EA organized workshops on ISO/IEC 17025:2017

EA organized 2 workshops on ISO/IEC 17025:2017. The workshops have been organized by the EA Laboratory Committee, hosted by COFRAC, the French NAB.

ISO/IEC 17025, the standard for calibration and testing laboratories, published on 30th November 2017, enables laboratories to demonstrate that they operate competently and generate valid results, thereby promoting confidence in their work both nationally and internationally. It has already been agreed that a 3-year transition period (from date of publication) will be allowed for accredited laboratories to make appropriate changes and transition to this new edition.

This transition harmonization training course, designed by the EA Laboratory Committee and based on needs expressed by the EA Members during previous discussions in the LC, was facilitated by Dr. Ursula Ellerbeck, Head of Department, DAKKS, the German NAB, and Trevor Thompson, Head of Operations Support, UKAS, the British NAB, & EA Laboratory Committee Vice-Chair - Member of ISO/CASCO WG44 and coordinated by Laurent Vinson, Head of Laboratory Department – COFRAC and EA Laboratory Committee Chair.

The training was aimed to assist accreditation body staff in getting prepared for assessing laboratories in a harmonized way within the EA region. Underlying concepts have been discussed, with the goal of enabling participants to have a better understanding of the recent changes.

In 2019-2020 years. Within the framework of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) project, BSCA plans to invite the above-mentioned international experts as lecturers for the consultations/trainings of the staff of BSCA, BelGIM, BelGISS, assessors and trainers on the implementation of the requirements of the new edition of ISO/IEC 17025:2017, and consultations/trainings for business/representatives of accredited laboratories for the implementation of the new edition of ISO/IEC 17025: 2017.

Currently, the Republic of Belarus is developing the GOST ISO/IEC 17025-2018, identical to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025.

Further Information:

Overview of ISO/IEC 17025

ISO/ILAC 17025:2017 Transition Communique