Quality Assurance Certification

HC Deb 05 November 1993 vol 231 cc517-8W

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria have to be satisfied before companies which offer quality assurance certification are accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Certification Bodies.

Mr. McLoughlin

The National Accreditation Council for Certification Bodies recommends certification bodies for accreditation by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. Certification bodies are assessed by NACCB against the European standards EN 45011, 45012 and 45013, which lay down general criteria for bodies operating certification of products, quality systems, and personnel respectively. Bodies must in addition satisfy NACCB's criteria of competence and regulations governing accreditation or recognition. I have arranged for copies of these documents to be placed in the Library.