IJCA Vol 4 i1 2025 webmag - Flipbook - Page 47
2025 | Volume 4, Issue 1
National Organizations
National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) – USA
• Established: 1901
• Role: Oversees conformity assessment and accreditation
programs through NVLAP (National Voluntary
Laboratory Accreditation Program).
• Website: www.nist.gov
United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) – UK
• Established: 1995
• Role: UK’s national accreditation body responsible
for certifying laboratories, inspection bodies, and
management systems.
• Website: www.ukas.com
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) –
Germany
• Established: 1887
• Role: Provides metrology and accreditation services,
ensuring conformity assessment standards in Germany.
• Website: www.ptb.de
Cofrac (Comité Français d’Accréditation) – France
• Established: 1994
• Role: France’s o昀케cial accreditation body for testing and
inspection laboratories under the ISO/IEC 17000 series.
• Website: www.cofrac.fr
National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) –
Australia
• Established: 1947
• Role: Oversees the accreditation of testing and
calibration laboratories and conformity assessment
bodies in Australia.
• Website: www.nata.com.au
Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e
Tecnologia (INMETRO) – Brazil
• Established: 1973
• Role: Brazil’s national accreditation body ensuring
conformity assessment in product certi昀椀cation,
management systems, and laboratory accreditation.
• Website: https://www.gov.br/pt-br/orgaos/institutonacional-de-metrologia-qualidade-e-tecnologia
Harmonization of conformity assessment practices
at global, regional, and national levels promotes
product safety, consumer protection, and international
market access. These organizations play a vital
role in reducing technical barriers to trade through
mutual recognition of test reports, certi昀椀cation, and
inspection outcomes.
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Appendix D. Abbreviations
This appendix lists acronyms and abbreviations used
throughout the article, along with their de昀椀nitions and
organizational roles where applicable.
AI – Arti昀椀cial Intelligence
Technology enabling machines to perform tasks that
typically require human intelligence, such as pattern
recognition, decision-making, and automation.
AFRAC – African Accreditation Cooperation
A regional accreditation body responsible for
harmonizing accreditation and conformity
assessment in Africa.
APAC – Asia-Paci昀椀c Accreditation Cooperation
Regional organization supporting accreditation for
laboratories, inspection, and certi昀椀cation bodies in the
Asia-Paci昀椀c region.
APMP – Asia Paci昀椀c Metrology Programme
A regional metrology organization (RMO) that
promotes cooperation in measurement science
among Asia-Paci昀椀c nations.
BIPM – Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
(International Bureau of Weights and Measures)
Global organization responsible for maintaining and
developing the International System of Units (SI) and
metrology standards.
Cofrac – Comité Français d’Accréditation (French
Accreditation Committee)
France’s national accreditation body responsible
for accrediting testing and calibration laboratories,
certi昀椀cation bodies, and inspection organizations.
DCC – Digital Calibration Certi昀椀cate
A digital format for calibration records that ensures
traceability, accuracy, and secure data management
in metrology processes.
EA – European Cooperation for Accreditation
An association of national accreditation bodies in
Europe, ensuring harmonized accreditation practices
across the continent.
EURAMET – European Association of National
Metrology Institutes
A regional metrology organization (RMO) coordinating
metrology research and standardization efforts
across Europe.
FDA – Food and Drug Administration (USA)
