduces
paves the way for creating mutual understanding.
the risk for ABs due to misuse of accreditation
This background is necessary to clear doubts that
status. This provision is an added advantage for
could lead to creating diverse situations associated
interested parties, including regulators, to make
with the term (“risk”) as relevant to the accreditation
decisions that will help in building confidence of
process. This is equally applicable to the postaccredited conformity assessment services.
accreditation phase as well. Therefore, ABs are
Relative to the introduction of the dedicated section
required to publicly avail their terms and conditions,
on the official website and listing all accredited
rules, procedures, accreditation agreements, and
organizations (clients), scopes, and validity
requirements for each accreditation scheme in order
timeframes, making this information as freely
to disseminate information to all interested parties
to ensure transparency. The goals towards achieving downloadable documents/information is generally
carried out by most accreditation bodies. With
this transparency should be established as gate
watcher processes in every stage of the accreditation the current ICT developments, designing userfriendly instant search options or advanced filtering
awarding undertaking.
options to provide information about accredited
Case example on websites
organizations is now becoming a trend in the
A review of the websites of accreditation bodies
accreditation world. Networking of accreditation
— those who act as full members of ILAC and IAF
bodies with regulators and stakeholders is
and regional member bodies — was done prior to
paramount to getting the expected outcome from
developing this concept paper. This case study
accreditation services, especially for those with
relates to websites and will look at the negative
international recognition.
aspects to prevent such in actuality. What is often
Uncertainties associated with sustainability,
noted is that some websites are not user-friendly.
recognition, and expansions of accreditation
Most documents offer information in the local
activities could be minimized when ABs comply
language alone and translating them credibly into
with all requirements in relation to publicly
the global business language of English is generally
available information. This contributes to achieving
not carried out. Usually, websites do not have
the objectives in relation to the ILAC tagline:
search functions updated and prove redundant.
“Accreditation: Delivering Global Confidence.”
Non-availability of up-to-date documents and
information from accredited organizations is a key
Address the Risks Associated with Impartiality and
hindrance. Data protection issues surface when web
Confidentiality
management is outscored to external parties. Issues Publicly available impartiality policy (clause 4.4.3 of
related to the management of backup records must
ISO/IEC 17011) is a top management commitment
be monitored carefully.
towards impartiality to ensure that accreditation
Is it Adequate to Focus Only on Clauses Having the
Word “Risk?”
