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For any organisation engaged in the process of conformity assessment, ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17020 are international standards that indicate technical competence and reliability. ISO/IEC 17025 relates to testing and calibration laboratories, whereas ISO/IEC 17020 is for inspection bodies.
In the case of the UAE, UAE lab accreditation to ISO 17025 can be sought at the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC). However, the Emirates National Accreditation System (ENAS) also comprises a portion of the national accreditation system. It is important to note that accreditation is not the same as the issuance of trade licenses, Activity Practice Permits, and other operational permits. Depending on the licensed activities, an organisation will be required to achieve both licensing and accreditation.
Looking for assistance with the requirements for the EIAC accreditation process? Enterslice can assist testing laboratories and inspection bodies in navigating UAE accreditation requirements with confidence.
For test laboratories and bodies involved in inspection within the UAE, the process of accreditation is usually one of the steps that should be taken to prove their technical competence and reliability. Among the accreditation standards that have become well-known are the ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17020 standards. Although both of them are aimed at providing assurance for conformity assessment activities, they are used for various organisations and services.
ISO/IEC 17025 is designed for testing and calibration laboratories. It evaluates whether a laboratory has the qualified personnel, appropriate equipment, validated methods and management system necessary to deliver accurate and reliable results. An accreditation certificate is not awarded for all activities conducted by a laboratory. It is not applicable to all operations done in a testing or calibration laboratory but only to the accredited scope of tests, measurements or calibration.
ISO/IEC 17020 is applicable to those organisations that conduct inspection activities related to products, facilities, processes, properties or installations. Competence, consistency and impartiality in inspection activities have been covered under this standard. Since inspection activities are distinct from laboratory testing, the UAE requirements for inspection body accreditation and laboratory accreditation are evaluated separately.
One of the common myths is that accreditation, ISO certification, and business licensing are one and the same thing. However, licensing means that the business is entitled to conduct its commercial activities, whereas any industry-specific registration, license or Activity Practice Permit can entitle a company to conduct the specified regulated activity. On the other hand, accreditation means that the conformity assessment body receives an official recognition of its technical competence for conducting certain kinds of testing, calibration and inspection. The scope of the accreditation will determine what services the accreditation certificate covers. Therefore, having an accreditation certificate does not mean that there is no need for a trade license, registration or license if it is required by the relevant authority.
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The Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) is among the leading accreditation bodies for most calibration laboratories, testing laboratories and inspection bodies functioning within the United Arab Emirates. Before accrediting a CAB, EIAC makes sure that it complies with the pertinent requirements of standards like ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17020.
For laboratories, EIAC will conduct the assessment of the technical competence, testing processes, personnel competencies, equipment control and quality system. For the inspection bodies, the assessment will be related to the process of inspection, the competency of the body, impartiality and the capability to deliver repeatable results.
Whereas EIAC is the national body for accreditation within Dubai and the broader UAE, the Emirates National Accreditation System (ENAS), managed by the MoIAT, acts as the system for federal accreditation. The choice of path will be determined based on the activity of the organisation concerned. The right choice must be established before commencing the process of applying for accreditation.
Getting accredited with EIAC is not just filling out an application form. In order to achieve ISO 17025 accreditation in the UAE or ISO 17020 accreditation in the UAE, you will need to prove that you have technical expertise as well as an efficient management system.
For testing laboratory accreditation in the UAE and calibration laboratory accreditation, organisations are normally expected to have an appropriate legal status and be licensed to perform the work for which accreditation is required. It is important that there be a management system in place within the laboratory, with competent technical staff and appropriate equipment and facilities under control.
Additionally, technical procedure documentation, test documentation, internal audits, and regular management reviews are required. Where relevant, involvement in proficiency testing (PT) or interlaboratory comparison (ILC) schemes can assist in confirming the quality of results produced. The scope of accreditation that the laboratory aims to be accredited for must also be well defined by the laboratory.
Accreditation of inspection bodies in the UAE requires competence of inspectors, documentation of the inspection process and commitment to impartiality. In addition, organisations need to have a functioning management system, adequate technical capability and proper documentation to make inspection decisions. Just as in laboratories, there is a need for a well-defined scope of inspection.
Another frequent error in application for accreditation is failing to state the specific types of tests and inspections for which accreditation will be sought. Accreditation is only provided for activities within the scope that has been approved by EIAC and not for all the activities undertaken by the organisation. A properly defined scope simplifies the assessment and monitoring process.
Prior to applying for EIAC accreditation, organisations must be certain that all documents are complete, accurate and appropriate for the scope of requested accreditation. Incorrect or incomplete documentation might cause delays even if the technical capacity of the organisation is there.
In both cases, the ISO 17025 accreditation UAE and ISO 17020 accreditation UAE, the documents needed will depend on the specific accreditation program, nature of activities being carried out and the technical scope intended for accreditation.
Important note: The specific documentation required depends upon the type of accreditation scheme and technical scope.
Accreditation for an EIAC accreditation UAE candidate involves a series of steps that are meant to assess the competence of a testing laboratory accreditation UAE candidate or an inspection body accreditation UAE candidate. Below is a list of steps that applicants need to go through in obtaining accreditation, although requirements may vary depending on the particular scheme.
The first thing to do is establish whether ISO 17025 Accreditation UAE or ISO 17020 Accreditation UAE fits the business activity. It is necessary for the business to establish what testing, calibration or inspection activities need to be included in the scope of accreditation.
The particular management system, procedures, and records of personnel competence, together with their respective evidence, must be fully practised and not only written in the documents.
The organisation then forwards its application, scope of work, and associated documents via the appropriate EIAC accreditation procedure. (Application fee: AED 500)
The assessors analyse the documentation presented and determine whether the company is qualified to satisfy the accreditation requirements. The process usually involves two parts, namely the documentation and activities. (Document review: AED 3,500; optional pre-assessment: AED 2,500; accreditation assessment: AED 6,500 per assessment day per assessor).
All non-conformities, observations or findings that are noted during the process need to be taken care of using corrective action and associated documentation.
After completing all the assessments and closing all the associated findings, EIAC then makes a decision on the accreditation of the organisation and may issue an accreditation certificate (AED 1,200).
Accreditation is a continuous process. Surveillance assessments and periodic assessments can be used to check that compliance and technical competence are maintained.
Scope → Preparation → Application → Documentation Review → Assessment → Corrective Action → Decision → Accreditation
Organisations seeking ISO 17025 accreditation in the UAE need to be aware that EIAC’s accreditation fees are billed in separate elements per service provided rather than in a bundled, fixed-package format. As per EIAC’s published fee structure for testing laboratories, the fee elements currently charged are as follows: Application (AED 500), Document Review (AED 3,500), Pre-assessment (optional) (AED 2,500), Accreditation Assessment (AED 6,500 per assessment day per assessor), and Accreditation Certificate (AED 1,200).
These amounts should not be considered the final cost of accreditation. The cost will depend on the scope of accreditation, number of assessment days, number of assessors, follow-ups, surveillance, and other services required.
The accreditation process usually takes place within one to three months; however, the exact duration will depend on the readiness of the conformity assessment body (CAB). Companies that have already established their management system, full documentation, and clear technical procedures go through an easier assessment process.
It is crucial to separate the whole process of accreditation and its timeframe from the period of submitting an application and receiving an answer regarding it. Although the administrative procedures can be finished rather quickly, the whole process of accreditation involves reviewing the documents, assessing the company, implementing the corrections to the findings, and the accreditation itself.
The amount of time can depend on several factors such as the extent of the accreditation scope, the quality of documentation provided, availability of assessors, and the pace at which corrective measures are taken.
Need to get more information on the EIAC accreditation cost and timeline for your particular scope? Get assistance from Enterslice prior to your application.
EIAC accreditation is just the start. In order to continue holding ISO 17025 accreditation in the UAE or ISO 17020 accreditation in the UAE, the organisation will have to prove its technical competence, efficiency of operations, and continued compliance with all the conditions set forth by the accreditation requirements. That includes the maintenance of management-system documentation, personnel competency, participation in PT or ILC programme where applicable, action on assessment results and adherence to the accredited scope of operations.
Accreditation is an ongoing process. Organisations that have been accredited are put under surveillance assessments and re-assessments in order to ensure that they still comply with relevant standards. The accreditation process usually takes three years, during which monitoring of the organisation goes on to ensure competence and consistency throughout the process. Surveillance visits are generally charged on the same per-assessor-day basis as the initial assessment (AED 6,500 per assessment day per assessor).
If the laboratory or the inspection body plans to introduce more tests, calibration and inspection work, then it is likely that the current accreditation may require an expansion through the scope extension process. The new activities should usually be reviewed and approved before being added to the scope of accreditation.
Many of the delays in EIAC accreditation happen because of underestimation of the amount of preparation required. In order to make the assessment process run smoothly, you should not make the following mistakes:
Preventing such mistakes will allow for minimising the problems with assessment, nonconformities, and a more effective accreditation process in general.
In instances where accreditation, registration or an authorisation requirement exists in regard to a regulated activity, failing to obtain this may lead to non-compliance with regulation. At times, a laboratory, inspection body, or another conformity assessment body (CAB) may not be able to provide services that require accreditation or authorisation.
The lack of approval might lead to difficulties regarding acceptance from customers, contractually and regulatorily, especially when there is a need for accredited tests or inspections. Depending on the applicable system, there may be additional consequences related to accreditation or regulation of the organisation.
It is critical to note that the exact consequences will vary depending on the particular activity being done and the regulatory requirements that are applicable to such activity.
An analytical testing laboratory that conducts tests on construction materials or the environment and issues test reports would need to look at ISO 17025 accreditation in the UAE, as the main requirement is competence in testing and measurement.
An organisation carrying out inspections on equipment or carrying out condition assessments would need to look at ISO 17020 accreditation in the UAE, as this is aimed at competent and impartial inspection services.
There are organisations that conduct both testing and inspection services. In such a case, just having one accreditation does not mean that the other activity does not require an accreditation. It will need to be assessed to see if it needs ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation.
Enterslice helps testing laboratories, calibration laboratories, and inspection bodies on their path to getting accredited. Our professionals are always ready to help determine the right EIAC accreditation route, assess the organisation’s eligibility, determine the scope of the required accreditation, help with documentation, and prepare for the application.
Discover more about our EIAC Accreditation Services and get a smooth experience in your accreditation process.
Knowing the difference between the two frameworks of accreditation is important for every UAE conformity assessment body. ISO/IEC 17025 is intended for testing and calibration laboratories, whereas ISO/IEC 17020 is intended for organisations engaged in inspections. Accreditation is always focused on proving the technical competence in a defined scope of accreditation.
It is also important for businesses to remember that accreditation is just one element of many in the overall regulatory framework. Depending on what activity is carried out, businesses might require trade licenses, registration, permits and others, which fall under the umbrella of Regulated Activity Approval requirements. A combined analysis of accreditation and regulatory requirements would allow an organisation to have a reliable, credible and sustainable process.
Confused about EIAC Accreditation, Scope definition and Regulatory Approvals? Let Enterslice assist you in the process with confidence and clarity.
UAE laboratory accreditation to ISO 17025 is the official confirmation that a testing or calibration laboratory has the necessary technical competence to conduct certain tests, measurements, and calibrations. It is provided for the determined scope of activities and includes such elements as personnel competence, equipment, methods, and management system effectiveness.
No. Accreditation according to ISO/IEC 17025 is not obligatory for all laboratories. However, some industries, contracts, government orders, and other regulations may demand that the tests are conducted by an accredited laboratory. Laboratories have to determine whether accreditation is necessary depending on the specific legal, client, and regulatory requirements for their activities.
ISO/IEC 17025 is dedicated to testing and calibration laboratories and concentrates on the technical validity of test and calibration results. ISO/IEC 17020 is dedicated to inspection bodies and concentrates on the competence, consistency, and impartiality of inspections. The standards serve different functions in conformity assessment.
The EIAC accreditation process usually takes from one to three months, depending on the organisation's preparedness. Different aspects such as documentation quality, implementation of the management system, assessment results, corrective actions, and complexity of the accreditation scope can affect the duration.
The ISO 17025 accreditation cost in the UAE is not constant. EIAC uses various fee components, which include application (AED 500), document assessment (AED 3,500), evaluation (AED 6,500 per assessment day per assessor), and accreditation-certificate (AED 1,200) fees. The exact cost depends on many variables, including the scope of accreditation, the number of days of evaluation, the number of assessors involved and possible follow-up activities.
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