Accreditation is an endorsement of an organisation's competence, credibility, independence and integrity in carrying out its testing, inspection, calibration and certification services.
Accreditation facilitates trade as the mutual recognition arrangements established with other countries means doing away with multiple assessments of products and services in different countries. It also promotes research and development in manufacturing and testing.
The Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC) was formed in 1996 as the national authority for the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies in Singapore. The SAC is managed under the aegis of SPRING Singapore and operates accreditation schemes for certification bodies, inspection bodies and laboratories.
For more information, please visit www.sac-accreditation.gov.sg.
Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs)
Accreditation provides the basis for Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) on conformity assessment between regulators and accreditation bodies as well as trading partners.
The MRAs signed by SAC include :
- Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) MRA for Testing, Calibration, Medical testing and Inspection
- European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA) for Testing and Calibration
- Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC) Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) for Quality Management System and Product Certification
- International Accreditation Forum (IAF) MLA for Quality Management System and Product Certification
- International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) MRA for Testing and Calibration
For details on MRAs, please visit www.sac-accreditation.gov.sg/international.asp.
The SAC operates the following accreditation schemes :
- Calibration and testing laboratories covering chemical, biological, environmental, medical, medical imaging, non-destructive testing, and testing related to civil and mechanical engineering
- Inspection bodies for industrial pressure vessels and lifting equipment, structural steelwork, motor vehicles and cargo inspection
- Management system certification bodies covering :
- Quality management system
- Environmental management system
- Occupational safety & health management system
- HACCP based food management system
- Food safety management system
- Good Distribution Practice for Medical Devices
- Product certification bodies
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click here for more on accreditation schemes.
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more information on SAC Accredited Conformity Assessment Body.