FAQs - KAS
An accreditation Body may be granted international recognition of its accreditation services by signing Multilateral Recognition Arrangement Agreement with the international accreditation organizations either ILAC or IAF according it scope, after passing successfully a peer evaluation process conducted on its activities by a regional accreditation group organization which operates under the supervision of these international accreditation organizations and has demonstrated both efficiency and competency to perform granting accreditation in the required scope. The international recognition agreements aim to minimize the technical barriers to trade by obtaining recognition of the results of CABs' activities, and therefore the international recognition of the certificates issued by these CABs which shall then prevent the repetition of testing, inspection, and certification required for import and export processes. The accreditation requirements stated by the standard ISO/IEC 17011 ensure that the Accreditation Bodies operate a harmonized and monitored system that provides the appropriate supervision on conformity assessment activities on an international level. This system ensures the impartiality and competency of the accredited entity that performs conformity assessment activities.
Conformity Assessment Bodies known as CABs are those bodies who are conforming that the products and(or) services conform to specific requirements set by standards. this body (a CAB) may issue a certificate to prove conformation. CABs include and are not limited to the following:
Testing Laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025), Calibration Laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025), Medical Laboratories (ISO 15189), Inspection Bodies (ISO/IEC 17020), Proficiency Testing Providers (ISO/IEC 17043), Reference Material Producers (ISO 17034), Product Certification Bodies (ISO/IEC 17065), Persons Certification Bodies (ISO/IEC 17024), And Management Systems Certification Bodies (ISO/IEC 17021 – all parts).
The standard for Terms and General Principles for Conformity Assessment ISO/IEC 17000:2020 provides different definitions for both terms as follows: An appeal in the accreditation context is where a CAB submits an application to the AB to reconsider a decision related to its conformity assessment activities, when a complaint is the CABs expression of dissatisfaction, other than appeal, which is submitted by any entity on accreditation activities, and an appropriate response is expected for both cases.