Considerations in a National Approach to Laboratory Accreditation  January 30, 1998

For  the International Development Center of Japan (IDCJ) contributing to the IDCJ Survey on Standards and Conformance towards Harmonization and Cooperation in APEC Economies for the Japan Ministry of International Trade and Industry

Project Description     

IDCJ requested a survey of the Laboratory Accreditation Systems in the United States, Germany, France and  the United Kingdom.  Further IDCJ desired a comparison of the underlying features and philosophy of the different accreditation structures in the European Union and the United States. The report  assisted the IDCJ  complete recommendations to the Japan Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) on Japan’s specific role in cooperative efforts in the field of standardization to improve the technical infrastructure and framework such as accreditation and traceability systems in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies. The Appendices to the Report contain a comprehensive set of documentation of the practices and procedures of major laboratory accreditation programs around the world.              

 I               BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION

 II              LABORATORY ACCREDITATION IN THE UNITED STATES

 II              LABORATORY ACCREDITATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

 IV             LABORATORY ACCREDITATION IN FRANCE

 V              LABORATORY ACCREDITATION IN GERMANY

 VI             CONSIDERATIONS   IN  A  NATIONAL APPROACH  TO  LABORATORY ACCREDITATION

Appendix A        PROPOSED STRUCTURE FOR THE NATIONAL COOPERATION FOR LABORATORY ACCREDITATION" (NACLA)

Appendix  B   Information about the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation     Program

Appendix  C     Information about the American Association for Laboratory  Accreditation

Appendix  D   Information about the United Kingdom Accreditation Service

Appendix  E    Information about Accreditation Bodies in Germany

Appendix  F    Information about the Comite Francais D’Accreditation