About
ISO describes conformity assessment as ‘a set of processes that show your product, service or system meets the requirements of a standard’. (Source: ISO website)
Conformity assessment has a range of strands, all of which contribute to giving people confidence and assurance in using and buying products and services. These strands include testing, inspection, certification and accreditation.
There are many instances around the world where the public sector has embraced conformity assessment as a means of delivering public policy objectives. This site illustrates this with a range of case studies which demonstrate:
- Government can improve its own performance by the use of conformity assessment by its own departments
- Government can help improve the performance of business by encouraging the use of conformity assessment
- Conformity assessment can help government deliver its policies
- Conformity assessment helps regulators regulate.
By showcasing the policy areas conformity assessment is used, such as economic development, healthcare and environmental protection, the intention is to provide inspiration so more conformity assessment tools can be used by central government, local government and regulators to deliver positive benefit.
This site has been developed by This site has been developed by the global quality infrastructure partners (INetQI) represented by:
- IAF – International Accreditation Forum. The IAF is the world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies and other bodies interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programmes of conformity assessment. Its primary function is to develop a single worldwide program of conformity assessment which reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring them that accredited certificates may be relied upon. Accreditation assures users of the competence and impartiality of the body accredited.
- IIOC – Independent International Organisation for Certification – is a trade association of international certification bodies who deliver certification to a range of management system schemes.
- IQNet – International Certification Network– is a trade association of certification bodies from around the world who deliver certification to a range of management system schemes.
- ILAC – International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation. ILAC is responsible for: the development of laboratory and inspection body accreditation practices and procedures; the promotion of laboratory and inspection body accreditation as a trade facilitation tool; the assistance of developing accreditation systems; the recognition of competent test and inspection facilities around the globe.
- ISO – International Organization for Standards – is an independent, non-governmental membership organization and the world’s largest developer of voluntary International Standards.
- BIPM – The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) – an international organization established by the Metre Convention, through which Member States act together on matters related to measurement science and measurement standards.
- IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) – an international organization responsible for the preparation and publication of International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.
- ITC – International Trade Centre (ITC) – an international development agency that is dedicated to supporting the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is a joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations.
- ITU – International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – an international agency for telecom/ICT of the United Nations, whose members include 193 Member States as well as some 900 companies, universities, and international and regional organizations. It allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strive to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide.
- OIML – International Organizations of Legal Metrology (OIML) – an intergovernmental organisation to promote the global harmonization of the legal metrology procedures that underpin and facilitate international trade.
- UNECE – United Nations Economic Cooperation for Europe (UNECE) – one of the five regional commissions under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It was established in order to promote economic cooperation and integrations among its Member States.
- UNIDO – United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) – a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.
- World Bank Group (WBG) – an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of poorer countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects.
- WTO – World Trade Organization (WTO) – a global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments.
We are always seeking examples to post on this website. If you have a great case study or research paper, please submit it to here.
Slideshow Items
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Recent Case Study
Swedish Regulator rewards sites with BRCGS Certification
The Swedish Food Agency, Livsmedelsverket, is the competent authority responsible for the supervision and enforcement of food safety regulations. It works to ensure that food produced, sold and served in Sweden is safe and authentic. The Agency has introduced a new risk classification model for assessing how much public control a company in the food […]
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Recent Case Study
Digital accredited certification verification service builds confidence in global trade
Summary UKAS CertCheck digitally verifies the authenticity of United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited management systems certification. This free to use service enhances the supply chain management process and helps lower technical barriers to trade, both nationally and internationally. CertCheck offers those holding accredited certification a more convenient way to prove their credentials to a […]
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Recent Case Study
Water Efficient Product Labelling Scheme (WEPLS) by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN)
Summary The main purpose of the Water Efficient Product Labelling Scheme (WEPLS) is to encourage suppliers to develop and market water efficient products as part of water conservation measures, as well as to raise public awareness on the availability of water efficient products. Participation in WEPLS by the suppliers is on a voluntary basis at […]
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Recent Case Study
Energy efficiency programme by the Energy Commission (Suruhanjaya Tenaga)
Summary The Malaysian Electricity Regulations 1994 (Amendment 2013) enable the Energy Commission to regulate electrical appliances according to their energy performance. Such appliances must meet the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and the efficiency ratings as prescribed in the Regulations. Test data on included appliances must come from third-party laboratories accredited by the Department of […]
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Recent Case Study
The ENAC accreditation mark enables SGS Tecnos’ clients to export products to Australia
Summary Certification granted by an Entidad Nacional de Acreditación (ENAC)-accredited certification body has enabled a European manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters to export its products to Australia, since in accordance with mutual recognition agreements (MRAs/MLAs), a certificate issued by an ENAC-accredited organisation is considered valid in more than 100 countries around the world. Background A […]
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Recent Case Study
ENAC-accredited certification facilitates products’ exportation in the Middle East
Summary Certificates issued by Tecnalia Certificación and LGAI Technological Center (APPLUS), two certification bodies accredited by Entidad Nacional de Acreditación (ENAC), the Spanish accreditation body, allow their clients to access some Middle East markets. Specifically, the certificates cover two schemes developed to comply with the requirements of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar related to […]
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Recent Case Study
The CACES system: when accreditation helps to reduce the risk of accidents at work
Summary In France, the responsibility for assessing operators to use work equipment lies with the company manager, who can consult the results obtained by the employee in the certificat d’aptitude à la conduite en sécurité (CACES) test – a certificate of ability to drive safely – for the appropriate category of equipment. Only a testing […]
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Recent Case Study
Costa Rica: First steps of the Quality Infrastructure for the Circular Economy in the Plastic Industry
Summary Costa Rica has launched a project in accordance with the initiative Capacity Building in Technical and Scientific Organizations Using Regional Experiences and Knowledge (CABUREK) in Latin America and the Caribbean, for the Quality Infrastructure for Circular Economy (QI4CE) project promoted by Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) of Germany, which seeks the integration between the circular economy […]
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Recent Case Study
Accreditation supports organic production in Guatemala
Summary Through the Ministry of Agriculture, the Republic of Guatemala regulates the correct application of organic agriculture legislation, controls the certification bodies for certified organic operators and registers them, and provides third-party recognition that the Guatemalan organic exportable officer has met the required quality standards for each country and territory the products are marketed to. […]
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Recent Case Study
The establishment of an National Accreditation Body in Ghana to reduce the cost of internationally accredited laboratories in the country: Making laboratory accreditation more accessible in Ghana
Summary In order to make laboratory accreditation more accessible and less expensive, a National Accreditation Body is being established. This will allow more laboratories to access accreditation; it will also make available less expensive accreditation when full recognition from ILAC is achieved. The government is working together with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) […]