INAB Transition to ISO/IEC 17065:2012

Re: INAB Transition to ISO/IEC 17065:2012 

On 15th September 2012 the standard ISO/IEC 17065:2012 - Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services, was published, replacing I.S. EN 45011:1998  and ISO/IEC Guide 65:1996. 

ISO/IEC 17065:2012 also replaces the guidance document IAF GD 5:2006, IAF Guidance on the Application of ISO/IEC Guide 65:1996. 

The IAF website http://www.iaf.nu/ should be consulted for publication of new or revised guidance documents; guidance documents may be published in the future. This document applies to certification bodies that are currently accredited by INAB based on the standard I.S. EN 45011:1998 (ISO/IEC Guide 65:1996) and those intending to apply for certification body accreditation. 

From 15th September 2015, accreditation to I.S. EN 45011:1998 (ISO/IEC Guide 65:1996) will no longer be available and accreditation certificates to I.S. EN 45011:1998 (ISO/IEC Guide 65:1996) will no longer be valid. 

A decision passed by IAF endorsed a 3 year transition period to ISO/IEC 17065:2012. 

In order to facilitate a smooth transfer to the new standard, INAB have decided upon the following transition programme: 

• INAB requests accredited certification bodies to submit a transition action plan to their INAB accreditation officer. The plan shall be sent to INAB before 15th November 2013.

As a minimum the plan shall include:

1. All specific actions to be taken to implement the changes,
2. The timeframe for completion of such actions,
3. The persons responsible for the actions,
4. Process in place to monitor progress and completion of the actions.

•  The action plan will need to demonstrate an analysis of the new standard and effective implementation such that the certification body confirms it is operating to ISO/IEC 17065:2012 by 15th March 2014.
•  All INAB surveillance/reassessment visits from 15th March 2014 will be carried out to ISO/IEC 17065:2012.
•  From 15th September 2013 all new applicants will be assessed against ISO/IEC 17065:2012.
•  The 2014/2015 schedule of headquarters visits may be altered to ensure that all certification bodies are in compliance by 15th September 2015.  Therefore, allowing for six months in advance of the final deadline, annual headquarters visits for 2015 will be no later than 15th March 2015.

The accreditation certificate and schedule of accreditation will be amended to reflect accreditation against ISO/IEC 17065:2012 after the surveillance/re-assessment against the new standard has been successfully completed and a decision for renewal of accreditation has been granted. The accreditation number will remain the same. The date on the certificate will be the date of the decision to grant accreditation for the new standard.

Please note, that it is the responsibility of the certification body to familiarise itself with the new standard and implement the changes necessary to comply with ISO/IEC 17065:2012.  Please see http://www.iso.org/iso/ppt_presentation_17065.ppt for an outline of the main changes.

After 15th March 2014, at the next scheduled visit, INAB will carry out surveillance/re-assessment visits to the new standard, ISO/IEC 17065:2012, which will include an assessment of the changes in the documented management system and the implementation of the action plan. As part of this assessment the certification body will be required to have performed an internal audit to assess the effectiveness of the changes and its implementation in compliance with ISO/IEC 17065:2012.  

During the surveillance/re-assessment INAB will review records concerning the implementation of the new standard.  At a minimum these records shall include:

• Analysis of impact on system and action plan;
• Internal audit of changes with respect to ISO/IEC 17065:2012
• Communication of changes in the system to interested parties, as appropriate;
• Identification of risks to independence and impartiality on an on-going basis, as appropriate
• Personnel records reflecting “competence’ rather than only meeting qualification requirements, as appropriate;

Organisations may obtain a copy of this standard from:

ILI, 42-44 Northumberland Road, Dublin 4.

Tel: (01) 8576730, Fax:  (01) 8576729

www.standards.ie

INAB looks forward to implementing the new standard and working with you to ensure a smooth transition to ISO/IEC 17065:2012.

Any queries should be directed to your accreditation officer.

INAB

8^th April 2013