ISO/IEC 17025 Transition – Amendment #1 to SCC Bulletin Number 2017-36
Action required
Accredited laboratories are asked to take note of the extension of the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 transition deadline to June 1, 2021. The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) has issued this extension to ensure all laboratories are able to complete the transition under the restrictions imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Affected customers
The new standard affects all accredited testing and calibration laboratories, as well as those laboratories accredited by other Accreditation Bodies that are signatories to the ILAC mutual recognition agreement and that are being used by SCC-accredited certification bodies for products, processes, and services.
Background
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 was published on November 30, 2017 and, SCC (along with its partners, Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) and National Research Council Calibration Laboratory Assessment Services (NRC-CLAS) began implementing its plan to transition every testing and calibration lab accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 shortly thereafter. Laboratories have been encouraged to use the new standard and assessments were prioritized to be conducted at least six months before the original transition deadline so non-conformities could be closed and updated scopes of accreditation confirmed.
New requirements
SCC notes the significant progress made by accredited organizations toward the required transition deadline of November 30, 2020. However, given the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent health and safety measures adopted by most economies, there are world-wide challenges in getting these successful transitions confirmed. As a result, ILAC held a referendum in May 2020 and voted to extend the transition period to June 1st, 2021.
This extension has been added to the original 3-year transition period to ensure that all laboratories are able to be transitioned under the restrictions imposed as a result of (COVID-19) outbreak.
At the end of the transition period, any accreditations of laboratories to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 will no longer be recognized under the ILAC Arrangement.
SCC will continue its efforts to assess its remaining accredited laboratories so that there are no gaps when the 2005 version of the standard is withdrawn.
Deadline
Laboratories shall have successfully transitioned to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by June 1, 2021. This means that laboratories have undergone an assessment by SCC using this standard on or by January 2021 so that all associated non-conformities are closed, and updated scopes of accreditation publicly appear on SCC’s website by the new deadline.
Questions?
Please contact Abdel Kassou, Manager, Compliance and Assessment Services, at abdel.kassou@scc-ccn.ca or +1 613 238 3222 for more information.