Accreditation symbols and references to accreditation (claims) - Belarusian State Centre for Accreditation

In accordance with the requirements of Law of the Republic of Belarus No. 437-З of October 24, 2016 On Assessment for Compliance with Technical Requirements and on Accreditation of Conformity Assessment Bodies and the Accreditation Rules accredited CABs can apply accreditation symbol to demonstrate their accreditation status.

The order of application of accreditation symbol and text reference to accreditation, combined ILAC MRA mark and text reference to ILAC MRA signatory status is set in documented procedure DP SM 4.3-2020 developed taking into account ILAC requirements.

· ILAC-P8 ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (Arrangement): Supplementary Requirements for the Use of Accreditation Symbols and for Claims of Accreditation Status by Accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies;

According to DP SM 4.3-2020 accredited CABs can demonstrate their actual accreditation status to their clients using one of the ways that are offered in the procedure:

· application of combined ILAC MRA mark or application of text reference (claim) to the status of ILAC MRA signatory.

The State Enterprise BSCA provides accreditation symbol through notification about possibility of use of the accreditation symbol placed in IS Accreditation, area CAB, tab Accreditation Symbol/Combined Mark/text reference (claim).

Combined ILAC MRA mark

ILAC MRA mark is registered as an international trade mark and is owned by International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). This mark is designed to promote ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC MRA) and create conditions for the recognition of accreditation results covered by the scope of ILAC MRA.

The Belarusian State Centre for Accreditation (BSCA), being a signatory to ILAC MRA, has received permission from ILAC to use the ILAC MRA mark for the accreditation of testing, calibration, medical laboratories, inspection bodies and proficiency testing providers.

Therefore testing, calibration, medical laboratories, inspection bodies and proficiency testing providers accredited by BSCA can request the use of the ILAC MRA mark as part of the combined ILAC MRA mark of the accredited CAB to demonstrate that their competence is confirmed by the accreditation body – ILAC MRA signatory.

Combined ILAC MRA mark of the accredited CAB - ILAC MRA mark used in combination with the accreditation symbol issued to the accredited CAB by the accreditation body within the framework of the National Accreditation System of the Republic of Belarus. Accredited CABs are not allowed to use ILAC MRA mark separately from the accreditation symbol!

To get the combined ILAC MRA mark of the accredited CAB, the testing (calibration) laboratory shall:

1.Fill in and sign the application for issue of the combined ILAC MRA mark of the accredited CAB.

2.Fill in and sign two copies of the Agreement on the application of the combined ILAC MRA mark of the Accredited CAB (the date is not filled in).

3.Send the completed and signed application and two copies of the Agreement to BSCA: 220033, Minsk, Velozavodskaya str., 6

The provision of the combined ILAC MRA mark of the accredited CAB is performed by BSCA through the automatic generation on the profile of the accredited CAB in the IS Accreditation of a notification about the the possibility to use the combined ILAC MRA mark. The notification is generated after the accreditation body has signed an Agreement on the use of the combined ILAC MRA mark of the accredited CAB and entered information about the date of its signing into the IS Accreditation. At the same time BSCA shall send by post the copy of the signed agreement on the application of combined ILAC MRA mark of the accredited CAB.

The use of the combined ILAC MRA mark of the accredited CAB is not allowed until the Agreement on the use of the combined ILAC MRA mark of the accredited CAB is signed with BSCA!

The conditions and rules for the use of the combined ILAC MRA mark of the accredited CAB are set out in DP SM 4.3-2020.

Please note that the accredited CAB is obliged to provide BSCA with the information on application of combined ILAC MRA mark of the accredited CAB once a month (no later than the 5th working day of the month following the reporting month) through filling the form in the tab “combined mark/text reference'''’ on the profile of accredited CAB at IS Accreditation.

The use of the combined ILAC MRA of the accredited CAB by accredited conformity assessment bodies that perform verification is not allowed.

For additional information please contact BSCA by tel.378 91 19.