Working with Businesses
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is the endorsement of an organization’s competence, credibility, independence and integrity against both national and international standards. It effectively evaluates the organization’s ability in carrying out testing, inspection, calibration and certification services.
IDA is a Common Accord (CAs) Signatory to various international organizations including WAF. The IDA’s mark on test, calibration, inspection reports and certificates will mean that the report is recognized among the CAs partners. Thus, if your services are accredited by IDA, your accredited services will be recognized by the importing countries who are members signatory of the CAs.
Types of Accreditation
IDA currently operates the following accreditation schemes* –
- Calibration and testing laboratories:
Chemical, biological, environmental, medical, medical imaging, non-destructive testing, gaming and testing related to civil and mechanical engineering. - Inspection bodies:
Industrial pressure vessels and lifting equipment, structural steelwork, motor vehicles, cargo inspection and site investigation. - Management system certification bodies:
Quality management system, environmental management system, occupational safety & health management system, HACCP based food management system, food safety management system, good distribution practice for medical devices, business continuity management and energy management system. - Product certification bodies
- Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) scheme:
Ensures that certified facilities performing non-clinical safety testing comply with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Principles of GLP. - For other types of conformity assessment services currently not offered by IDA, we are open to exploring the option of providing accreditation or developing a new scheme/programme for the respective areas.
Why Use Accredited CABs?
Using accredited CABs offers multiple benefits for companies. Besides providing a marketing opportunity, it also boosts the company’s image – having been tried and certified by reliable CABs, the company’s products and services are endorsed with the highest assurance. This, in turn, instils confidence in the company’s customers and stakeholders alike.
How Do You Identify a IDA Accredited Conformity Assessment Body?
You can identify a IDA accredited conformity assessment body (CAB) by IDA accreditation marks as proof of accreditation. Accredited reports or certificates carry the IDA mark, along with the unique IDA accreditation certificate number.
In addition, an accredited test or inspection report will include the following statement:
“The results reported herein have been performed in accordance with the terms of accreditation under the International Directorate of Accreditation.”
Accreditation is granted for a specific scope of activities and not for all activities undertaken by the CABs. Thus, accredited CABs are only allowed to issue accredited reports for those tests, calibrations or inspections, or issue accredited certificates for the specific certification scopes which they have been accredited.
