The DTI-Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB) formally received the certificate of International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC-MRA) after achieving signatory status for its accreditation schemes for medical testing and inspection. The result of the peer evaluation extending the MRA for these schemes was announced on 29 October 2019 when DTI-PAB attended the 2019 International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Joint Annual Meetings in Frankfurt, Germany.
This welcome outcome, adds DTI-PAB’s schemes on the ISO 15189 medical testing laboratory accreditation and ISO/IEC 17020 inspection body accreditation to its roster of internationally recognized schemes. This recognition ensures that the results of these laboratories and inspection bodies are accepted worldwide.
As the national accreditation body of the Philippines, DTI-PAB accredits inspection bodies, testing and calibration laboratories, medical laboratories, certification bodies and other bodies offering conformity assessment services. DTI-PAB also conducts continuous awareness programs to promote accreditation services and ensure that changes or updates are properly communicated among its stakeholders.
ILAC is the international organization for accreditation bodies operating in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011 and involved in the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies including calibration laboratories (using ISO/IEC 17025), testing laboratories (using ISO/IEC 17025), medical testing laboratories (using ISO 15189), inspection bodies (using ISO/IEC 17020) and proficiency testing providers using ISO/IEC 17043.
DTI-PAB is a signatory member of ILAC-MRA, IAF-Multilateral Agreement (MLA) and Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) MRA for its accreditation schemes on management systems certification since 2002, testing and calibration since 2005, environmental management systems certification since 2007, food safety management systems, medical testing and inspection in 2019.
The ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC MRA) provides significant technical underpinning to the calibration, testing, medical testing and inspection results and provision of proficiency testing programs of the accredited conformity assessment bodies that in turn delivers confidence in the acceptance of results by removing the need for additional calibration, testing, medical testing and/or inspection of imports and exports that serves as technical barriers to trade. The ILAC MRA enhances the acceptance of products across national borders. In this way the ILAC MRA promotes international trade and the free-trade goal of “accredited once, accepted everywhere” can be realized.
In addition, the ILAC MRA supports the provision of local or national services as embodied in regulations such providing safe food and clean drinking water, providing energy, delivering health and social care or maintaining an unpolluted environment.
For more information on accreditation and PAB services, please contact +632 8 895-3995 or 0917-802-0047 or e-mail at pab@dti.gov.ph. You may also visit PAB’s website at www.dti.gov.ph/pab.
Release Date: 06 November 2019