Main nonconformities revealed during the assessment of compliance of testing laboratories with the accreditation criteria

Abstract

The process of accreditation in national accreditation system is carried out in order to ensure confidence in the results of conformity assessment and create conditions for mutual recognition of the results of conformity assessment by the states - trading partners of the Russian Federation. Federal Service for Accreditation of the Russian Federation is a federal executive body performing the functions of the national body of the Russian Federation for accreditation. It makes a decision on accreditation or on denial of accreditation on the basis of the applicant’s compliance with the accreditation criteria. The assessment of the applicant’s compliance with the accreditation criteria is carried out in the form of a documentary and off-site conformity assessment conducted at the place (or places) of applicant’s activities. The assessment of the applicant’s compliance with the accreditation criteria is based on the principles of legality, protection of the rights of a legal entity or individual entrepreneur, independence, fairness and competence of experts, objectivity, comprehensiveness and completeness of assessment, responsibility of accreditation experts and technical experts for the conduct and quality of assessment. The Appeals Commission is included in the list of participants in national accreditation system. The consideration of complaints against decisions, actions (inaction) of Federal Service for Accreditation of the Russian Federation and its officials in connection with the refusal of accreditation, suspension and termination of accreditation, reduction of the scope of accreditation upon applications from applicants, accredited persons or federal executive bodies fall within the powers of the Appeals Commission. In the period from 2016 to 2019 there has been a uniformity in the practice of the Appeals Commission under Federal Accreditation Service (hereinafter referred as the Commission), therefore it is advisable to consider the most common reasons for the solution and denial of complaints.