The competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks can be evaluated and attested by third-party accreditation bodies.
An accreditation demonstrates the competence, consistent operation and impartiality of laboratories, inspection bodies, certification bodies for products, processes, services, management systems, or persons, validation and verification bodies.
Rules for applying sector specific competence criteria and granting an accreditation are harmonised by regional and international accreditation organisations, such as EA (European co-operation for Accreditation), IAF (International Accreditation Forum), and ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation). By mutual recognition arrangements within these organisations, conformity assessment bodies benefit from recognition of their accredited status as well as their results within the scope of their accreditation.
Accreditation is deemed to be the preferred means of demonstrating the technical competence of conformity assessment bodies in the European Union (see Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products).
Likewise, an accreditation can be required for various official authorisations of bodies to provide conformity assessment services as well as for contractors.
