International cooperation

Norwegian Accreditation is the national accreditation body of Norway, and shall cover the demand for accreditation services in Norway. Our goal is to establish accreditation schemes in all areas where Norwegian conformity assessment bodies indicate a need. In addition, Norwegian Accreditation shall ensure national and international acceptance of accredited services by signing European Accreditation’s (EA) multilateral recognition agreements on mutual acceptance.

Norwegian Accreditation is evaluated by EA at intervals of maximum four years. International recognition outside Europe is ensured by Norwegian Accreditation’s membership and signatory status to the multilateral recognition arrangements of the international associations for accreditation; International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and International Accreditation Forum (IAF). Norwegian Accreditation is also regularly evaluated by OECD for the GLP-scheme, approximately every 10 years.

Norwegian Accreditation accepts and handles applications for accreditation from conformity assessment bodies established and registered in Norway (Brønnøysundregistrene, State Registrar of Companies). This means that accreditation by Norwegian Accreditation is open to any conformity assessment body which is established in Norway and which complies with relevant accreditation requirements and conditions.

The policies for cross frontier accreditation decided by EA, ILAC and IAF shall in all cases be respected. Applications from conformity assessment bodies established in countries where a national accreditation body, signatory to the relevant international multilateral recognition arrangement, has been established, will as a rule be referred to the accreditation body in that country. 

However, NA may accept applications from abroad when an applicant conformity assessment body can justify that it would be more expedient for their organization to be accredited by Norwegian Accreditation. This could be if e.g. the organization is the daughter company of an organization which is established in Norway and accredited by Norwegian Accreditation, or if Norway is the main market for their services. Should any such application be accepted, Norwegian Accreditation will do so in compliance with the rules set out by EA, ILAC and IAF.

Norwegian Accreditation has signed the European and international agreements and arrangements for mutual recognition of accreditation. This encompasses EA’s agreements for accreditation of:

• Calibration and testing laboratories
• Certification bodies for products, personnel and management systems
• Inspection bodies
• Verification and validation bodies
• Proficiency Testing Providers
• Producers of Reference Materials

These agreements and arrangements assist Norwegian authorities in ensuring compliance with relevant EU directives and regulations, and are important tools in the work to remove technical barriers to trade. The agreements and arrangements provide easier access for Norwegian accredited conformity assessment bodies to European and international markets.

The European and international associations for accreditation bodies have as their main objective to ensure a level playing field for accredited conformity assessment bodies, independent of which national accreditation body that has accredited them. To achieve this, the national accreditation bodies cooperate closely. The main purpose of this cooperation is to agree on how the requirements of the accreditation standards are to be understood and what is acceptable assessment and accreditation practices.

European Accreditation (EA) is the association of European national accreditation bodies. Norwegian Accreditation has signed EA’s multilateral agreements for mutual recognition of accreditations, and is thereby obliged to comply with the regulations and requirements of these agreements.

The main strategic objective of EA is to maintain the value and credibility of accredited conformity assessment services in the European market. EU regulation 765/2008 establishes EA as responsible for the accreditation infrastructure in Europe. EU regulation 765 has been transposed into Norwegian law, “Act on the free trade of goods in EEA”.

How is EA organized?

EA is a membership association. The highest decision-making body is the EA General Assembly. EA’s secretariat is established in Paris and is managed by a permanently employed Executive Secretary. Development of assessment and accreditation practices is carried out in EA’s technical committees. EA is supported by an Advisory Board, the EAAB. This board consists of parties with an interest in accreditation, members representing national authorities, users of accredited services and accredited conformity assessment bodies.

European Accreditation has established a peer evaluation system covering evaluation of all national accreditation bodies which have or have applied to be signatories to the multilateral agreements for mutual recognition of accreditation. EA carries out a peer evaluation of NA for all of the accreditation schemes/ standards for which NA has signed the multilateral agreements. Peer evaluations are normally carried out every four years. EA’s peer evaluations are accepted also for the multilateral agreements/ arrangements established by ILAC and IAF.

Read more about the organization of EA here!

Read more about peer evaluations here!

International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) is the international corresponding body to European Accreditation with regard to international cooperation on accreditation of laboratories, producers of reference materials, providers of proficiency testing and inspection bodies. Norwegian Accreditation is a member of ILAC and has signed the multilateral agreements/ arrangements on recognition of accreditation established by ILAC. You will find more information about this on ILAC’s webpage.

International Accreditation Forum (IAF) is the international corresponding body to European Accreditation with regard to international cooperation on accreditation of certification, validation and verification bodies. Norwegian Accreditation is a member of IAF and has signed the multilateral agreements/ arrangements on recognition of accreditation established by IAF. You will find more information about this on IAF’s webpage.

ECO Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a voluntary scheme for registration of bodies complying with the requirements for environmental management systems and reporting. EMAS was implemented in all countries within the EEA by EU regulation 1221/2009. The regulation has been transposed into Norwegian law as § 52c. of the State Pollution Act.

OECD’s principles for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) is valid for all laboratories carrying out studies of and reporting security data to regulating authorities.

It is within the following areas (product groups):

• Industrial chemicals
• Pharmaceutical products
• Pesticides
• Cosmetics
• Food and feed, additives
• Veterinary medical products
• Others

GLP is a mandatory scheme for all entities carrying out studies within the areas listed above.

Norwegian Accreditation participates in cooperation regarding GLP both in OECD and in an EU working group established for the purpose. OECD evaluates Norwegian Accreditation for the GLP scheme at intervals of approximately 10 years.

National regulating authorities in Norway for GLP are:

• The Norwegian Environment Agency (industrial chemicals and pesticides)
• The Norwegian Medicines Agency (pharmaceutical products)
• The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (additives and cosmetics)

Areas of expertise

1) Physical-chemical testing

2) Toxicity studies

3) Mutagenicity studies

4) The environmental toxicity studies on aquatic and terrestrial organisms

5) studies on behaviour in water, soil and air;bioaccumulation

6) residue studies

7) studies on effects on mesocosms and natural ecosystems

8) analytical and clinical chemistry testing

9) other studies

See more at the homepage at OECD here