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Belgian Accreditation Body
Laboratories,
t i iinspection
ti and
d
certification bodies
Consumers of products and services
More information about accreditation
and services proposed by BELAC?
... Safety of toys
Inspection of lifts
Calibration of measuring instruments
Medical analysis laboratories
Management systems of companies
Environmental management
FPS Economy
Quality and Safety – BELAC secretariat
WTC III, 30 Bd Simon Bolivar
1000 Brussels - Belgium
phone: +32 2 277 54 34
fax:
+32 2 277 54 41
e-mail: belac@economie.fgov.be
Certification of food
Market control
CE marking
Free circulation of goods...
website: http://belac.fgov.be
• general information
• criteria and procedures for accreditation
• BELAC procedures
• list of accredited organisations
Responsible editor: N. Meurée-Vanlaethem – BELAC secretariat, WTC III, 30 Bd Simon Bolivar - 1000 Brussels
Printed by FPS Economy, S.M.E’s, Self-employed and Energy — 0371-08
Compliant products, processes, services
Conformity of products
and services
a tool to boost confidence:
accreditation of laboratories,
inspection and
certification bodies
Economic structures are
subject to a dynamic
evolution forced by
internationalisation of trade.
To boost confidence in
conformity of products and
services with respect to the
laid down specifications is
of primary importance to
eliminate technical barriers,
to allow fair competition and
to achieve harmonisation in
trade agreements.
This certificate is
granted after a thorough
assessment based on
internationally recognized
requirements; it conveys
the formal demonstration
of the competence of the
organisation to carry out
specific tasks relating to
conformity assessment.
Laboratories, inspection
and certification bodies
may, through accreditation,
provide evidence
of their technical
abilities, but also of
their independence and
impartiality.
A product or service
accompanied by a report
issued by an accredited body
inspires increased confidence,
which facilitates market
access.
BELAC in 2008…
Nearly 400 accreditation certificates!
247 labo
laboratories
- calibrati
calibrations
- tests
- medical biology
BELAC, the Belgian
Accreditation Body, is
established according
to legal stipulations
and placed under the
responsibility of the Federal
Public Service Economy,
S.M.E’s, Self-employed
and Energy. It is based on
a co-operation with all
parties concerned and aims
to be a tool at the disposal
of industrial, economic
and social sectors and
authorities in charge of
market control.
BELAC operates according
to the international
requirements with regard
to the management of
accreditation bodies.
Accreditations issued
under the BELAC roof are
recognized by the Belgian
State.
BELAC is a signatory of all
existing MLAs (multilateral
agreements) and MRAs
(multilateral recognition
agreements) of EA
(European co-operation
for Accreditation), ILAC
(International Laboratory
Accreditation Cooperation)
and IAF (International
Accreditation
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In this way, reports and
certificates issued by
the BELAC accredited
bodies are internationally
recognized, which
facilitates the circulation
of the associated products
on the international
markets. In turn,
BELAC recognizes the
accreditations delivered by
equivalent accreditation
bodies with which a
mutual recognition is
effective and BELAC
promotes the acceptance
of reports and certificates
issued by the accredited
bodies.
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ID
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67 certification bodies
- quality
quality management
m
- environmental
environ
management
- products
product
- persons
Accreditation in Belgium: how?
National accreditation
bodies are involved in
networks at a regional
level (e.g. Europe) which,
in turn, co-operate on
a world wide basis.
Mutual recognition of
accreditation services
is decided only after a
thorough evaluation
through peer review
according to strict
requirements agreed at
international level.
TH
82 inspe
inspection bodies
In such a framework, it
is essential to gain the
confidence of both the
economic actors, as well as
of the authorities in charge
of the market control with
regard to documents issued
by conformity assessment
bodies (laboratories,
inspection and certification
bodies). These documents
will then be regarded as
reliable technical passports
for a product or a service.
CE
What is an accreditation? It
is a third party attestation
related to a conformity
assessment body.
Accreditation at international level:
multilateral agreements and
recognitions
PETE
Evaluated once, accepted everywhere !
N
Accreditation: why?
Context, actors and goals
CONF
Accreditation: a tool to facilitate the free
circulation of goods and services