Accreditation

SIAC(E) accreditation sends a clear message. It says your certification or inspection body can be counted on to perform its duties—in an authoritative and impartial way. It flags that you have been approved by an independent third-party as a professional body that acts with integrity when certifying or inspecting for conformity assessment.
Third-party accreditation is recognised around the world as the highest and most credible type a certification or inspection body can obtain.

Reliability through conformity assessments

Requirements regarding the quality of goods and services are continuously increasing as a result of the liberalisation of global trade and increasing demands by consumers, companies and legislators. Whether for environmental protection, in the food or electrical industry, health care or renewable energy - for these and many other industries, objective testing, calibrations, inspections or certifications therefore play a very important role.
These assessments ensure that tested products, methods, services or systems are reliable with regard to their quality and safety, that they correspond to a technical minimum standard and conform to the standards, guidelines and laws that correspond with the various requirements. These objective attestations are therefore also described as conformity assessments.

Trust through accreditation

However, the trust placed in certificates, inspections, tests or calibrations stands and falls with the competence of the person that renders the assessment service. Many of these so-called conformity assessment bodies therefore confirm the quality of their own work with an accreditation.
As part of the accreditation procedure, they can confirm to an independent accreditation body that they carry out their activities with technical competence, in compliance with statutory and standards-based requirements and at an internationally comparative standard. The accreditation body assesses and monitors the management system and the competence of the conformity assessment body's assigned personnel.
Therefore accreditations play a key role in warranting the comparability of conformity assessment results and creating trust in the quality and safety of products and services.

Definition of the term accreditation pursuant to ISO/IEC 17011

"Accreditation refers to third-party attestation related to a conformity assessment body conveying formal demonstration of its competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks"

SIAC(E) accreditation is internationally recognised. This symbol of assurance offers you many direct benefits.

• Highlights your competence and credibility.
• Confirms you are independent and impartial.
• Gives you international recognition with the international accreditation organisations  SIAC(E) has formal arrangements with.
• Enables you to benchmark ongoing performance against relevant standards.
• Informs your clients you have meet the highest level of assessment and professionalism in the industry.
• Flags your ability to meet mandatory regularly requirements.
• Strengthens your ability to compete overall.

Accreditation throughout the market chain is increasingly important. The business world we live in is growing quickly and is highly complex with many inspectors and certifiers operating without accreditation. This is risky for all players, right through to the ultimate consumer.

Without accreditation there is no certainty that goods and services can be depended upon. On the other hand, accreditation provides certainty in a world where standardisation and certification are an integral part of the global economy. And it supports trade and commerce.
SIAC(E) offers accreditation for these themes to support government, industry and the community to achieve their goals:

• business and innovation
• health and human services
• product certification
• food and biological systems
• environment.

Accreditations offer many benefits:

For companies

• Better acceptance of products and services eases market access or makes it possible
   
• Tested once, accepted everywhere: International comparability and recognition of certificates, inspections, tests or calibrations prevents costs resulting from multiple assessments
   
• Proof of competence facilitates the selection of a suitable service provider for the conformity assessment of goods and services

For accredited bodies

• Objective proof of quality and competence for the activities of conformity assessment bodies according to international standards
   
• Competitive advantages over non-accredited market participants

For consumers

• more consumer trust in the quality of products and services - notwithstanding a complex global market
   
• fewer production errors or recalls

For legislators

• flexible alternative to legislation

What are the broad steps involved in applying for accreditation?

Here is a broad description of the broad steps involved in becoming accredited through SIAC(E). More details are in the application pack.
It is important to note that the length of time it takes to become accredited depends heavily on the quality and completeness of your application. If your application is incomplete, SIAC(E) will automatically return it to you for further action. We will do this as many times as is required. This will delay your application.

Can’t find a scheme you want accreditation for? 
contact us (accreditation@siac-eu.ch)so we can help you determine next steps.

Pre-application
You need to go through the pre-application process so we can assess your organisation’s suitability and determine if we can actually accredit your organisation.
To do this, complete this application inquiry.  You will then be sent a link to a portal where you will be asked to submit information regarding your application.  This is the pre-application form.  SIAC(E) Secretariat staff will review the information provided, and indicate whether you will be able to proceed to the application stage..

Application
If your organisation succeeds in the pre-application process, you can then start the assessment procedure.
To do this you:

• review the Accreditation Manual
• sign the Applicants Deed
• upload all required documentation through the portal
• pay the application fee.

We review your application to decide if we can accept it. If your application is inadequate at the outset, we are under no obligation to progress your organisation to accreditation.
Note: You need to be confident that your organisation can meet the conditions of accreditation and the criteria relating to the scope of application. This is all explained in the Accreditation Manual.

Assessment
If your application is accepted, then SIAC(E) performs a:

• Systems assessment—examine your documentation and conduct on-site visit. You need to invest time and effort in preparing system documentation since this stage is about you demonstrating to us that you are an acceptable risk.
• Compliance assessment—conduct an office assessment and witness assessment. We do not accredit on documentation alone. You need to demonstrate to us that you can put your systems into practice.

Reporting on assessment and accreditation decision
SIAC(E) present its findings to the Accreditation Review Board for a decision on whether to grant accreditation and if conditions are to be placed on the accreditation.

Approved
If your application is approved you are issued a Certificate of Accreditation.

Not approved
If your application is not approved you are sent a letter by email outlining why. It could be that your application is not complete or contains errors. Or your application can be rejected on other grounds.
You are free to appeal our final decision or make a  complaint following a set process.

Post Accreditation compliance
If you are accredited, SIAC(E) will monitor your compliance throughout your four-year accreditation term—this provides you with important feedback on maintaining your systems and performance.
This will include scheduled and unscheduled:

• surveillance visits, involving a range of activities. Our assessors may, for example, visit your premises to assess how you work, witness your performance, conduct probity and validation tests.
• surveillance assessments. Our assessors will do this in your offices and they will want to observe your auditors with your clients.

The number of scheduled checks may go up or down over time based on your performance.
If all goes well your accreditation continues until the end of the four-year term.  
If our surveillance highlights emerging problems, you will need to make changes and it could be that we will have to reduce the scope of your accreditation or terminate your accreditation. If this is the case you will be notified in writing of the reasons why and given the opportunity to appeal these decisions.  
Certification is a complex business and systems and practices can get out of alignment. With emerging problems it is critical that you let us know how you are responding. Are you solving the problem? Do you understand the underlying cause of the problem? Does your proposed solution convince us that you are in control?  
You inform SIAC(E) of what you are going to do through your portal. Then you are responsible for putting changes into practice.
If variations have to be made to reduce the scope of your accreditation or terminate you accreditation then you will be notified of the reasons why and given the opportunity to appeal these decisions.  

Accreditation Time & Cost
These are common questions asked by applicants seeking SIAC(E) accreditation. There is no one precise answer, but the following information provides the factors that can effect the costs and timeframes associated within gaining accreditation from SIAC(E).

How much will accreditation cost?
The costs of accreditation differ based on the following factors:

• Size of the body seeking accreditation
• The complexity of the organisation, as this will have an effect on assessment durations
• The number of sites from which services are offered
• The number of schemes and standards that the body wishes to be accredited for
• The technical scope that the body is seeking accreditation for, that is the number of technical sectors and
• The number of countries that the body wishes to be accredited for.

These factors will affect the number and type of assessments to be undertaken during the initial assessment and for ongoing surveillance.
Once accredited, the annual fees and certificate fees will be charged.  These are published through our accreditation manual, available to all applicant and accredited bodies.

How long will it take for our organisation to become accredited after we apply?
The length of time that it will take to gain accreditation will be dependent on how well prepared the applicant is.  The major issues that we encounter with applications that extend out the timeframes include:

• Poor quality documentation.As a document review against the accreditation requirements is undertaken prior to an on-site assessment poor documentation may mean that there are several nonconformities that need to be addressed before the application can be progressed.
• Lack of evidence of implementation of the structural requirements of the accreditation criteria.The criteria require particular structures to be formed, such as mechanisms to ensure impartiality.We often find that there is a lack of understanding around these requirements, and poor implementation.
• Lack of evidence implementation of procedures.This is often detected at the initial assessment, where practices and procedures just do not match, and so nonconformities are raised that need to be addressed before accreditation can be granted.

If all is in good order, SIAC(E) can usually schedule the first visit within three months of receipt of application, with the complete process taking between 3-4 months from application to accreditation.

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What is the difference? And which term should we use?

SIAC(E) often gets enquiries about certifying or inspecting an organisation, product or person.
We accredit certification and inspection bodies to signal that they are competent and can be relied on to carry out their duties. We do not, however, certify or inspect ourselves. This is handled by certifiers and inspectors engaged to assess if their clients’ organisations, products or people conform to standards.
So even though the terms ‘accreditation’ and ‘certification’ may appear to be the same in everyday language they are different and each has a specific definition in the conformity assessment industry. It is important to be clear to understand that while SIAC(E) accredits, it does not certify.

Here are the ISO definitions of each term:

Accreditation
Accreditation entails the endorsement of a conformity assessment body’s competence, credibility, independence and integrity in carrying out its conformity assessment activities. This enhances the authority of conformity assessment bodies in conducting its conformity assessment activities in certification and inspection.
The ISO defines accreditation as a third-party attestation related to a conformity assessment body conveying formal demonstration of its competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks.

Certification
Certifications are sought from conformity assessment bodies to demonstrate the applicant‘s compliance with specified standards and defined by the ISO as a third-party attestation related to products, processes, systems or persons.
In essence, certifications are third-party endorsements of an organisation‘s systems or products, while accreditation is a third-party endorsement of the certification.

WHAT IS ACCREDITATION?

"Accreditation refers to third-party attestation related to a conformity assessment body conveying formal demonstration of its competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks"

Accreditation as defined in ISO/IEC 17011
Accreditation means the formal recognition of the technical and organizational competence of an authority to execute a specific service as described in the scope of accreditation. Competence is the key to transparency, confidence and comparability.

Accreditation is a confidence-building measure, which allows authorities, economy and society to judge, if testing, inspection or certification bodies (conformity assessment bodies) fulfill specific tasks with the demanded high reliability.
Accreditation by SIAC(E) is in accordance to the international conformity assessment standards established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATAION

Accreditations offer many benefits:

For companies

• Better acceptance of products and services eases market access or makes it possible
• Tested once, accepted everywhere: International comparability and recognition of certificates, inspections, tests or calibrations prevents costs resulting from multiple assessments
• Proof of competence facilitates the selection of a suitable service provider for the conformity assessment of goods and services

For accredited bodies

• Objective proof of quality and competence for the activities of conformity assessment bodies according to international standards
• Competitive advantages over non-accredited market participants

For consumers

• more consumer trust in the quality of products and services - notwithstanding a complex global market
• fewer production errors or recalls

For legislators

• flexible alternative to legislation

HOW TO CHOOSE CABs?

A conformity assessment body (CAB) that is SIAC(E) accredited carries one of the SIAC(E) accreditation marks. Endorsed reports or accredited certificates carry the SIAC(E) mark, along with the accreditation number.
Accreditation is granted for a specific scope of activities, and not for all activities undertaken by the CABs. Therefore, it is important to take note that accredited CABs are only allowed to issue endorsed reports for tests, calibrations/inspections or accredited certificates within the scope of accreditation.

BENEFITS OF SIAC(E) ACCEDITED CABs

Using SIAC(E) 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, instills confidence in the company’s customers and stakeholders alike.

SIAC(E)’s extensive network of CABs across the world provide international recognition, so companies can also avoid costly retesting, re-inspection or recertification for overseas market access.

FAQ

How does my organization become accredited?
SIAC(E) has detailed the accreditation process on this site – which outlines each stage from enquiry right up to the award of accreditation and maintenance thereafter.

What are the fees involved to become accredited?
SIAC(E) charges fees for the operation of all its schemes. Fees are set annually and are subject to a yearly review. The fee details can be got by sending a request on info@siac-eu.ch

How long does it take to become accredited?
SIAC(E) Accreditation process can take up to 6 months to complete, from receipt of application to award of accreditation.

What documents and forms do I need to fill in to become accredited?
All applicants are required to fill in the relevant application form. SIAC(E) provides guidance, policy and mandatory documents which should be read in conjunction with your application all documents and forms are available on the SIAC(E) Website.

If there is only 1 person employed in the laboratory, can my org still be accredited? Or does there have to be a minimum amount of employees etc.?
Accreditation is awarded to an organization based on its ability to demonstrate that it is competent and impartial when complying with the relevant international standards. There is no minimum requirement.

PRIVACY POLICY AND TERMS OF USAGE

Do SIAC(E) provide Consultancy on the implementation of quality management systems or technical issues?
SIAC(E) does not provide any consultancy service.

What is the difference between accreditation and certification?
Certification is the process whereby a system, product or process is confirmed, through audit, to meet specific requirements. Accreditation is the third part confirmation of an organization’s competence and integrity to perform testing, calibration, inspection and certification services.

How do I check to see if an organization is accredited by SIAC(E)?
SIAC(E) has a Directory of Accredited Bodies publically available on our website. Each organization is listed with details on its scope of accreditation, location, contact details etc.

Can I purchase a standard from INAB? Where do I go to purchase a standard?
SIAC(E) does not sell standards. Standards are available from www.standards.ie or www.iso.org

How can I check if an accredited organization is accredited for the scope of activity I need?
Log onto the SIAC(E) website, and search the Directory of Accredited Bodies for your organization.

If an organization has resigned/withdrawn their accreditation with SIAC(E) does that mean the certificate is not valid or recognized, even though it was issued when they were SIAC(E) accredited?
Accredited test or calibration or inspection certificates/reports issued by a laboratory or inspection body are valid if the laboratory or inspection body is accredited at the time of the testing/calibration/inspection. Accredited certificates issued by a certification body are only valid within 3 months of the date of withdrawal of the certification body from the SIAC(E)programme.

How do I become an assessor?
If you wish to express an interest in becoming an expert on the SIAC(E) Register of Assessors you may forward your profile to careers@siac-eu.ch and our team will guide you with further process, after thorough evaluation of your profile.