SCC Requirements and Guidance for the Accreditation of Mineral Analysis Testing Laboratories
Action required
All applicant and accredited mineral analysis laboratories must now adhere to the new revised version of SCC Requirements and Guidance for the Accreditation of Mineral Analysis Testing Laboratories, dated 2017-12-11.
Affected customers
This change affects accredited and applicant laboratories operating in the Mineral Analysis Program Specialty Area, as well as SCC assessors performing assessments in this area.
Background
As part of SCC’s continual improvement efforts with regards to its Requirements and Guidance documents, a formal review was performed this fall on the SCC Requirements and Guidance (R&G) for the Accreditation of Mineral Analysis Testing Laboratories document. (Note: much of the content in the R&G document was previously contained in the CAN-P 1579 which is now withdrawn). After careful review by stakeholders, several requirements were removed as they were deemed redundant with both the existing ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and SCC’s Requirements and Guidance for the Accreditation of Testing Laboratories. No additional requirements were added.
Note that the next review of this document will occur during the transition period to ISO/IEC 17025:2017. No date has been set for this review at this time.
New requirements
Requirements from the following sections have been removed from the document:
4.2 – Quality System
4.3 – Document Control
4.6 – Purchasing Services and Supplies
4.13 – Control of Records
5.2 – Personnel
5.3 – Accommodation and Environmental Conditions
5.4 – Test and Calibration and Method Validation
5.6 – Measurement Traceability
5.8 – Handling of Test and Calibration Items
5.9 – Assuring the Quality of Test and Calibration Results
5.10 - Reporting Results
As well, the requirement to participate specifically in the PTP MAL program has been revised to allow laboratories to use other appropriate proficiency testing (PT) options.
Deadline
As there are no new requirements implemented, this change is effective immediately. Customers are asked to update their documentation as soon as possible.
Questions?
Please contact Cynthia Milito, Acting Vice President – Accreditation Services, at cynthia.milito@scc-ccn.ca or +1 613 238 3222 for more information.