Announcement from NABL – National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories
Clarification on the Role of NABL in Enforcing Regulations
Accreditation is the independent evaluation of Conformity Assessment bodies against recognised normative documents like Standards, Regulations etc. to carry out specific activities to ensure their impartiality, consistency of operation and competence. Through the application of national and international Standards, Government, Procurers and Consumers can have confidence in the results of accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies.
Laboratories are accredited to the applicable international standards, ISO/IEC 17025 in case of testing and calibration laboratories, and ISO 15189 applicable to Medical Laboratories.
Laboratory Customers, Regulatory Authorities, Organizations and Schemes using peer assessment, Accreditation bodies, and others use these documents in confirming or recognizing the competence of laboratories.
The results from Accredited Laboratories are used extensively by regulators for the public benefit in the provision of services that promote an unpolluted environment, safe food, clean water, energy, health and social care services.
Many Government Agencies have recognised the importance of credible accreditation schemes that are developed against internationally recognised standards.
NABL Accreditation is increasingly being used by Regulators and Government to ascertain the Quality of Products. Accredited CABs can objectively state conformance of product or service to specified requirements.
NABL is a Voluntary Accreditation body and has no Regulatory powers. Checking of compliance to the regulatory requirements falls under the purview of respective/applicable Regulator.
In all cases, it is the responsibility of Laboratory to abide by the National & State Statutory requirements, Acts, Ordnance, Rules, Regulations, Legal orders, Court Decisions/ Orders issued by the Government, Statutory Bodies, Courts as applicable and in force from time to time.
Download the announceement from here
Source : https://nabl-india.org/
The above announcement from NABL clarifies its role as Accreditation body to various stakeholders at market place. Regulators , Governments normally rely on Accreditation Bodies for Conformity Assessment procedures. Accreditation bodies are not Regulators and can’t step into shoes of Regulators. This confusion is often seen at market place where Accreditation bodies and Regulators Roles are understood wrongly , get mixed up often. Frequent communication from Apex bodies , Accreditation bodies clarifying the role of ABs, CBs etc throws so much clarity to the industry, stakeholders too. Markets still mix up Accreditations and Certifications. Lot of confusion prevails between Voluntary Recognition Programs and Mandatory Recognition Programs. FAQs list is very long and apex bodies can release communication often on all the FAQs.
Improving Global Competitiveness of Indian businesses is the key focus of Govt of India and businesses need to show compliance to various Conformity Assessment Procedures of Importing Countries. Understanding all these matter as most of these protocols are International Protocols too.
Country is witnessing lot of FDI and many new global businesses are setting up shop in India. International businesses need clarity and clear communication on conformity assessment too as Technical Regulations are linked to International Accounting Standards as well.