The following is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) that may address the query that you have. If your question is not listed here, please mail us at info@jas-aas.org. You will receive a response within two working days.
Likewise, JAS-AAS is autonomous public sector body, to assess against internationally agreed standards, organizations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services. We operate as a public benefit organization, limited by guarantee.
Accreditation, with its many potential benefits for the quality of goods and in the provision of services throughout the supply chain, underpins practical applications of an increasingly wide range of activities across all sectors of the economy, from fishing to forestry, construction to communications.
- There is a genuine need for accreditation and appropriate ownership of the approach being offered (driven by the market and/or government regulation or legislation and not by the evaluators);
- The approach has been developed by relevant interested parties;
- The evaluation criteria meet appropriate technical standards;
- The approach is eligible for JAS-AAS accreditation i.e. in the public interest and eligible for international recognition.
The IAF operates in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel, and other similar programs of conformity assessment, while the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) manages laboratory and inspection accreditation at the global level.
Through the application of national and international standards, government, procurers and consumers can therefore have confidence in the calibration and test results, inspection reports and certifications provided.
Many countries have accreditation bodies that ensure authorized oversight of certifying bodies.
As products and services become more technological, consumer confidence depends on standards compliance. Conformity assessment is therefore an indispensable part of an economy’s business and standards and conformance infrastructure.
Its primary function is to assess, against internationally agreed standards, organizations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services (collectively known as conformity assessment bodies). Accreditation demonstrates the competence, impartiality and performance capability of these organizations.
Accreditation bodies normally operate as non-profit distributing organizations.
The IAF operates in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programs of conformity assessment. The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) manages laboratory and inspection accreditation at the global level.
The criteria for determining a certification body’s competence are based on relevant national or international standards (such as ISO/IEC 17024, ISO/IEC Guide 65, ISO/IEC 17021). These criteria include: the qualifications, required knowledge, and skills, training, and experience of staff; appropriate equipment that they properly calibrate and maintain; implements adequate quality assurance procedures; and follows appropriate sampling practices.
Accredited bodies can be private or government-owned, from lone traders to massive multi-disciplinary, multi-site corporations.
The IAF operates in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programs of conformity assessment. Additionally, the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) manages laboratory and inspection accreditation at the global level.
Most often, organizations associate certification with ISO 9001 and the environmental management systems standard ISO 14001. However, certification programs exist for a range of management systems standards. Additionally, It includes the ISO/IEC 2700 program for information security management and the ISO 22000 program for food safety management.
Moreover, Product certification verifies that a product—including services and processes—meets contract, regulation, or specification requirements.
Accreditation is voluntary in most countries, however many certification bodies seek it to demonstrate their expertise.