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Recent Case Study
Accredited management system certification for gender equality
Summary
Italy has turned accredited certification for Gender Equality Management Systems into a practical lever for innovation, trust and sustainability and a concrete contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality). In 2022, Accredia, the Italian Accreditation Body, introduced a dedicated scheme based on UNI/PdR 125:2022, where organisations are verified and assessed against measurable key performance indicators (KPIs) (e.g., governance, human resources [HR] processes, pay equity, parental protection and work-life balance). Certification can be issued only by certification bodies accredited by Accredia for the ISO/IEC 17021-1 accreditation standard, ensuring competence, impartiality and consistency in audits.
Gender Equality Management Systems certification is requested from businesses on a voluntary basis and incentive mechanisms are planned for companies that successfully conclude the certification process. The certification can be requested from accredited conformity assessment bodies by companies of all sizes and sectors. The certification scheme is based on the practice UNI/PdR 125:2022 that was issued by UNI (Italian Standardisation Body) on 16 March 2022.
The UNI/PdR 125:2022 sets out guidelines for a gender equality management system, providing for the structuring and adoption of a set of KPIs inherent to gender equality policies within organisations. The practice provides for the measurements, reporting and evaluation of gender data in organisations with the aim of bridging existing gaps as well as incorporating the new gender equality paradigm into the DNA of organisations and producing sustainable and lasting change over time.
Background
Despite progress, gender equality in the workplace remains a structural challenge in Italy. Policymakers sought a mechanism that could move beyond declarations and translate commitments into measurable organisational change.
To support this, Italy promoted an accredited, KPI-based certification scheme for gender equality, based on accreditation, that is anchored in national legislation and institutional objectives. The Italian Gender Equality Certification System has been introduced by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP, part of the Next Generation EU) and subsequently regulated by specific national Law No. 162 of 5 November 2021 (the Gribaudo Law) and by Law No. 234 of 30 December 2021 (the 2022 Budget Law).
The key organisations and roles of this system are:
- Accredia (Italian National Accreditation Body): accredits certification bodies according to ISO/IEC 17021-1, verifying competence and impartiality, including auditor qualifications and sector-specific expertise.
- UNI (Italian Standardisation Body): published UNI/PdR 125:2022 and later partnered with Accredia to clarify application through guidance/FAQs, updated on a regular basis.
- Department for Equal Opportunities (Presidency of the Council of Ministers): owner of the broader public policy initiative and developer of the digital information system for collecting and analysing certification data.
- Unioncamere (National Union of Chambers of Commerce): involved in managing parts of the incentive mechanism linked to certification costs and technical assistance.
Strategy
Italy’s approach combined standardisation, accreditation, incentives, and digital monitoring to create a reliable ecosystem that organisations could trust and that public authorities could use for policy goals.
1) A measurable, management-system approach (Innovation)
Rather than focusing on isolated initiatives, UNI/PdR 125:2022 frames gender equality as a management system assessed through KPIs across six evaluation areas (including culture/strategy, governance, HR processes, career opportunities, pay equity, and parenting/work-life balance). This design encourages structured planning, implementation, measurement, and continuous improvement.
2) Accreditation as the mechanism of trust (Trust)
Accreditation ensures that certification bodies operate with verified competence and impartiality, including checks on auditors’ qualifications and relevant expertise. In early implementation, Accredia highlighted requirements such as knowledge of ISO 9001, UNI/PdR 125 and HR diversity/inclusion guidance (e.g., ISO 30415), and specific professional competence for audits. A distinctive element of the Italian scheme is that even certification bodies are expected to implement a Gender Equality Management System internally, reinforcing credibility and alignment with the scheme’s intent.
3) Policy alignment and incentives (Sustainability and scale)
To accelerate adoption—especially among organisations that might otherwise postpone investment—Italy linked the scheme to National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) measures and broader market advantages (e.g., eligibility mechanisms and recognition in procurement contexts, as described by Accredia). PNRR funding included €2.5 million for technical assistance and €5.5 million to cover certification costs.
4) Transparent monitoring through a national information system (Innovation + Trust)
Accredited bodies are required to upload data (including KPI values) for certified organisations into a Department for Equal Opportunities digital information system, enabling monitoring and statistical analysis by company size, geography, and sector—supporting accountability and evidence-based policy refinement.
5) Continuous improvement through shared guidance (Trust + Usability)
To reduce inconsistent interpretations and strengthen harmonised implementation, Accredia and UNI issued a joint guidance document (“UNI/PdR 125 FAQ – Indirizzi applicativi”) addressing common questions on requirements, monitoring, and performance evaluation.
Results and impact
Rapid adoption and market transformation: between 2022 and 2025, the accredited certification for UNI/PdR 125 scaled quickly from launch to widespread uptake.
- In July 2022, Accredia accredited the first three certification bodies for UNI/PdR 125, enabling the scheme to start operating at scale, and positioning accreditation as the “confidence layer” behind the policy tool.
- By December 2023, Italy recorded strong early growth, with 50 accredited certification bodies and initial certification figures reported by Accredia (including certified Italian and foreign sites).
- By December 2024, the system reached 54 accredited bodies and over 16,000 certified sites, consolidating gender equality certification among the most adopted management system certifications nationally.
- By September 2025 (last verified update), national figures cited 62 accredited bodies and 38,652 certified companies, exceeding the PNRR target of 800 companies by 2026—a strong indicator of demand and policy traction.
Trust and credibility for stakeholders:
Because certification is delivered only by accredited bodies, companies, regulators, and the market can rely on consistent, third-party verified evaluations. This is particularly important where certification unlocks incentives or affects procurement decisions: accreditation reduces the risk of “paper compliance” and strengthens confidence that KPI-based assessments reflect real organisational practices.
Innovation in governance and organisational practice:
The KPI framework pushes organisations to adopt modern governance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), linking strategy to measurable outcomes. The national information system adds an additional layer of innovation by enabling structured data collection and analysis, making gender equality progress more observable and comparable across sectors and regions.
Sustainability and long-term societal impact (SDG 5):
This initiative positions accredited certification as infrastructure for the social dimension of sustainability, supporting fairer workplaces and promoting women’s participation, progression, pay equity and work-life balance. Over time, the combination of management-system logic, periodic surveillance, and KPI tracking can help shift organisational culture from one-off initiatives to sustained improvement, contributing directly to SDG 5 while also strengthening resilience and productivity in the economy.
Contact
f.nizzero@accredia.it
https://accredia.it/en/comunicazione/notizie/gender-equality-the-first-certification-bodies-accredited-in-italy/
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Recent Case Study
Accreditation supporting the rubber industry in Thailand
Summary
The Bureau of Laboratory Accreditation, Department of Science Service (BLA-DSS) is an accreditation body of Thailand. It aims to provide accreditation services supporting industrial sectors across Thailand, such as the rubber industry. Thailand block rubber exports are a fast-growing industry, generating over USD 3 billion in 2025.
Accreditation of rubber testing laboratories in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 simplifies trade at the national and international levels by providing objective evidence of technical competence. It builds trust and acceptance in international marketplaces such as China, Japan and the USA, and improves the quality of rubber products by supporting reliable testing and quality control.
Background
The “20-Year (2017-2036) Rubber Strategy” supports Thailand’s natural rubber and rubber products focusing on five dimensions: rubber sustainability, rubber price stabilisation, downstream industry development, rubber smallholder income security and rubber area reduction and efficiency increase. The strategy has aligned with the BLA-DSS’s strategy as an accreditation body for providing accreditation services for natural rubbers and rubber products. The Department of Science Service (DSS) has collaborated with the Department of Agriculture, the national regulatory body, to improve the performance of rubber laboratories from manufacturing processes to product quality control, supporting national and international trade.
Industrial rubbers are crucial for manufacturing due to their flexibility, durability, chemical resistance, and extreme temperature resistance. The rubbers are widely used in various industries, from seals and gaskets to industrial machinery parts. Industrial rubbers are important to manufacturing for key reasons, including:
- Flexibility and resilience: the flexibility of rubber allows it to stretch and return to its original shape, making it ideal for components such as seals, gaskets and hoses that must maintain a tight fit under fluctuating pressure and temperature.
- Durability: the rubber is resistant to wear and tear, making it a long-lasting material. In manufacturing, components that must withstand repeated movement or contact, such as belts, seals, and O-rings, often rely on the durability of rubber.
- Chemical and oil resistance: some rubbers, such as nitrile rubber, are resistant to oils, fuels, and chemicals. This property makes them ideal for use in the automotive and aerospace industries.
- Temperature resistance: some rubber compounds, such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and silicone rubber, can withstand high temperatures, making them ideal for applications such as engine seals, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and other high-heat environments.
For these reasons, ensuring the quality of testing related to industrial rubbers is essential to enable rapid and accurate process control, improve manufacturing efficiency, and meet rubber products’ quality requirements and performance standards. This is particularly essential regarding the widespread use of rubber components across various industries, ranging from automotive to medical applications.
Strategy
Expanding the scope of testing accreditation to support trade and investment in rubber products.
BLA-DSS has accredited 30 block rubber laboratories in Thailand. The benefits of accreditation from BLA-DSS include the formal recognition of a laboratory’s competence through technical activities in testing and product quality control, which results in increased confidence among consumers/users and global acceptance.
Results and impact
Potential benefits of a rubber laboratory obtaining ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation from BLA-DSS include:
- Rubber and product testing laboratories can confirm their capability to conduct testing in accordance with international standards, as well as rubber and product laboratory standards of the Rubber Division, Department of Agriculture, or other related standards.
- The evaluation results can be used to investigate potential problems arising from measurements or tests within the laboratory and to improve and correct deficiencies, including consideration of preventive actions and risk management.
- Rubber and product testing laboratories may use the results of laboratory proficiency testing participation to verify the effectiveness of a new measurement or test method.
These results increase confidence and trust, facilitating trade with economies such as China, Japan and the USA. In Thailand, regulators and the government are increasingly reliant on the results from accredited laboratories to meet requirements for the quality of natural rubbers and rubber products.
BLA-DSS is committed to providing accreditation services, aiming to enhance the industry’s export performance by reducing costs associated with re-testing by other regulatory bodies, minimising time losses, and increasing exports in both national and international markets. Thailand’s block rubber exports generated over USD 3 billion in 2025.
Contact
Mrs. Chantarat Vorasapavit – Director of BLA-DSS
Email: chantarat@dss.go.th
Tel: +66 2 201 7027, +66 2 201 7024, +6608 9123 3321 -
Recent Case Study
Together with EMA to mitigate climate change
Summary
This case study describes how Entidad Mexicana de Acreditación (ema) promotes sustainability goals through the “Together with ema to Mitigate Climate Change” program, which brings together business chambers and conformity assessment bodies. It also highlights the collaboration with the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), Mexico’s environmental enforcement authority responsible for ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations, in the organization of national standards and accreditation conferences aimed at promoting certification, inspection, and testing related to environmental standards.
Together, these actions contribute to strengthening quality, technical confidence, and the active participation of the productive sector, supporting a more sustainable and environmentally responsible Mexico.
Background
On September 25, 2015, world leaders at the United Nations adopted a set of 17 global goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda.
Each goal includes specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years. The Sustainable Development Goals that support climate change mitigation and environmental protection are:
13 – Climate Action
6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
14 – Life Below Water
15 – Life on LandIn the field of standards, in September 2021, following the General Assembly of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the London Declaration was approved, establishing the commitment to align with the Global Climate Agenda for 2050. This action generated new requirements in all of ISO’s management system standards.
Strategy
To contribute to these initiatives and to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13: “Climate Action,” ema launched the program “Together with ema to Mitigate Climate Change,” aimed at expanding the participation of accredited conformity assessment bodies in standards that directly support environmental protection.
Results and impact
To support their participation, ema granted discounts for the expansion or extension of environmental standards. Currently, there are more than 30 standards that contribute to climate change mitigation, and with the participation of associations, industrial chambers, and business leaders, ema seeks to raise awareness and emphasize the consequences of climate change and the risks it poses to all life on the planet, hand in hand with key economic actors in our country.
ema has worked closely with confederations, business chambers, and associations, as well as through a strong communication campaign with webinars and events involving authorities and other stakeholders, to promote certification, testing, and inspection of environmental standards in order to continue encouraging participation and amplifying results.
At ema, we promote technical quality and confidence that strengthen the Sustainable Development Goals, contributing to a cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally responsible future.
Each accreditation is a step toward a greener Mexico and a more conscious world. Together, we will make a difference.
Contact
martha.mejia@ema.org.mx
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Recent Case Study
Accreditation empowers urban green energy initiatives
Summary
China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) accreditation validated the charging pile testing capabilities of a Guangdong-based enterprise, offering technical support for ensuring efficient compatibility between urban charging infrastructure and renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind) as well as safe equipment operation. As of 2025, Guangzhou’s annual electric vehicle (EV) charging volume had surpassed 1.5 billion kWh, with over 50% of charging stations adopting a “green power, green infrastructure” model.
Background
To promote the specialised, refined, distinctive, and innovative development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are also known as “Specialized and New” enterprises, since early 2024, the Chinese government has been encouraging SMEs to obtain quality management system certification accredited by CNAS as an important measure to strengthen quality management and enhance production management capabilities.
Strategy
CNAS has provided accreditation services for the charging pile testing capabilities of a body in Guangdong. This plays a robust technical supporting role in ensuring efficient compatibility between urban charging piles and renewable energy, safeguarding equipment safety, and empowering urban green and energy-efficient development. As of 2025, annual electric vehicle charging volume in a certain city in Guangdong Province exceeded 1.5 billion kWh, with over 50% of charging stations operating in the “green power, green charging piles” mode. The body first obtained CNAS accreditation in 2000. Through charging pile protocol conformance testing, it ensures efficient compatibility between charging piles and renewable energy while verifying their synergy capabilities with smart grids and energy storage equipment. As of 2025, more than 10 charging station operators in a certain city in Guangdong possessed integrated energy management software. This enables deep coordination between charging piles, energy storage devices and smart meters, supports load regulation and microgrid construction, and enhances renewable energy absorption capacity. Additionally, the body’s charging pile conversion efficiency testing ensures that Direct Current (DC) charging piles operate at over 95% efficiency, reducing energy waste and lowering operational costs for enterprises.
The body actively develops inspection capabilities for electric vehicle charging stations, collaborating with the Guangzhou Industrial and Information Technology Committee for acceptance and safety inspections. It conducts inspections on power supply facilities, charging pile equipment, and monitoring systems at operational charging stations in Guangzhou, identifying and rectifying potential safety hazards (e.g., electric shocks, short circuits, fires) in a timely manner.
According to reports, the body’s supercharging pile standards focus on high-power charging piles, emphasising breakthroughs in device adaptability and intelligent technologies. These standards provide systematic charging solutions and metrological verification plans for the electrification of construction machinery, driving supply chain technology integration, upstream-downstream collaboration, and resource allocation toward green industries.
Results and impact
The body first obtained CNAS accreditation in 2000. Through charging pile protocol conformance testing, it ensures efficient compatibility between charging piles and renewable energy while verifying their synergy capabilities with smart grids and energy storage equipment. As of 2025, Guangzhou’s annual EV charging volume had surpassed 1.5 billion kWh, with over 50% of charging stations adopting a “green power, green infrastructure” model.
Additionally, the body’s charging pile conversion efficiency testing ensures that DC charging piles operate at over 95% efficiency, reducing energy waste and lowering operational costs for enterprises.
Contact
Organisation: Compiled by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS)
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Recent Case Study
Accreditation empowers the “Top Runner” PV Program
Summary
A Jiangsu-based enterprise obtained China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) accreditation for its testing capabilities in high/low temperature and vibration, providing reliability assurance for the research and development (R&D) of its new-generation photovoltaic (PV)-storage products. This has contributed to cumulative carbon emission reductions exceeding 500,000 tons in projects such as the Zhangjiakou Olympic Wind-Solar City.
Background
To promote the specialised, refined, distinctive, and innovative development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are also known as “Specialized and New” enterprises, since early 2024, the Chinese government has been encouraging SMEs to obtain quality management system certification accredited by CNAS as an important measure to strengthen quality management and enhance production management capabilities.
Strategy
A company in Jiangsu is a national high-tech enterprise. It has been recognised by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as a “Specialized, Refined, Distinctive, and Innovative ‘Little Giant’” enterprise. For consecutive years, it has been listed as a Bloomberg Tier 1 Global Photovoltaic (PV) Inverter Manufacturer and has received multiple national honours, including National Intelligent PV Pilot Demonstration Enterprise, National Green Factory, and National Green Supply Chain Management Enterprise. In 2024, the company’s in-house laboratory achieved accreditation from CNAS, and became an internationally recognised testing laboratory. This demonstrates that its management system and technical capabilities comply with the ISO/IEC 17025 international standard, marking its environmental reliability testing technology as having reached an advanced international level.
In green development initiatives, technology empowers the “dual carbon” goals. The CNAS-accredited testing capabilities (e.g., high/low temperature, vibration) provide reliability assurance for R&D of next-generation PV-integrated storage products, contributing to a cumulative reduction of over 500,000 tons in carbon emissions (based on data from projects like the Zhangjiakou Olympic Wind-Solar City). As a founding participant in the national “Photovoltaic Leader” program, the company has contributed to 4 national standards (GB), 1 local standard (DB), 6 industry standards, and 13 association standards.
Regarding trade facilitation, CNAS accreditation has enabled market expansion: overseas orders rose from 14% to 16% of total sales, while international project testing costs were reduced by 10%.
Through obtaining CNAS accreditation, the laboratory aligned its energy storage technologies with international standards, gaining recognition for energy storage system testing capabilities from TÜV Rheinland (Germany) and UL (USA). In 2024, the company’s global shipments of Power Conversion Systems (PCS) reached 88,000 MW, ranking second in global market share, with deployments in over 20 large-scale energy storage projects across the Middle East, Europe, and other regions.
Innovation drives dual improvements in quality and efficiency, enabling closed-loop R&D management. CNAS accreditation facilitated the establishment of a “Testing-R&D-Production” integrated system in the laboratory, supporting 163 patent applications (45% invention patents). Core technologies were awarded the First-Class Prize of the Jiangsu Provincial Science and Technology Award (Total valid patents: 239, including 32 invention patents).
Moving forward, the company will continue to deepen its alignment with international standards to provide high-quality technical support for the global green energy transition.
Results and impact
This has contributed to cumulative carbon emission reductions exceeding 500,000 tons in projects such as the Zhangjiakou Olympic Wind-Solar City.
CNAS accreditation has enabled market expansion: overseas orders rose from 14% to 16% of total sales, while international project testing costs were reduced by 10%. The company’s global shipments of Power Conversion Systems (PCS) reached 88,000 MW, ranking second in global market share, with deployments in over 20 large-scale energy storage projects across the Middle East, Europe, and other regions.
Contact
Organisation: Compiled by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS)
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Recent Case Study
Accreditation enhances third-party testing efficiency
Summary
By fully implementing China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) laboratory management systems, a Sichuan-based enterprise achieved standardised operations. Product retesting rates dropped from 8.4% to 3.2%, reagent utilisation rose from 55% to 73%, and annual testing volume grew by 38% over three years.
Background
To promote the specialised, refined, distinctive, and innovative development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are also known as “Specialized and New” enterprises, since early 2024, the Chinese government has been encouraging SMEs to obtain quality management system certification accredited by CNAS as an important measure to strengthen quality management and enhance production management capabilities.
Strategy
A testing institution in Sichuan, established in 2018, is a National High-Tech Enterprise and technology-based SME specialising in third-party animal disease testing. It operates seven branch laboratories in Chengdu, Chongqing, Yunnan, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Shandong, and three alliance laboratories in Beijing, Guangdong, and Guangxi. Since 2021, the institution has progressively obtained CNAS accreditation, fully implementing the CNAS quality management system to achieve standardised, professional, and formalised operational management.
Accreditation enhances quality and efficiency
Throughout four years of operating the high-quality CNAS management system, the institution has achieved a continuous increase in testing accuracy and compliance rates, with customer satisfaction reaching 99.6% by 2024. The retesting rate decreased from 8.4% pre-accreditation to 3.2%, while the reagent and consumable utilisation rate rose from 55% to 73% in 2024. Service quality has earned high recognition from stakeholders. Testing volume grew steadily to 1.65 million, 2.21 million, and 2.96 million samples in 2022-2024, with an average annual growth of 38%. In 2024, five laboratories were designated as national animal disease surveillance sites among the Ministry of Agriculture’s 41 monitoring points, actively supporting major epidemic monitoring.
Accreditation drives technological innovation
Motivated by CNAS accreditation, the institution has developed multiple testing kits and patented technologies to meet growing demand. Over four years, it obtained one design patent, four invention patents, 52 utility model patents, and 47 software copyrights (soft copyrights). By applying, promoting, and continuously sharing CNAS experience with alliance and partner laboratories through validation, proficiency testing, and training, it advances industry progress. This contributes significantly to ensuring food safety, safeguarding public health, and preventing zoonotic diseases.
Results and impact
Product retesting rates dropped from 8.4% to 3.2%, reagent utilisation rose from 55% to 73%, and annual testing volume grew by 38% over three years.
Contact
Organisation: Compiled by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS)
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Recent Case Study
Accreditation empowers the development of “zero-carbon villages”
Summary
In support of green development, a Beijing-based enterprise has innovatively established and implemented a zero-carbon certification and evaluation system, building upon the technical foundation of accredited greenhouse gas (GHG) validation and verification mechanisms. This initiative has contributed to the creation of Hainan Province’s first “zero-carbon village” in Maona Village, Shuiman Township, Wuzhishan City, Hainan Province.
Background
To promote the specialised, refined, distinctive, and innovative development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are also known as “Specialized and New” enterprises, since early 2024, the Chinese government has been encouraging SMEs to obtain quality management system certification accredited by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) as an important measure to strengthen quality management and enhance production management capabilities.
Strategy
Leveraging the technical foundation of the GHG validation and verification system accredited by CNAS, a body in Beijing has pioneered integrated innovation in digital-intelligence and zero-carbon (near-zero-carbon) certification technologies. It established a zero-carbon certification system to assist Mao Na Village in becoming Hainan Province’s first and China’s second “Zero-Carbon Village”.
This body is a national high-tech enterprise and a “Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative” SME in Beijing. It operates as a global, group-based professional technical service provider integrating certification, inspection, testing, training, research, policy studies, standard formulation, and international cooperation.
It is the first certification body accredited by CNAS under the new ISO/IEC 17029/ISO 14065 GHG validation/verification rules and is authorised by CNAS to use the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) mark. As of August 2025, it had trained 311 registered GHG managers, undertaken 19 GHG-related research projects, led or participated in formulating 44 relevant standards, and completed over 4,000 GHG validation/verification projects. It has engaged deeply in national/provincial (municipal) carbon market policy research and implementation.
To support the development of China’s national carbon market system, the body leveraged its expertise in GHG validation/verification accreditation and practical experience to collaborate with relevant entities in submitting the “Proposal on Strengthening Carbon Market Construction through Conformity Assessment Techniques” to the ecological authority. It participated in CNAS research on carbon footprint accreditation systems and conducted comparative studies on domestic and international carbon footprint factor databases, aiding the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences in launching the National Carbon Footprint Factor Database. Additionally, the body contributed to drafting the “Greenhouse Gas Voluntary Emission Reduction Project Methodology for Energy Savings in Highway Tunnel Lighting Systems (CCER-07-001-V01)” CCER methodology, actively supporting national carbon market development and carbon data quality control.
To facilitate green and low-carbon transformation for enterprises, the body led the development of group standards such as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling and Treatment for project-level emission reduction accounting. It organised pilot programs for emission reduction accounting with 12 enterprises.
Results and impact
This initiative has contributed to the creation of Hainan Province’s first “zero-carbon village” in Maona Village.
Contact
Organisation: Compiled by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS)
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Recent Case Study
Accreditation: Building confidence in building inspection
Summary
United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accreditation of a new building inspector competency scheme has helped building inspectors, many of whom are small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), meet updated legal requirements and forms an important part of continuous professional development. In addition to raising standards of technical competence throughout the industry, the accredited scheme aims to play an important role in increasing confidence in the industry’s potential to deliver safer buildings.
Background
Part of the UK government’s ongoing building safety reforms include a requirement for building control professionals to register with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) under a newly created Building Inspector Competency Framework (BICoF).
The Building Safety Act 2022 makes BICoF registration mandatory for all classes of building inspector, working in both the public and private sectors, in all types of buildings across England. Successfully completing the Building Safety Competency Foundation’s (BSCF’s) Building Control Inspector (BCI) competence certification scheme is one of the three prescribed BICoF registration routes.
BSCF’s BCI is the first and, to date, the only building inspector competency scheme that is UKAS accredited, having been assessed against the internationally recognised ISO/IEC 17024 standard (Conformity assessment: General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons).
Strategy
Building control professionals need to be able to demonstrate that they are continuously developing their skills in line with the needs of clients, and that any learning is being applied to projects. The BCI certification scheme rigorously evaluates the competence of building control professionals across all inspecting roles and specialisms. In addition to helping building inspectors meet mandatory BSR registration requirements, the BCI certification scheme aims to raise standards of technical competence throughout the industry.
Whilst the BICoF does not provide an exhaustive list of competency criteria, assessments under the BCI certification scheme include a review of the relevant qualifications, knowledge and experience academic/technical qualifications, as appropriate to each inspector’s role. Continuous professional development is another important aspect, as building inspectors must be reassessed every four years in order to maintain their BICoF registration.
Results and impact
Within the first six weeks of being granted UKAS accreditation, BSCF confirmed the competency validation of the 1,000th candidate.
UKAS accreditation provides a valuable additional layer of independent scrutiny and assurance to the process, further enhancing the BCI competency certification scheme’s reputation and its potential to restore faith in the industry’s ability to deliver safer buildings.
UKAS accreditation has long been recognised as demonstrable proof of competence, proving assurance across a wide variety of industry sectors. UKAS was able to utilise this extensive experience to respond at pace and develop accreditation of the BIC competency certification scheme, reflecting the important role accreditation continues to play in underpinning confidence throughout the built environment.
Contact
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Recent Case Study
Accreditation: Assuring security, ethics and human rights
Summary
MSS Global, a UK small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) established in 2011, is a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)-accredited certification body that specialises in providing assurance that private security companies (PSCs) and their supply chains have responsible and ethical management systems and apply those systems in practice.
In a world where societal expectations around ethical practices and human rights are ever-increasing, the role of accredited certification bodies cannot be understated in helping companies manage their own reputational risk. Through UKAS accreditation, MSS Global ensures that companies adhere to internationally recognised standards, providing assurance of ethical governance and operational confidence. In turn, this promotes ethical practices and protects human rights, including in complex, fragile and challenging environments.
Background
In an ever-changing and complex world, the need for impartial assurance that companies are acting ethically has become paramount. MSS Global, an internationally recognised certification body, provides rigorous impartial assurance to the clients of their clients and broader stakeholders that PSCs and supply chains have ethical governance arrangements in place that are followed on the ground. This includes those operating in some of the most challenging environments around the world. With a focus on human rights due diligence and responsible provision of services, and certification to standards such as ISO 18788, ANSI/ASIS PSC-1, and ICoCA certified membership, MSS Global has positioned itself as an international leader in the ethical assurance industry.
Operating in high-risk environments, especially countries with instability due to conflict or humanitarian disasters, PSCs are often the ‘enablers’ to post-conflict recovery and humanitarian relief. Commercial organisations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and governments alike need the security provided by PSCs to be able to operate safely in such challenging environments. The PSC also often presents the public face of the organisation it is working for as it is the PSC that routinely interacts with – and often employs – the local community.
The need for security in high-risk environments came to the fore after the 2003 Iraq war, and has increased significantly since then due to the number of countries where the regional and international communities seek to encourage stability and effective governance. The rapid growth in the PSC industry in response to commercial need was not, however, initially matched by regulatory oversight. This resulted in tragic incidents, negatively impacting the reputation of both the PSCs and their clients (governments and commercial). Recognising the need to address these issues, multi-stakeholder initiatives have been established to develop responsible business, human rights-based standards and support voluntary regulation of the private security sector and its supply chain.
Strategy
ISO 18788 is a Security Operations Management System standard that provides an internationally established framework for the responsible management of security operations within a context that respects human rights, including in complex and high-risk environments. It ‘internationalises’ many of the requirements first laid out in the ANSI/ASIS PSC-1 (a US government sponsored standard).
MSS Global, as an accredited certification body, certifies PSCs and their clients to ISO 18788 and PSC-1, ensuring that respect for human rights is enshrined within their business practices. The certification draws from international guidelines, such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Montreux Document on Private Military and Security Companies, and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers. The standard requires that the PSC also apply many of the requirements to its own supply chain – they cannot abdicate responsibility by ‘out-sourcing’.
In addition to ISO 18788, MSS Global also certifies logistics and manufacturing companies to ISO 28000 for supply chain security management. This can be supplemented with the guidance standard, ISO 28007-1, for companies providing armed security personnel on board commercial shipping (Private Maritime Security Companies). ISO 28007-1, like ISO 18788, encapsulates human rights risk management expectations.
UKAS ran two pilots in 2011-2013, one maritime and one land-based, to develop and refine the accreditation process for ISO 18788/PSC-1, and ISO 28000/28007-1. MSS Global is the only certification body accredited to support both of these diverse and challenging sectors.
Results and impact
The accreditation and certification process involves rigorous audits conducted by security and human rights technical experts or auditors with specific competence in human rights. It requires auditors with intellectual agility and an understanding of the challenging situations and dilemmas that PSCs and their clients can face – be that in high threat countries, emerging economies, or more benign environments. This comprehensive approach ensures that those certified comply with internationally recognised best practices and uphold human rights standards.
Despite its flexibility of application, demonstrating conformance to ISO 18788 provides significant challenges, not least that of developing and embedding the systems, processes and cultural norms on the ground. Policies must be demonstrably implemented to manage the risks of working in complex environments, understanding the potential human rights impacts of PSC activities, and dealing quickly with the problems that arise when things fall outside of this system, in spite of its robustness.
Demonstrable implementation means that the ongoing external audits against the requirement of the ISO standard take place not just at the company’s head office, but also across the project locations where services are physically provided to PSC clients. The rigour of audit verifies the degree of embedded behavioural norms right out to the locations where potentially impacted communities, and those providing the guarding services (normally low paid local workers), are at a greater risk of human rights abuse.
Accredited certification to ISO 18788 and PSC-1 provides numerous benefits for both PSCs and their clients. For PSCs, accredited certification demonstrates their commitment to ethical governance practices, security risk management, and the respect for human rights. It enhances their reputation and credibility, allowing them to stand out in a competitive market. Clients of certified PSCs gain confidence in the operational practices and reputational assurance of the security services they receive.
UKAS accreditation further validates MSS Global’s competence and impartiality as a certification body. UKAS accreditation includes assessors accompanying the CB into some of these most demanding environments to conduct witnessed assessments. This commitment to assurance helps ensure that MSS Global continues to exemplify the highest standards of assessment and certification, providing confidence to PSCs and their clients.
To support its customers in understanding and implementing internationally recognised best practices, MSS Global has developed a range of tools and resources. These include human rights due diligence and anti-bribery toolkits that help ensure the management of security services adds value and addresses potential risks for both the PSCs and their clients.
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Recent Case Study
Effects of Product Certification on Importer Trade across Borders: The Case Study of the Philippines
Summary
Product certification has been important, especially in developing countries to protect their consumers by providing quality and safe products and to protect the country from an import surge of products that may cause serious injury to local producers (Esteban, 2020).
The study showed that time and cost during importation of electrical and electronics products have an effect on importations and number of firms or importers. However, the number of documents for import compliance does not show a significant correlation to the importations nor firms.
The study also showed that a flexible technical regulation for importers could be beneficial because of the varied effects on imported electrical products and their importers, due to the dynamic characteristics of different industries, and complexity of the certification system.
This study is limited to the effects of certification on importers by analysing around 44,081 data entries of the import commodity clearance (ICC) applications in the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), which are then reduced to 3,598 data entries of firms (one data entry is one firm per year) over a period of almost ten years (2009 to 2018). An estimated 497 individual firms importing within the period were analysed, and the results of this study on the correlation of number of firms per year and selected trade across borders (TAB) factors will add to the pool of studies.Background
In this research (Esteban, 2020), product certification is vital in ensuring the quality and safety of a product, which is recognised by most countries during trade (Fentisov 2007). Researchers have identified a wide range of benefits of certification such as enhanced production efficiency, product quality and reliability, minimised wastage, innovative efficiency, innovation diffusion, reduction of imperfect information, enhanced safety and health, increased market share, increased export, and enhanced global competitiveness of a country and decreased environmental impact (Blind et al. 2015; Guasch et al. 2007; Jang et al. 2014; Latouche and Chevassus-Lozza 2015; McLaughlin 1993; Stevens et. al. 1998; Sun and Ouyang 2014; and Ding 2019). The effects of certification have varying degrees of complexity.
Regardless of the benefits of certification, some studies have shown the constraints brought about by certification affecting innovation, competition and slowing down of creating standards due to the rapid development of technology (Guasch et al. 2007; Loll 1994; and McLaughlin 1993). It can be concurred that sometimes the variations in technical regulations and standards among countries may create technical barriers to trade. There are about 130 countries preparing different national standards which have spawned challenges in international trade (UNIDO n.d.). The varied and complex regulations causing technical trade barriers might lead to market failure or trade disputes among nations (World Trade Organization [WTO] 2019a).
In the past few decades, the manufacturers’ share in the global market has been increasing along with the growth of global trade (Guasch et al. 2007) which makes product quality and safety a critical determinant of success in the import or export of products in other countries. The competitiveness of a product entering a new country can be enhanced through certification. However, in some markets, below quality products are competing at a lower price where consumer safety is being compromised. In a developing country, which is vulnerable to entry of goods below quality standards, regular enforcement activity is very important. In the Philippines, for example, a volume of uncertified products has been confiscated in the market.
The deliberate presence of the uncertified products in the market may indicate weak regulatory practices in the trade borders of the country wherein many factors have to be taken into consideration. In most cases, it is necessary that the quality of the product is evaluated to avoid intrusion of substandard products in the market, which could pose risks to health and safety. Aside from trade and consumer protection, technical regulations safeguard the domestic industry from import surges in developing countries, where competitors may take advantage of less aware consumers and cause serious injury to the domestic industry.
The free trade of quality goods can be assured through the standardisation system and harmonisation of trade laws and technical regulations. The importance of harmonisation of regulations among countries has been evident in some studies (Christen 1991). In the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), harmonisation of technical regulations is one of the many contributors to the economic integration of ASEAN.
The study focuses on the importation of electrical and electronics products, under HS code 84 and 85, requiring product certification, relative to the growing imports of this commodity in ASEAN. Its contribution to the limited literature is linked to product certification, ASEAN, and the electrical and electronic products manufacturing industry.
The Philippines campaign against uncertified products. “DTI Cracks Down 3M Worth of Uncertified Products in CAR” and “DTI Cracks Down 17M Worth of Uncertified Products in NCR and Luzon.” DTI published reports on online media (www.bps.dti.gov.ph) on May 8, 2019 and Oct 1, 2019 respectively (DTI 2019) regarding the intensive efforts to eradicate the presence of uncertified products in the market.
The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) was established in 2015 and considered as one of the milestones of ASEAN in the regional economic integration agenda. The AEC Blueprint 2025 aims to achieve its ASEAN Community Vision 2025 through strategic measures which can be referred to on www.asean.org (ASEAN 2019).
Previous studies support that for developing countries, where there are protectionist regulations involving product certification, it is not easy to do business with an easy application system in terms of time, cost and number of document requirements (Berliner and Prakash 2014; Rodriguez-Arnaldo and Martinez-Lorente 2014; World Bank 2019).
Strategy
The research analysed the effects of product certification on the performance of importers of electrical and electronics products of group E (HS codes 84 and 85) in the Philippines, and related it to trade across borders, using the Ease of Doing Business Index (EODB) of the World Bank (Esteban, 2020).
The primary and secondary data of importations sourced from the Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Statistics Authority, World Bank, and ASEAN are analysed. Using time series, correlation and regression analyses, the significance and relationship of importing firms who went through product certification have been examined. The relationship of related factors of the trading across borders of EODB to the percentage share of the import commodity clearance (ICC), and the percentage share of importers (with the ICC) are the focus of the study.
About 44,081 data entries of the import commodity clearance (ICC) applications of 497 group E firms applying for Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) in the Philippines for the period 2009 to 2018 have been evaluated and analysed using a mixed approach.
The secondary data was further analysed due to a limited response from the primary data source.Results and impact
This paper (Esteban, 2020) has explored the varied effects of product certification on the performance of the electrical and electronics products. Also (group E) importers in the Philippines show varied results with relation to time, cost and number of documents to import in the trade across borders of the Ease of Doing Business Index (EODB) of the World Bank. The primary and secondary data of importations sourced from the Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Statistics Authority, World Bank, and ASEAN were schematically linked to support the aim of this paper.
This study was able to provide evidence that for group E products applying for import commodity clearance, the cost of importation positively affects the percentage of imported products (Ni ) and the percentage of firms (Nf ) or importers in the short term period (6 years), while insignificant in the longer term. Also affecting the percent Nf is the time to import as can be seen in the 10-year period. However, as the TAB score is reduced, the percent Ni is increased. But the number of documents for compliance to import does not show significance to importers. Other observations were found insignificant.
Previous studies have shown that for developing countries, where there are protectionist regulations involving product certification, it is not easy to do business with an easy application system in terms of time, cost and number of document requirements (Berliner and Prakash 2014; Rodriguez-Arnaldo and Martinez-Lorente 2014; World Bank 2019). A flexible technical regulation for importers could be beneficial due to varied effects to products and imports.
This research led to multiple recommendations, consolidated to further conduct or expand studies on the following:
- The effects of increases in number of certification bodies versus the import or export performance and compared with other developing countries;
- The impact of the promotion of product certification on business performance;
- Although automotive and construction products follow some similar trend in imports with ICC, further study is recommended for the effects of certification relative to importers from different
product groups using EODB variables; - The effects of having a system and product audit (type 5) certification versus batch certification (type 1b) and comparison among developing countries if having other certification system types;
- A comparative analysis of the product certification and development of standards in each country, wherein the national quality infrastructure of each country could differ and can affect
product certification; and - Other underlying factors such as technological advancement in electrical and electronics products and other products requiring product certification in a developing country. It can also be considered that the level of technical training in the system of certification can have an impact on the quality of service the certification bodies provide. These factors can possibly affect certification.
If such increasing trends in trade are observed, the readiness of the national quality infrastructure in catering the need for certification during import or export is important. As certification is not a vocational course available and known to many, rather it could imply that it is a career promoting voluntary skill which requires more experience than knowledge.
The human resources required should also be given importance, and these resources could be considered as vulnerable to volatile competition. The technical workforce in the country could be at risk of brain drain of the country in the future. The product certification industry could also promote employment and open business opportunities. The continuous development of the system through the advancement of technology could also take time for importers to absorb the complexity of the certification system.
However, having a variety of options for importers seeking certification has shown promising observations that certification can promote indirect incentives to importers. For them, it is essential that they are kept updated and well informed of the changes in certification system.
This study has shown its contribution to literature by analysing the effects of certification to importers performance using some of the trading across borders variables of the Ease of Doing
Business Index.Contact
Michelle P. Esteban
Philippine Accreditation Bureau
Department of Trade and Industry
pab@dti.gov.phOriginal thesis is published by Kyung Hee University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Industry and Trade Policy of the author.
Journal citations also available:
https://www.kci.go.kr/kciportal/ci/sereArticleSearch/ciSereArtiView.kci?sereArticleSearchBean.artiId=ART002704183