Given that accreditation is a strategic tool as it underpins the credibility of products and services, each country should ensure access to accreditation services.
Whether these services are to be provided by a NAB or by a regional body or a foreign body depends on the critical mass of local and export conformity assessment needs.
Whether a new AB needs to be created or the services are to be provided by an existing institution such as the NSB, provided the latter does not offer CA services, is a matter of policy and rationalization of scarce resources.
The NQP should be the tool to clarify the way forward on the above options.
Considerations when setting up a national accreditation body
Costs
Setting up a NAB is costly, in particular in view of the need for ILAC and IAF Mutual Recognition and the expertise required
Financing & National Needs
- The NAB should be financially sustainable in the long term and serve national needs. The creation and operation of a single accreditation body should ideally be financed by government, at least during the first stage.
- Where the scale of national requirements is insufficient to justify the cost, a regional solution should be sought.
- Industry should pay for services received, possibly on a reducing subsidy basis as the economy grows.
Planning Considerations
The viability of regional or sub-regional accreditation structures as an alternative to national structures should be carefully considered. As the economy develops, a national solution becomes more attractive.