By virtue of Executive Order No. 802, PAB is the national accreditation body of the Philippines. It shall be the central body to accredit inspection, testing and certifying bodies and other bodies offering conformity assessment services needed by the country.
 |
|
Resource speakers from different government agencies share their insights during the Stakeholder’s Meeting on the Development of Sustainable Forest Management Standards at Katipunan, Quezon City, November 28, 2019. |
|
The Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Inc. (PCEPSDI) hosted the Stakeholder’s Meeting on the Development of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Standards on November 28, 2019 at the 2F Function Room, Earth Kitchen, Lot 10 B-10 Katipunan Ave. Ext., White Plains, Quezon City. Participants from the government sector, trade and industry sector, consumer sector, civil society organizations, academe and research attended the meeting to know the ongoing development on SFM standards, future targets and collaborations in the development of national forest certification scheme and SFM standards. Ms. Ma. Juanita P. Carpio, Division Chief of the Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB) – Management System Accreditation Division (MSAD) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) discussed the accreditation process for quality service and competent certification. A DTI colleague, Ms. Janeth T. Poloyapoy of Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), presented the topic on the Development, Approval, and Implementation of Standards. Prior to the Stakeholder’s Meeting, a short consultation was conducted on November 20, 2019 to provide updates on the status of TC-78 – Technical Committee on Forest & Forest products. The scope of TC-78 is the standardization of sustainable forest management and chain of custody of forest products. |
Responsibilities of Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) and Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB)
1. Obligation of the Conformity Assessment Body (CAB)
PAB requires the CAB to conform to the following:
- The CAB shall commit to fulfil continually the requirements for accreditation set by PAB for the areas where accreditation is granted including agreeing to adapt to changes in the requirements for accreditation.
- When requested, the CAB shall afford such accommodation and cooperation as is necessary to enable PAB to verify fulfilment of requirements for accreditation. This applies to all premises where the conformity assessment services take place.
- The CAB shall provide access to information documents and records as necessary for the assessment and maintenance of the accreditation.
- The CAB shall provide access to those documents that provides insight into the level of independence and impartiality of the CAB from its related bodies, where applicable
- The CAB shall arrange the witnessing of CAB services when requested by PAB..
- The CAB shall claim accreditation only with respect to the scope for which it has been granted accreditation.\
- The CAB shall not use its accreditation in such a manner as to bring PAB into disrepute.
- The CAB shall pay fees as shall be determined by PAB.
The CAB shall inform PAB of any significant changes relevant to its accreditation without delay in any aspects of its status or operation relating to:
- its legal, commercial, ownership or organizational status,
- the organization, top management and key personnel,
- main policies,
- resources and premises,
- scope of accreditation, and
- other matters that may affect the stability of the CAB to fulfil requirements for accreditation.
2. Obligation of the Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB)
PAB maintains and updates a website presenting the current status of the accreditation that it has granted to CABs. The information includes the following:
- name and address of the accredited CAB;
- dates of granting accreditation and expiry dates, as applicable;
- scopes of accreditation.
PAB provides the CAB with information about suitable ways to obtain traceability of measurement results in relation to the scope for which accreditation is provided.
PAB, where applicable, provides information about international arrangements in which it is involved.
PAB informs the CABs one (1) month after finalization of any changes to its requirements for accreditation (through e-mails, advisories, forums, meetings and website posting). It takes account of views expressed by interested parties before deciding on the effective date of the changes. PAB verifies that each accredited CAB carries out any necessary adjustments.
Reference to accreditation and use of symbols
PAB has established procedures for the use of its accreditation symbol by its accredited CABs. An accredited CAB is allowed to use this symbol on its reports or certificates issued within its scope of accreditation.
PAB takes effective measures to ensure that the accredited CAB:
- fully conforms to the requirements specified by PAB in the use of its accreditation symbol including CABs communication media such as their websites, documents, brochure and advertising,
- only uses the PAB symbols for premises of the CAB that are specifically included in the accreditation,
- does not make any statement regarding its accreditation that PAB may consider misleading or unauthorized,
- takes due care that no report or certificate nor any part thereof is used in a misleading manner,
- upon suspension or withdrawal of its accreditation, discontinues its use of all advertising matter that contains any reference to an accredited status; and
- does not allow the fact of its accreditation to be used to imply that a product, process, system or person is approved by PAB.
PAB takes suitable action such as request for corrective action, withdrawal of accreditation, publication of transgression and if necessary legal action, to deal with incorrect references to accreditation status, or misleading use of accreditation symbols found in advertisements, catalogues and other personal and commercial ads.
31 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
