FAQ

1. What is accreditation?

Accreditation is the process in which an authoritative body formally recognizes the competence of an organization to carry out specific activities such as testing, calibrations, inspections and certifications services.

Accreditation provides an assurance to governments, businesses and the consumers that organisations providing certification, testing, calibration and inspection services to a standard have the required competence and impartiality to do so as evidenced by fulfilment of international standards and requirements. 

2. What is the difference between accreditation and certification? 

Accreditation is a third-party confirmation that a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) is competent to carry out specific conformity assessment activities such as certification, testing, calibration and inspection service.

Certification is the procedure by which a third party gives written assurance that a product, process, system or person conforms to specified requirements. 

3. What are the benefits of accreditation?

➣ For National Authorities and Regulators 

Regulators can set policy requirements or detailed technical requirements and rely on accredited laboratories, inspection bodies or certification bodies to check for compliance. 

Regulators can therefore reduce their in-house inspectorates and specialist assessment personnel to reduce cost, or target their inspections more effectively. 

The use of accredited services can also moderate the need for additional legislation, as well as reducing the risk of unintended consequences. International accreditation arrangements provide regulators with a robust and credible framework to accept accredited test results, inspection reports and certifications from overseas, with an equivalent level of confidence as if they were carried out in the local economy. 

For Business 

Regulators can set policy requirements or detailed technical requirements and rely on accredited laboratories, inspection bodies or certification bodies to check for compliance.Holding accredited conformity assessment results shows credible evidence of conformance with national and international standards and regulations which can differentiate a business from its competitors. 

Regulators can therefore reduce their in-house inspectorates and specialist assessment personnel to reduce cost, or target their inspections more effectively.As accreditation is recognised internationally, it can open doors overseas equally as well as those in the domestic market. Indeed, an increasing number of organisations in both the public and private sectors in domestic markets and overseas are specifying accredited testing, inspection or certification as a precondition to tendering for contracts. 

Accredited conformity assessment can also contribute to the operational efficiency of businesses in other ways, saving time and money by reducing bureaucracy and by helping with risk management and key aspects of decision-making. For instance, it can be used as a basis on which to make efficient and informed choices about domestic suppliers and promotes confidence in imports from other countries. It can also demonstrate due diligence in the event of legal action. 

➣ For Consumers 

Regulators can set policy requirements or detailed technical requirements and rely on accredited laboratories, inspection bodies or certification bodies to check for compliance.International accreditation agreements help increase the choice of goods and services available on the market and help to ensure that these meet relevant standards of quality and safety, whatever their country of origin.. 

(Source: ilac.org) 

4. What is the accreditation body in the Philippines?

The Philippine Accreditation Bureau (formerly Philippine Accreditation Office) based on Executive Order 802 is the national accreditation body of the Philippines and the central body to accredit inspection, testing and certifying bodies and other bodies offering conformity assessment services. 

The PAB is recognized internationally through its membership to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC), Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), and ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality (ACCSQ) Working Group on Accreditation and Conformity Assessment (WG2). 

PAB is also a signatory to the Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) for Quality Management System (QMS) and Environmental Management System (EMS) of PAC and Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for testing and calibration of APLAC and ILAC. 

The Bureau promotes accreditation of CABs locally and internationally through information campaign using various media; participation in local and international marketing events; continuous participation in MRA/MLA activities; and consultations and dialogues with stakeholders. 

5. What is Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)?

A Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) is an international agreement that promotes trust and builds confidence among accreditation bodies through their ability to determine a laboratory’s competence to carry out testing or calibration. 

This MRA forms a regional network of laboratories and inspection bodies accredited by accreditation bodies that have been peer-evaluated and recognised as being competent. This network facilitates the acceptance of test, calibration and inspection reports in the region, thus contributing to the facilitation of trade and the free-trade goal of “tested/inspected once, accepted everywhere”. 

Under MRAs, tests/inspections performed by laboratories accredited by a signatory country like PAB are recognized and accepted by fellow signatory countries. 

(Source: ilac.org and aplac.org) 

6. What is Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA)?

A Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) enhances the acceptance of goods and services across national borders. Through the MLA, there is assurance of mutual recognition of accredited certification between signatories to the MLA and the subsequently acceptance of accredited certification in many markets based on one accreditation. This recognition and acceptance removes technical barriers to trade (TBT) by reducing redundant conformity assessment. 

Accreditations granted by MLA signatories like PAB is recognized worldwide based on their equivalent accreditation programs, reducing costs and adding value to business and consumers. 

(Source: IAF FAQ) 

7. What are the accreditation schemes offered by PAB?

      • Accreditation scheme for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

        This scheme evaluates the technical competence of testing and calibration laboratories based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 and specific technical requirements of each field.

      • Accreditation scheme for Inspection Body

        This scheme evaluates the technical competence of inspection bodies based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17020.

      • Accreditation scheme for Medical Testing Laboratories

        This scheme evaluates the technical competence of medical laboratories based on the general requirements of ISO 15189.

      • Accreditation scheme for Management System of Certification Bodies

        ➣Quality Management System (QMS)

        This scheme evaluates the technical competence, integrity and independence of certification bodies providing ISO 9001certification, based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17021 and IAF Mandatory Documents.

        ➣Environmental Management System (EMS)

        This scheme evaluates the technical competence, integrity and independence of certification bodies providing ISO 14001 certification, based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17021 and IAF Mandatory Documents.

        ➣HACCP based Food Management System

        This scheme evaluates the technical competence, integrity and independence of certification bodies providing HACCP certification, based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17021.

        ➣Food Safety Management System

        This scheme evaluates the technical competence, integrity and independence of certification bodies providing ISO 22000 certification, based on the general requirements of ISO/TS 22003.

        ➣Information Security Management System

        This scheme evaluates the technical competence, integrity and independence of certification bodies providing ISO 27001 certification, based on the general requirements of ISO 27006.

      • Accreditation scheme for Product Certification

        This scheme evaluates the technical competence, integrity and independence of product certification bodies, based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17065 and IAF Guidance.

8. What are the requirements for laboratory and inspection body accreditation?

 The Laboratory Accreditation (LA) Division of PAB handles the accreditation schemes for inspection bodies, testing including medical and calibration laboratories for their conformance to relevant international standards, which sets out the basic requirements for the competence to carry out specific type of tests, inspection, measurement and/or calibration. 

Applications for accreditation may be made only by legally identifiable organizations. A laboratory or inspection body applying for accreditation shall submit the necessary accomplished forms and documents: 

      • LASF01 – Application for Accreditation/Reaccreditation
      • LASF05 – Application for Signatory Approval with updated CVs and record of relevant trainings
      • LASF06 – Assessors’ Briefing and associated document required
      • LASF27 – Acceptance of Accreditation Conditions
      • LASF33 – Assessment Checklist
      • Quality Manual and Procedures Manual
      • Test Method/Calibration Method/Inspection Method (for In-House Methods)

9. What are the requirements for management system accreditation?

The Management System Accreditation (MSA) Division handles the accreditation schemes for certification body that certifies organization to : PNS ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management System), PNS ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management System) PNS ISO 22000:2005, Food Safety Management System: Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP).

A Certification body applying for accreditation shall submit the necessary forms and documents: 

      • Copy of SEC Registration with the Articles of Incorporation or DTI Registration or if in case of a foreign CB, duly notarized registration documents and authenticated Philippine Consulate, as proof of being a legal entity as the case may be.
      • Overview of the financial structure of the applicant
      • Information on fees charged to its applicants and certified suppliers, and the means by which it obtains financial support
      • Copy (on paper or in electronic form) of the CB’s quality manual and relevant associated documents
      • Published certification rules that its applicants must comply with
      • Accomplished checklist identifying where in the documented management system addresses the requirement of ISO/IEC 17021

10. What are the fees needed for accreditation

B. For Management System Accreditation:

  • Application Fee 
    (non-refundable, payable upon
    issuance of application form)
Php 2,000.00
  • Assessment Fee 
    (including document review, follow-up 
    visit, surveillance visits, reassessment,
    and special assessments
Php 5,000.00 per man-day
  • Accreditation Fee 
    (payable upon issuance of certificate)
Php 10,000.00 per scope of accreditation
  • Annual dues 
    (payable upon 15 days after billing)
Php 5,000.00 per scope of accreditation
  • Additional charges 
    • Transportation, lodging and accommodation expenses of PAB assessment team during assessment shall be shouldered by applicant or accredited certifying body.
    • Payment for contracted members of the assessment team shall be paid by the certifying body based on billing statement issued by PAB.
    • Certifying Body shall be accountable for accidents that may occur during the assessment, is it can be proven that faults or negligence is contributed by them.

 B. For Laboratory and Inspection Body Accreditation

  • Application Fee
Php 300.00
  • Assessment Fee 
    (including document review, follow-up
    visit, surveillance visits, reassessment,
    and special assessments
Php 5,00.00 per man-hour
  • Accreditation Fee
    (payable upon issuance of certificate)
Php 5,000.00 per scope of accreditation
  • Annual dues
Php 3,000.00 per organization
  • Additional charges 
    • Transportation, accommodation and airport taxes expenses of PAB assessment team shall be shouldered by the laboratory/inspection body.