# Presentation: 016397

## NACLA Organization

**National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA)**
**What is NACLA and what can it do for your Agency**
**Don Heirman**
**President**
**December 3, 2001**

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## NACLA purpose

**Purpose of NACLA Recognition**
**Offers recognition to laboratory accreditation ****	****bodies (ABs)**
**Recognition creates mechanism for establishing ****	****confidence in equivalency of the operation ****	****of laboratory accreditation programs **
**Following successful completion of evaluation ****	****procedure, ABs invited to sign Mutual ****	****Recognition Arrangement**
**Laboratories accredited by signatory ABs ****	****considered to have demonstrated ****	****equivalent competence**

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## NACLA/NIST MOU

**NACLA signs MOU in July 2000 which **
**gave NACLA responsibility to recognize **
**Accrediting Bodies**
**	****	**** ****	****	**

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## NACLA Operation

**  ****NACLA:**
**  ****Coordinates and recognizes laboratory ****	****accreditation activities in the US**
**  ****Planning to apply for national coordinating body in ****	****International Laboratory Accreditation ****	****Cooperation (ILAC) to represent US positions on ****	****ILAC accreditation matters. **
**  ****Monitoring and emulating where applicable similar ****	****procedures for recognition used by ILAC,  ****	****European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA), ****	****and Inter-American ****	****Accreditation Cooperation ****	****(IAAC), etc.**
**-  Is NOT another accrediting body****  ****	****	**

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## NACLA Process

**  ****NACLA recognizes competent accreditors by ****	****the following:**
**	**** ****-Recognition based on international ****	****	****	****	****quality standards (Guide 58 and ****	****	****	****	****Standard 17025 (Guide 25)**
**	****- Mutual recognition arrangement ****	****	****	****	****	****among NACLA-recognized ****	****	****	****	****	****accrediting bodies**
**	****which leads to****:**
** ****	****- Enhanced specifier choice**
**	****- Government recognition where needed**

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## NACLA--Government

**NACLA interfaces with regulators and government agencies:**
**	****-Government agencies requested to ****	****	****	****	****agree on harmonizing common ****	****	****	****accrediting requirements and ****	****	****	****practices**
**	****-May require special procedures, but ****	****	****	****the goal is to apply them consistently**

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## NIST Use of NACLA

**NACLA News--**
**In October 2000, NIST designated 23 ****	****accredited testing labs to participate in the ****	****operational phase of the EMC sectoral ****	****annex of the US-EU MRA**
**NIST established the competence of both ****	****A2LA and NVLAP (who accredited the 23 ****	****labs) on the basis of their NACLA ****	****recognition and thus designated these labs ****	****which they accredited**
**Subsequent NIST designations have been ****	****made on the same basis**

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## NIST Use of NACLA

**NACLA News-2000**
**NIST is also relying on NACLA recognition ****	****as basis for designating test labs for Phase ****	****I of the APEC Telecommunication ****	****Equipment MRA**
**Burden on NIST staff to verify technical ****	****competence of testing Taiwanese, ****	****Singapore, and Canadian testing labs ****	****designated by NIST has been significantly ****	****reduced by the NACLA recognition ****	****process!**

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## NIST NACLA citings

**NACLA News**
**NIST published in August 2000 the final ****	****Guidance on Federal Conformity ****	****Assessment Activities in the Federal ****	****Register**
**Section 287.4 (Responsibilities of Federal ****	****Agencies) directs agencies to identify ****	****appropriate private sector CA practices.  **
**Section 287.4g directs agencies to participate ****	****in efforts to improve government and ****	****private sector CA activities and makes ****	****specific reference to NACLA.**

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## NACLA This Year

**NACLA 2001 activity:**
**	****	*****  Bilateral agreement signed with Standards ****	****	****	****Council of Canada**
**	****	*****  North American Calibration Committee ****	****	****	****MOU formed with Mexico, Canada and US ****	****	****(NACLA)**
**	****	*****  Stakeholder member of International ****	****	****	****	****Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation ****	****	****	****(ILAC) –recognition follows that of ILAC**
**	*****  Participating in ILAC Laboratory Liaison ****	****	****Committee****	**
**	*****  Considering formal linkage with the Inter-****	****America Accreditation Cooperation**

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## NACLA AB Action

**NACLA 2001 activity:**
**	****	***** ****Presently 8 Accrediting Bodies ****	****	****	****in queue**
**	****	***** Department of Energy requires ****	****	****	****NACLA recognition of ABs used ****	****	****for DOE calibration labs which ****	****	****are accredited**

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## Though much has been accomplished, there are immediate concerns:

***Though much has been accomplished, there are immediate concerns:***
**	****Meet client needs**
**	****Grow the membership**
**	****Obtain financial independence as a ****	****	****	****501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization**
**	**

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## NACLA-Summary

**In summary, NIST-recognition will help achieve ****	****NACLA (and its customer’s) goals: **
**	**
**	***** **_***worldwide (as well as specific sector) ***_***	******	******	***_***recognition of accreditations***_
***	******* ***_***one test/calibration done once accepted ***_***	******	******	***_***worldwide and sectorily***_
_***VISIT OUR WEBSITE:  ***_**www.nacla.net**

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