CONSEJO is consulting in preparation for accreditation of:

• laboratories for calibration and testing according to ISO 17025;
• inspection bodies according to ISO 17020;
• medical laboratories according to ISO 15189.

What are the benefits of implementing a management system?
 For accredited conformity assessment bodies (laboratories, inspection bodies, certification bodies):

• they become an important part of the quality infrastructure in the country;
• guarantee high quality of the services they provide (testing, calibration, control, certification);
• the implementation of a management system and subsequent accreditation by a national accreditation body (for Bulgaria such body is EA BAS) is a proof of competence of the laboratory / inspection body / certification body not only in terms of organization and management, but also in relation to their activity;
• provide the client with technically valid (reliable, traceable) results;
• carry out activities in both unregulated and regulated areas (through regulatory mechanisms introduced by law, which require testing, calibration, certification activities to be performed by accredited conformity assessment bodies (e.g., in the field of ecology, safety of food, fuel and much more);
• in cases of complaints and / or discrepancies, the laboratory/authority may "roll back the tape", i.e., trace the entire course of the processes in reverse order and establish the cause;

 
For the clients (users of the services) of the accredited laboratories:

• facilitates the movement of goods and services in the European Economic Area, which favours the development of business;
• trust in the results of testing/calibration/control/certification with reference to accreditation is ensured – the results of the activity (protocols, certificates) are recognized without the need to re-test/calibrate/control/certify the product, both in the country and abroad (in countries that have signed the EA MLA for the area concerned);

Note: Accreditation is granted by a National Accreditation Body (according to REGULATION (EC) № 765/2008 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 9 July 2008 setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 339/93. The national authority for Bulgaria is EA BAS, which is an EA (MLA) country for all areas.
 

STAGES OF PREPARATION FOR ACCREDITATION:

STAGE 1 Status Review (GAP analysis):

• review of the currently acting system for compliance with BDS EN ISO/IEC 17020; BDS EN ISO/IEC 17025; BDS EN ISO 17065 and BDS EN ISO 15189;
• analyze the situation and determine the structure of the management system;
• development of Timetable of the project and supporting documents.

STAGE 2 Development of MS documents:

• development of management system documents - procedures, operational documents/forms, Manual, etc.;
• approvement of the documents by the Joint team.

STAGE 3 Implementation :

• conducting theoretical trаining;
• trаining on implementation;
• conducting of checking audit;
• revision and changing of documents if necessary as a result of checking.

STAGE 4 Functioning

• trаining of internal auditors;
• internal auditing.

STAGE 5 Assistance in submission of the documents to the Accreditation body – Bulgarian Accreditation Service (www.nab-bas.bg) or another accreditation body

• assistance in filling in and completing the application and the documents attached to it.

STAGE 6 Accreditation by BAS – Bulgarian Accreditation Service or another accreditation body:

• troubleshooting during and after the Accreditation body's evaluation.

PREPARATION FOR ACCREDITATION OF CONTROL BODIES AND LABORATORIES ACCORDING TO ISO 17020 AND ISO 17025