Public Sector Assurance

As a public sector organisation, this site will help you learn about the benefits of using accredited conformity assessment.

Quality infrastructure is required for the effective operation of domestic markets, and its international recognition is important to facilitate access to foreign markets. It relies on metrology, standardization, accreditation, conformity assessment, and market surveillance.

This site has been developed by the global quality infrastructure partners (INetQI) represented by the BIPM, IAF, IEC, ILAC, ISO, ITC, ITU, OIML, UNECE, World Bank Group, WTO and UNIDO to demonstrate how the quality infrastructure supports policy objectives.

We are always seeking the best examples to post on this website of conformity assessment helping the public sector. If you have a great example, please send it to us at iaf@iaf.nu

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Research: World Bank Group Infographic and data

This short infographic provides data and examples to demonstrate the impact of the National Quality Infrastructure in terms of Enhanced Competitiveness Reduced Testing & Certification Burden Expanded and Open Markets Increased Innovation & Technology Diffusion Improved Efficiency Increased Productivity Gains Safety, Health, Environmental Application A more detailed description of how the QI enhances competition is available at https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/competitiveness/brief/qi

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Case Study: Valencia requires emissions control accreditation for activities that potentially pollute the atmosphere

The Autonomous Region of Valencia’s Department of Agriculture, Environment, Climate Change and Rural Development has recently published the Decree 228/2018, which sets out procedures and atmospheric emission control system regulations for activities considered to potentially pollute the atmosphere. This Decree establishes that facilities with potentially polluting activities must present, to the competent authority granting the emissions authorisation, a certificate showing they have adapted to the current area of atmosphere protection regulations and to the conditions set out in the authorization....

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Case Study: First accredited laboratory to assess ICT product safety

JTSEC has become the first ENAC-accredited laboratory to assess Information and Communications Technology (ICT) product safety according to LINCE methodology, the National Essential Security Certification scheme developed by the National Cryptologic Centre (CCN), which aims to provide more guarantees for cybersecurity certification in Spain. The LINCE certification and assessment methodology enables assessment of an ICT product’s capability to treat information securely. In addition, this certification is one way for these products to be included in the ICT Security Product Catalogue...

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Case Study: First formaldehyde emissions accreditations allowing timber products into the US market

The Metallurgy, Furniture, Wood, Packaging and Polishing Technology Institute, AIDIMME, and the FCBA technology Institute have obtained ENAC’s accreditation for firstly testing and certification, and secondly for certification of low emission formaldehyde wood by-products, therefore complying with the U.S. (TSCA) Toxic Substances Control Act. This regulation was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce air toxicity by reducing wood by-product’s formaldehyde emissions such as particle board, medium density fibre boards and plywood boards manufactured or sold throughout...

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Case Study: The KENAS H&S Team publish a paper on ISO 15189 implementation in Kenya

During the 25th Annual Scientific and Exhibition Conference for the Association of Kenya Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers (AKMLSO), the KENAS Health and Safety team published a paper titled: Comparison of Measurement Uncertainty Values across Clinical Chemistry Laboratories in Kenya. Robert Njuguna, Case Officer, Health and Safety at KENAS and James Sakwa of MMUST did research on 10 laboratories that were implementing ISO 15189:2012 in Kenya. KENAS accredits medical laboratories to this Standard. In the research, they reviewed the laboratories’ measurement...

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Supporting Material: The Missing Links In The Chains? Mutual Distributed Ledger (aka blockchain) Standards

Mutual distributed ledger (MDL, aka blockchain) technology has the potential to bring new opportunities and efficiencies to the financial industry. As with any new technology, MDLs expose organisations to new risks. Regulators have responsibility for protecting consumers and overseeing the integrity of markets. Regulators respond to risks in two main ways: through the development of specific regulations or by encouraging the establishment of voluntary standards markets. This report, published by PwC, sets out how standards and accredited conformity assessment could...

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Supporting Material: Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals with ISO standards

Regulators can rely on ISO standards as a solid base on which to create public policy that helps further SDG goals such as human rights, water and energy efficiency, public health, and more. Recognized the world over, International Standards also help governments achieve their national and international commitments. Read more.

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Supporting Material: Standards and Food Safety

This short video, produced by ANSI, sets out how standards and accredited food safety assurance provides confidence in the food we buy. Watch the video on YouTube.

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Case Study: Accredited certification of cloud computing service providers

At ANSSI’s request, the French National Cybersecurity Agency, Cofrac developed a new accreditation scheme for certifying cloud computing service providers. Inspired by ISO/IEC 27001 standard, the certification standard is called “SecNumCloud”. It defines a security framework, aiming, for example, to improve protection for public authorities and operators of vital importance. It also includes requirements for the protection of personal data. An accredited certification for cloud computing services is necessary for demonstrating the high level of security met by cloud computing...

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Case Study: US DoD gains energy savings from ISO 50001

The US Department of Defense (DoD) installations represent 284,000 buildings and more than two billion square feet of space, consuming 1% of the total energy expended in the United States. In order to pursue energy resiliency as a priority and seeks cost effective solutions to improve mission assurance, the DoD gained accredited certification to ISO 50001. As a result, the department gained: Better analytical tools for energy management decisions Standardized and disciplined energy management practices that survive personnel changes Increased...

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Research: Research finds link between standards and fatal accident prevention

A study carried out by ISO’s Technical Committees to identify whether standards play a role in preventing accidental fatalities, revealed that country-level participation in the ISO’s technical committees – the group of experts that develops standards – showed that a 1 per cent increase in technical committee participation was associated with a 0.19% decrease in accidental deaths. Further information is available here.

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Research: European Metrology Research Programmes boost sales of 1,627 million Euro

Metrology research ensures the international measurement systems are fit for the future, as well as supporting the introduction of innovative products and services through the accurate validation of new technologies. In providing accurate and traceable measurement, that is both reliable and robust, metrology research also underpins trade. Projects have brought together world-class measurement expertise that strengthen Europe’s position at the forefront of innovation and contribute to our economic prosperity. Case studies from EMRP and EMPIR projects have demonstrated their economic...

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Research: Standards influence economic growth (2018)

According to the EU Commission, standards are associated with 5-35% of GDP growth across European economies. This report studied the impact of voluntary consensus standards on economic growth in the five Nordic countries: Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. Given the average growth in stock of standards in the Nordic countries of 6.8 percent during the period studied (1976-2014), standardization is associated with an annual increase in labour productivity of 0.7 percent per year of a total average growth of...

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Research, commissioned by the Italian Accreditation Body (Accredia), shows the value that accreditation plays in supporting international trade. The development of common standards, supported by mutual recognition of accredited test results, inspection reports and certificates provide simplification and reductions in the cost of commerce, through transparent procedures, the avoidance of duplicate testing and the need to differentiate production.

Research: International commerce – the value of accreditation and standardization (May 2019)

Supporting Material: Ensuring Quality to Gain Access to Global Markets (The World Bank, 2019)

An efficient and effective quality and standards ecosystem—also referred to as quality infrastructure (QI)—is an essential ingredient for competitiveness, access to new markets, productivity improvement, innovation of new products, and environmental protection, as well as health and safety of populations. In short, QI is not only key to a country’s growth, but also essential in creating a safer, cleaner, and more equitable and well-integrated world. The World Bank Group recognises the importance of QI as an ecosystem and has produced...

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