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Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB) is a statutory body established by “The Bangladesh Accreditation Act, 2006” under the Ministry of Industries, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The board is mandated by the act to make provisions for the issuance of accreditation certificates to different laboratories, certification bodies, inspection bodies, training institutions, or persons, in line with the relevant International and national standards and guidelines.
BAB started testing the laboratory accreditation scheme in 2011 and issued its first-ever accreditation certificate in 2012. Since this time, activities of BAB have been expanded in response to valued stakeholders, at home and abroad. BAB is currently operating 4 accreditation schemes for testing, calibration, and medical laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification bodies. As of October 2024, BAB has accredited 144 Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) operating in both private and public domains.
In 2015 BAB signed a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) with the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (now APAC) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). Membership for Halal Accreditation with other similar international and regional organizations including the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) is in process.
The government of Bangladesh declared “The World Accreditation Day” 9 June as a National Day (Category C) in 2013. Every year this day is celebrated nationwide with great enthusiasm, to promote mass awareness about accreditation and dissemination of accreditation information. On the eve of the World Accreditation Day 2024, BAB published souvenirs highlighting the theme of the day and the importance of accreditation, and organized different seminars, symposium stakeholder meetings, and so on. A special supplement was published in the widely circulated daily newspapers and a television talk show was also aired on this occasion.
Zakia Sultana, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Md. Anwarul Alam, Director General, BAB is seen in the World Accreditation Day 2024 rally
Like previous years, a colorful rally led by Zakia Sultana, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Md. Anwarul Alam, Director General, BAB was held on the occasion of ‘World Accreditation Day 2024’. The experts, regulators, well-wishers, and beneficiaries from different stakeholders including senior officials of the Ministry of Industry, representatives of different accredited CABs, the business community, academia, quality and accreditation persons, and journalists from electronic and print media participated in the rally. Different electronic media aired and print media published the news with great emphasis.
To improve national accreditation infrastructure in the country BAB organizes need-based training on different international standards and technical topics. This also helps in the facilitation of accreditation activities and making a competent assessor/expert pool.
Mr. Md. Anwarul Alam, Director General, BAB and Mr Hohammad Shhohaieb, Initiative Director, UK Bangladesh Standards partnership initiative, BSI along with the participants.
| As part of the ministry-led innovation program for service simplification, BAB has a program to provide accreditation services appropriately by establishing a modern technology-based, efficient, accountable, corruption-free administrative and accreditation system. In this regard, BAB showcased “Pre-qualification Self-Assessment of Testing and Calibration Service Providers Interested in Accreditation through Online” on its website for feasibility and client’s opinion. |  |
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Mr. Md. Anwarul Alam, Director General, BAB describing the service simplification of BAB to Zakia Sultana, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Industries. |
BAB is committed to maintaining APAC/ILAC MRA status in compliance with international norms, and assists in the overall development of Bangladesh by trade facilitation; delivering confidence and protection of public interest through quality accreditation services without discrimination, and ensuring maintaining independence, impartiality, transparency and objectivity in the decision-making process. To this end, BAB regularly organizes meetings with significant stakeholders for feedback, opinions, and suggestions.
Mr. Md. Anwarul Alam, Director General, BAB and senior BAB officials along with the participants of the stakeholder workshop.
BAB always strives to establish itself as a reliable accreditation organization in regional and the international arena. Over time, the spectrum of BAB activities has been expanding. The Bangladesh government has taken different initiatives and approved new projects in the annual development program for modernization of accreditation infrastructure and capacity building. In the future, through increasing the work portfolios and activities, BAB will continue its significant role in the socio-economic development of the country.
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1. ARAC MLA Signatories
Following the latest ARAC MLA Group decisions ARAC has 5 MLA signatories as the following:
2. 5th Edition of the Arab Accreditation Week
Successful Conclusion of the 5th Edition of Arab Accreditation Week Showcases Regional Commitment to Excellence
The Arab Accreditation Week’s 5th edition, held from June 3rd to June 6th, 2024 under the theme “Together towards enhancing the role of accreditation in the Arab region in Empowering Tomorrow and Shaping the Future” marked a significant milestone in the region’s pursuit of excellence in accreditation and conformity assessment. The event successfully convened a series of technical sessions remotely, attracting over 1000 experts and participants from Accreditation Bodies personnel and conformity assessment bodies across the Arab region.
The virtual platform facilitated dynamic discussions and knowledge sharing among the different components of the accreditation infrastructure in the Arab region. The technical sessions covered a diverse range of topics, tailored to address the evolving needs and challenges faced by the Conformity Assessment Bodies and Accreditation Bodies at Arab level.
Highlights of the event included:
The success of the 5th Arab Accreditation Week underscores the region’s commitment to fostering a culture of quality and continuous improvement. By harnessing the collective expertise and resources of stakeholders, the event has furthered the advancement of accreditation and conformity assessment practices, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of consumer protection and trade facilitation in the Arab region.
5th Edition of the Arab Accreditation Week
5th Edition of the Arab Accreditation Week Capacity Building Activities
3. New ARAC Stakeholder member: United Group of Conformity Assessment Bodies (UGCAB)
Significant growth in the Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC) membership has been achieved with the acceptance of the United Group of Conformity Assessment Bodies (UGCAB), Iraq, as an ARAC Stakeholder Member in October 2024.
The inclusion of interested parties in ARAC serves two key purposes. First, it aims to build trust among all stakeholders involved in the accreditation process. By involving diverse parties ranging from industry representatives, regulatory bodies, conformity assessment bodies (CABs), to consumers, ARAC ensures that its accreditation framework is transparent, credible, and widely accepted. This collaboration fosters mutual recognition of ARAC’s accreditation systems, which is crucial for enhancing the quality infrastructure across the Arab region.
Secondly, involving stakeholders allows these interested parties to actively contribute their perspectives and feedback to ARAC. This engagement ensures that the needs and expectations of various sectors are reflected in ARAC’s policies, technical standards, and conformity assessment practices. By enabling a platform for stakeholders to express their views, ARAC remains responsive to the evolving demands of the market, regulatory frameworks, and technological advancements. This collaboration also promotes the harmonization of accreditation practices, reducing trade barriers and ensuring that accreditation systems across member states are aligned with international standards.
4. Next ARAC meetings:
18th – 19th December 2024, Makkah, KSA: ARAC Executive Committee & General Assembly Meetings.
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EA Autumn 2024 Technical Committees’ Meetings
The EA technical committees met in September 2024, for the Autumn meetings, in Brussels, Belgium.
The Horizontal Harmonization Committee (HHC)
Gabriel Zrenner chaired its last HHC meeting and will leave starting from 2025 the chairmanship to the current Vice-Chair Kristina Hallman (SWEDAC, the Swedish National Accreditation Bodies), and her future Vice-Chair to Jenni Harjuoja (FINAS, the Finnish NAB). Gabriel Zrenner has tremendously shaped the HHC for the past 7 years. The good thing for EA is that he is joining the Executive Board.
DAkkS, the German NAB, presented its project on the digital accreditation symbol and AI Act standardization work. DAkkS was the first Accreditation Body worldwide to introduce a digital accreditation symbol as an electronic seal.
HHC members participated in a workshop on accreditation scopes in the Accreditation for Notification (AfN) area. The focus was on 4 major EU legislations (Construction Products Regulation (CPR), Pressure Equipment Directive (PED), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and Machinery), discussing potential scope harmonization and its use in revising EA 2/17.
70 participants attended the meeting on 11-12 September. The next HHC meeting will be held in March 2025, in Brussels.
The Laboratory Committee (LC)
LC members participated in a workshop conducted by Belén Villamiel (ENAC, LC Vice-Chair) and Richard McFarlane (UKAS) on externally provided product and services/subcontracting, taking into account the level 3 accreditation standards under the LC responsibility:
64 participants attended the meeting on 18-19 September. The next LC meeting will be held in March 2025, in Bratislava.
The Certification Committee (CC)
Wolfram Hartmann (DAkkS) has been reelected as the CC Vice Chair, for his second term.
Members had extended discussions about questions asked by colleagues, and the answers will be published shortly on the EA website in the CC FAQ section.
A workshop on flexible scopes in certification will be organized in March 2025.
A resolution concerning the transitional arrangements for ISO 55001 – Asset management — Asset management system — Requirements will be put on the agenda of the EA General Assembly in November.
70 participants attended the meeting on 24-25 September. The next CC meeting will be held in March 2025, in Budapest.
The Inspection Committee (IC)
Marko Verbovsek, the IC Vice-Chair, stepped down and a new vice-chair is being approved within the Committee.
IC members continued to review the full list of questions/answers for publication in the IC FAQ section on the website.
Marek Wilgos (the IC Chair) presented the outcome of the survey on Crime Scene Investigation, which will be forwarded to the LC Chair (Sergio Guzzi) to consider cooperation between IC and TN Forensics.
In 2022, ISO voted to revise ISO/IEC 17020:2012 Conformity Assessment – Requirements for operation of various types of bodies performing inspection. IC members discussed thoroughly the changes to be made in the future standard expected to be published in November 2025.
Members participated in a workshop on sampling, proficiency testing (PT), and interlaboratory comparisons (ILC) in inspection, and examined for instance the criteria that should be considered when analyzing the need to use of PT/ILC in an inspection activity.
60 NABs and stakeholders attended the Inspection Committee meeting on 26-27 September. The next IC meeting will be held in March 2025, in Budapest.
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EIAC jointly hosted the APAC annual meetings in Dubai
The annual meeting of Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) was jointly hosted by the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC), Emirates National Accreditation System (ENAS) and GCC Accreditation Center (GAC). The Meetings are held from July 13 to July 18, 2024, in Dubai, UAE. This was the first time that annual meetings and general assembly of APAC were held in the UAE and middle east region.
Over 200 delegates attended the 2024 APAC Annual Meeting.
EIAC’s peer re-evaluation conducted by ARAC
The re-evaluation of Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) was conducted on 06-10 May 2024. The peer evaluation was conducted by the Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC). The six-member peer evaluation team was comprised of peer evaluators from Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Jordon and South Africa.
The peer evaluation covered the existing scope ISO/IEC 17025 (Testing and Calibration), ISO/IEC 17020 (Inspection) and ISO 15189 (Medical).
EIAC hosted executive committee meetings of ARAC
The Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) hosted the executive committee meetings of Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC) in Dubai, UAE on 18 July 2024. The meetings were held in connection with ARAC’s mid-year meetings.
EIAC granted ISQua hospital accreditations
The Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) granted accreditations to three hospitals and a day surgery center. The accreditations were granted according to the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) requirements & standard.
The accreditation certificates were officially delivered during the celebrations of the World Patient Safety Day.
EIAC attended Joint IAF-ILAC annual meetings in Berlin
The joint annual meetings of IAF-ILAC were held in Germany on 1-10 October 2024. The EIAC delegation headed by Ms. Amina Ahmed Mohammed, CEO, attended the meetings. The EIAC strongly support the activities of IAF and ILAC and an MRA/MLA signatory to both organizations.
EIAC conducted training on forensic and crime scene
The Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) has conducted various training.
EIAC launched a new training series on the “Integrated Forensic Management System (EIAC-IFMSO)”. The module is developed by taking guidance from ILAC G19, with a strong emphasis on quality assurance aspects. Aspects from multiple standards including ISO/IEC17020, ISO/IEC 17025, and ISO 15189 are included across various forensic disciplines.
In this regard training was conducted on 23-27 September 2024. The training highlighted the future directions in integrated forensic testing and crime scene inspection & analysis, utilizing multiple management systems and its accreditation, with a specific focus on relevant forensic and criminology scopes.
Delegates had interactive sessions to understand the effective application of accreditation criteria in accordance with multiple standards. Mr. Mohammed Abdel Motagaly was the resource person for this training.
Series of ISO 15189 training including transition training to new version of ISO 15189 were conducted in May, June and October 2024.
ISO/IEC 17025 training and training on measurement uncertainty, method validation and metrological traceability were conducted in June, July and September 2024.
EIAC’s delegation attending APAC annual meetings
EIAC hosted ARAC executive committee meetings
EIAC granted accreditations to hospitals
EIAC’s delegation attending joint IAF-ILAC annual meetings
EIAC’s training on ISO forensic and crime scene
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Medellín, Colombia.- The Dominican Accreditation Body (ODAC, by its acronym in Spanish) will host the next General Assembly of the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC).
The announcement was made at the Thirty-Second General Assembly of the IAAC, held in the city of Medellín from August 18 to 23, which brought together more than 100 attendees from 27 countries in the Americas and the Caribbean region.
Once a year, all IAAC members hold technical meetings to contribute to the homologation of criteria for accreditation processes and international standards.
The discussions held at this event generate a positive impact on the quality infrastructure of the countries involved; in addition to serving as an incentive to promote competitiveness through the evaluation of accredited conformity.
The executive director of ODAC, Ángel David Taveras Difo, welcomed with great enthusiasm and commitment that the institution coordinates this activity for the first time.
“We assume this responsibility with integrity, which we are sure will enhance our country’s brand,” the official said.
The next general assembly is scheduled to take place on August 2025, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
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EUROLAB is currently working on several initiatives, collaborative actions and compelling projects that we’ve embarked on with various stakeholders, exploring relevant fields such as food quality, digitalisation, and sustainable laboratory practices. These are crucial for sharing knowledge, and aligning our efforts with the broader goals of the laboratory community.
A recent example is the project 23IND13 ScreenFood – Metrology for food safety in the circular economy: targeted and screening methods for contaminants in food and recycled packaging, funded under the EURAMET Metrology Partnership Program.
EUROLAB National Members’ Meeting 2024 was held on 17-18 October in Athens, Greece, kindly hosted by HellasLab. It brought together EUROLAB members from across Europe for two days of insightful discussions, updates and planning of EUROLAB’s strategic priorities, technical outputs and stakeholders’ engagement. The meetings provided a collaborative platform for members to reflect on recent achievements and set the course for the coming year, as well as to address key topics related to laboratory accreditation, quality assurance, and EUROLAB’s future strategies. It also offered members the chance to strengthen relationships and exchange insights within the community. The event was also an opportunity to meet our local members’ representatives and brainstorm new collaboration opportunities. The meeting, taking place in the historic city of Athens, offered participants the opportunity to explore the cultural and historical treasures of one of the world’s oldest cities.
Additionally, a new Technical Report has been published! Technical Report No. 1/2024 is titled “Guidelines for the Management of Digitalised Systems in Laboratories Accredited to ISO/IEC17025”. The document, developed by EUROLAB in collaboration with experts from across the laboratory and accreditation sectors, provide practical recommendations for managing digital systems in laboratories while ensuring compliance with ISO/IEC 17025. The guidelines address critical topics such as risk assessment and data security, system validation, and the use of digital technologies to improve efficiency and accuracy. The document is available on EUROLAB website, in the Technical Reports section.
Our international outreach continues to expand as well, as the training opportunities offered to our members and interested audience. We are pleased to invite the laboratory community to our next webinar on the newly published “Guidelines for the Management of Digitalised Systems in Laboratories Accredited to ISO/IEC17025” taking place on 27 November 2024. This webinar will be dedicated to the official presentation of the newly published EUROLAB Technical Report and its in-depth analysis. It will be a unique opportunity to delve into the subject of the paper with its authors, clarify uncertainties and engage in the discussion.
To be kept updated on the EUROLAB activities, you can follow us on LinkedIn and check our website with all latest news. To be added to our mailing list, please contact info@eurolab.org
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It is common practice, according to ISO/IEC 17011, for the accreditation body (AB) to sample the activities of the conformity assessment body (CAB) when conducting the assessment. This is done under the understanding that in some cases it is not realistic to cover the entire scope of CAB activity. Selecting an appropriate sample through risk-based thinking is considered sufficient to establish whether the organization adheres to the requirements of the relevant level 3 standard or standards.
Of course, as risk-based activities go, there is always the possibility that we, as assessors, will miss some nonconformities. There are some mechanisms in AB’s processes to minimize such risks, such as getting a full, broad analysis from the CAB on any non-conformities that were raised. However, these are not foolproof. Healthy communication with other bodies is crucial to have a bigger picture and establish a continuous monitoring of CABs. Here are some examples of such providers of information:
Complaints and inquiries from customers – Although it is our policy to refer complainants to the relevant CAB first, there are some flags that can be raised from such communications. For example, ambiguity of the scope, contract or report, changes made to a standard method or issues regarding confidentiality. Such inquiries, even if handled by the CAB to the satisfaction of the complainant, should directly affect the risk analysis concerning the assessment of the organization, to the extent of conducting a surprise assessment or a document-based assessment regarding the requirements of the relevant clause in the specific field in which the subject was raised or it’s general application in the CAB’s activities.
Parallel assessments from regulators and other interested parties – Not all regulators rely exclusively on the assessment activities of the AB to assess laboratory activities, and apply an inspection system of their own, with emphasis on specific methods and adherence to regulatory requirements. Such assessment systems are usually field-specific. As such, the sample of activities assessed is taken from a smaller population of activities, and may certainly include activities that were not recently assessed by the AB. Such issues as required accuracy, sensitivity and measurement uncertainty and scope of the validation (i.e method limits) done by the laboratory may be raised. Other interested parties may raise other subjects such as problems with impartiality and confidentiality.
Proper communication between the AB and the mentioned parties is crucial, and provides a way to further the supervisory activities of the AB. However, there are some conditions for such a mechanism to be effective. The role of the AB needs to be fully understood by the interested parties, regulators and the CABs themselves. It should be clear that the supervision of the AB is not limited to the regular assessments, and if problems and issues are raised between assessment, it is not only allowed but expected that the AB examine such issues. Related to that, the strict confidentiality requirements between the AB and the CAB needs to be clear. This requires a level of trust from all sides. i.e, it is more than likely that the interested party will not get a report on how the CAB addressed and corrected the issue and would only get a response from the AB that the issue was corrected. Furthermore, it should be understood that the AB is not targeting one CAB or another. If the reason for the issue is ambiguity of the requirements, these should be clarified to all relevant CABs, either directly by the AB or the body (regulatory or otherwise) that is in charge of these requirements.
If the role and scope of responsibility of each of the interested parties is clear, and issues are handled with respect to all concerned sides, including the customers of the laboratory (who should be the major benefactors of CAB accreditation), such cooperation will benefit all sides, and all but ensure the clarity or requirements for such CABs and the continued improvement of the CABs activity.
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The floriculture sector in Colombia plays a key role economic, social and environmental terms. It contributes significantly to job creation, especially in rural regions, and contributes to the country’s exports. Flower farming drives economic growth and projects a positive image of the country in international markets, consolidating itself as one of the leading players in the world flower trade.
In 2023, flowers were Colombia’s sixth largest export, making up 4.2% of total exports. The sector saw a 1% increase in export value, reaching $2.08 billion, and a decrease of 3.2% in volume to 310,000 tons compared to 2022. Over the past 32 years, flower exports have generally grown. In 2023, 10,500 hectares were dedicated to flower cultivation, with fresh-cut flowers for bouquets, roses, carnations, and pompons being the most widely grown.[1].
Source: MinCIT – DANE – Ceniflores. Own estimates. Research coordination for economic and social studies related to quality infrastructure.
The floriculture sector is a vital pillar in employment generation. By 2023, this industry contributed to creating around 200,000 jobs, of which 110,000 were directly employed, while the remaining 90,000 were attributed to indirect jobs. It is remarkable that, of the total staff, a significant 60% were women. This highlights the importance and empowerment of women in the field of floriculture, highlighting their essential contribution to the economic and social development of the sector.
Regarding the analysis of export destinations, in 2023, the United States was the largest buyer of Colombian flowers with 79.5%, as seen in Figure 2, followed by countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, Spain and Poland, with less than 4%. According to Procolombia, it is during the Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day seasons that flowers in the sector[2] are most in demand. Other important dates are Thanksgiving Day and the Christmas season.
Source: DIAN – MinCIT. Own estimates. Research coordination for economic and social studies related to quality infrastructure.
In 2023, the total amount requested for appropriations reached 2,291, valued at 799 billion pesos. This marks a notable increase since 2016, reflecting the sector’s growth in exports. The rise in export value appears to encourage florists to seek higher foreign currency earnings, leading to increased investment in infrastructure and productivity-enhancing projects.
The growth of Colombia’s flower sector can also be seen in the increasing hectares dedicated to flower production. By 2023, the area reached approximately 10,000 hectares, despite a notable decrease in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This overall upward trend indicates rising demand for floral products and underscores the sector’s resilience and ongoing expansion, even amid challenges.
Florverde Sustainable Flowers is a private organization dedicated to the certification of a social and environmental standard for the flower sector. Founded by Asocolflores in 1996, it began as a social and environmental floriculture program. In 2002 it became a second-party verifier and the following year; it implemented elements of ISO 14000. In 2005 it included elements of a certification and a standard. In 2013 they changed the brand to Florverde Sustainable Flowers and in 2019 they sealed alliances and agreements with different entities for the recognition and improvement of standards.[3].
The main objectives of Florverde Seal are to promote sustainable agricultural practices within the flower industry and encourage sustainable development in the areas where flowers are grown. Some of the specific objectives are:
The criteria and standards that companies must meet to obtain Florverde certification cover various areas, including environmental, social and product quality aspects. Some of the general criteria that are usually part of this certification are:
To date, Florverde claims to have certified 4,682 hectares from 119 farms in Colombia and Ecuador for a total of 2.2 billion certified stems from these countries. [4]. They also have approval with the standards of the Rainforest Alliance and Global Social Compliance Programme. [5]. The final market for Florverde-certified flowers is in retailers and large stores in the United States such as Kroger, Wal-Mart and Costco, as well as wholesale sales.
Potential accreditation market
Being certified with the Florverde seal signifies a commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility for flower industry companies. This certification reflects adherence to sustainable agricultural practices, environmental conservation, and resource management. It also ensures product quality and safety, promotes fair and safe working conditions, and can enhance the company’s reputation and market access among consumers who prioritize sustainability and ethical business practices.
Additionally, ONAC provides accreditation services to support good agricultural practices across crops, animal production, and aquaculture, structured under 16 standards within the CPR framework for agriculture, forestry, and fishing.
For more detailed information, we invite you to visit our webpage and read the full study. Available in both English and Spanish, it offers comprehensive insights into the benefits and impact of the Florverde certification and ONAC’s accreditation services.
Visit our webpage to explore the full study:
English: https://onac.org.co/en/market-study-of-accreditation-services-in-flor-verde-seal/onacs-blog/
Spanish: https://onac.org.co/estudio-de-mercado-de-servicios-de-acreditacion-en-sello-florverde/blog-onac/
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[1] Informe Asocolflores 2023. Available in: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RIj7S4yVqhn9Ka92G9HZlcQSU9sdyL1O/view
[2] Procolombia. Available in: https://prensa.procolombia.co/gracias-al-trabajo-de-procolombia-con-empresarios-las-flores-colombianas-son-protagonistas-del-dia
[3] https://www.florverde.org/en/about-us-who-are-we/#history
[4] https://www.florverde.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brochure-Florverde-2024.pdf
[5] https://www.florverde.org/en/how-to-get-fsf-recognition-with-others/
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Mexico City, October 24, 2024 – In commemoration of the International Day Against Climate Change, ema held a landmark event that brought together business leaders, representatives from Chambers and Associations, as well as accredited organizations to reaffirm their commitment to combating climate change. Under the initiative “Together with ema to Mitigate Climate Change,” this gathering marks a decisive step toward building a more sustainable and secure environment.
With over 25 years of experience, ema has become a cornerstone of Mexico’s quality infrastructure, promoting accreditation as a tool for sustainability. Today, ema holds over 8,100 accreditations more than 2,300 of them are directly focused on environmental issues, such as emissions control, water laboratory testing, and certification of resource-saving products. This reaffirms the importance of accreditation in climate management.
Concrete Commitments and Ambitious Goals
This event not only commemorated the day but also provided a platform for significant commitments. During the ceremony, more than 55 organizations expanded their accreditations in environmental standards, and 29 signatories, including accredited entities, chambers, and clusters, pledged to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve impactful results by 2030. These 17 goals, adopted by all United Nations Member States, including Mexico, in 2015, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all, focusing specifically on SDG 13: Climate Action.
Experts in Environmental Issues Across Various Sectors
The event featured three keynote speakers, each an expert in their field. The representative from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) discussed the increasing number and severity of environmental challenges. The representative from Sigma Alimentos shared strategies and alternatives for responsible food production, and finally, an expert in Mexico’s financial sector explained new regulations the government will implement to boost the fight against climate change.
Driving Our Initiative Forward
With more than 30 national and international standards available to mitigate climate change, ema and the productive sectors present acknowledged the importance of not only meeting but leading environmental practices that ensure quality and foster consumer confidence. The Mexican Accreditation Entity invited all sectors to integrate sustainable actions into their processes and adopt accredited services that certify the environmental quality of their products. The initiative “Together with ema to Mitigate Climate Change” represents a collective movement towards a more conscious and committed Mexico in the protection of our planet.
In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of quality assurance in various sectors cannot be overstated. To meet this demand, the Quality and Accreditation Institute (QAI) was established with a clear mission: to create a robust ecosystem that promotes education, training, quality improvement, and accreditation.
At QAI, we believe that sharing knowledge and experiences among professionals and organisations is crucial for advancing quality standards. Our goal is to provide a platform for stakeholders to collaborate, exchange insights, and ultimately realize our vision of enhanced quality across industries.
A significant initiative under QAI is the establishment of the accreditation of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) under Centre for International Accreditation (CIA). This vertical of QAI aims to offer a comprehensive accreditation programme tailored to the needs of various stakeholders, including government bodies, industry associations, and businesses. We provide accreditation to CABs across several key areas, ensuring that quality standards are maintained and recognised globally.
Our accreditation covers:
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Medical Laboratories (ISO 15189): Ensuring that the labs provide accurate and reliable results, which is vital for patient safety. |
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Certification of Medical Laboratories as per the requirements of the Central Clinical Establishments Act. |
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Biobanks (ISO 20387): Our accreditation guarantees that biobanks operate under stringent quality controls, ensuring the integrity of biological samples. |
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Proficiency Testing Providers (ISO/ IEC 17043): PT providers help organisations evaluate their testing processes and outcomes. |
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Testing Laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025): Ensuring rigorous testing processes that uphold quality and reliability in results. |
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Calibration Laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025): These labs play a crucial role in maintaining the accuracy of measuring instruments. |
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Inspection Bodies (ISO/ IEC 17020): We ensure that inspection bodies conduct their evaluations with a high degree of reliability and integrity. |
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Reference Material Producers (IS/ISO 17034): This ensures that producers of reference materials maintain the highest standards for the materials used in testing and calibration. |
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Through these initiatives, QAI is committed to fostering a culture of quality that transcends industries. We invite professionals and organizations to join us in this endeavour, sharing their expertise and collaborating towards a common goal of excellence.
Together, we can build a future where quality is not just an aspiration, but a fundamental standard across all sectors.
Milestones Achieved by QAI: Paving the Way for Excellence
As we look back on our journey, QAI is proud to highlight a series of significant milestones that reflect our commitment to advancing quality and accreditation:
As we celebrate these remarkable milestones together, we want you to remember that quality is a journey, not a destination. Here at the Quality and Accreditation Institute, we envision a world where excellence is truly embedded in every industry.
By collaborating—sharing our knowledge, experiences, and best practices—we can elevate standards and inspire the next generation of quality leaders. It’s exciting to think about the potential we have to drive progress and make a real impact.
Let’s embrace the future with optimism. Each step we take towards enhancing quality brings us closer to a brighter, more accountable world. Together, we can create a legacy of excellence that resonates for years to come. Quality isn’t just our goal; it’s our commitment to a better tomorrow.