Application Note for ILAC
Action required
Applicant and accredited conformity assessment bodies in the affected programs need to ensure their usage of accreditation symbols, the way in which they publicize their accreditation status, and their claims in relation to the ILAC MRA are inline with the requirements of P8.
Since SCC has yet to obtain international recognition for its IB program, applications for licensing of the combined ILAC/SCC accreditation mark by Inspection Bodies are not possible at this time. Testing, calibration and medical laboratories wanting to display the ILAC mark alongside their SCC accreditation symbol should contact their account manager for a licence agreement.
Assessors will be reviewing conformity to these requirements during all assessment activities.
Affected customers
The requirements in ILAC P8 apply to testing laboratories, including calibration laboratories and medical laboratories, reference material producers, proficiency testing providers and inspection bodies.
Background
This bulletin is as a result of ILAC revising P8 ‘Supplementary Requirements for the Use of Accreditation Symbols and for Claims of Accreditation Status by Accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies’, SCC applying for international recognition of its Inspection Body Accreditation Program, and SCC’s changes to its accreditation symbols as a result of the fiftieth anniversary rebranding in 2020.
For SCC to gain international recognition of its Inspection Body program, it must conform to the additional requirements of the mutual recognition agreement (MRA) including ILAC P8. As a reminder to existing laboratory programs, ILAC made P8 more generally applicable in 2019.
New requirements
ILAC P8:03/2019 applies to accredited laboratories (including calibration and medical laboratories), inspection bodies, reference material producers (RMP) and proficiency testing providers (PTP). The requirements were expanded to apply to reports and certificates that not only include the accreditation symbol but also must use appropriate words referencing the CAB’s accreditation in accordance with prescribed procedures and rules.
The requirement in ILAC P8:12/2012 for SCC, as the accreditation body to keep a list of the CAB's authorized or approved signatories has been removed.
The criteria from ILAC P8 has been reflected in Appendix B of the SCC Accreditation Agreements and made publicly available as a Policy on Accreditation Symbol Use on SCC’s website.
Deadline
The requirements of ILAC P8:03/2019 continue to be applicable to laboratory programs and must also be adopted by inspection bodies, effective immediately.
Questions?
Please contact Abdel Kassou, Manager, Compliance and Assessment Services, at abdel.kassou@scc.ca or +1 613 238 3222 for more information.