Quality Infrastructure System

DEFINITION

The system comprising the organizations (public and private) together with the policies, relevant legal and regulatory framework, and practices needed to support and enhance the quality, safety and environmental soundness of goods, services and processes.

The quality infrastructure is required for the effective operation of domestic markets, and its international recognition is important to enable access to foreign markets.  It is a critical element in promoting and sustaining economic development, as well as environmental and social wellbeing. It relies on metrology, standardisation, accreditation, conformity assessment, and market surveillance.

This definition was agreed upon by ten international organizations forming the International Network on Quality Infrastructure (INQI)