When ISO announced on December 1st, 2017 that ISO/IEC 17025:2017, 'General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories', had been updated, the conformity assessment community was aware that this would be one of the largest scale transitions of an accreditation standard ever undertaken.
ISO/IEC 17025
ISO/IEC 17025 is the most popular international reference standard
ISO/IEC 17025 is the most popular international reference standard for ensuring the competence of testing and calibration laboratories around the world. Producing valid results that are widely trusted is at the heart of laboratory activities.
This standard allows laboratories to implement a sound quality system and demonstrate that they are technically competent and able to produce valid and reliable results.
It also helps facilitate cooperation between laboratories and other bodies by generating wider acceptance of results between countries. Test reports and certificates can be accepted from one country to another without the need for further testing, which, in turn, improves international trade.
Developments in IT techniques
The standard has been updated in order to reflect the latest changes in market conditions and technology; the new edition encompasses the activities and new ways laboratories work now. It covers technical changes, vocabulary and developments in IT techniques and takes into consideration the latest version of ISO 9001 on quality management.
The scale of the revision was also clear to ILAC (the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) and they agreed to an implementation date of 30th November 2020 – three years from publication – to accommodate the large numbers of organizations needing to make the necessary changes to their processes and procedures to demonstrate conformity, and for accreditation bodies to then check their effective implementation.
Significant challenges faced by UK testing
In light of the difficulties in terms of international travel and other restrictions caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, ILAC and ISO agreed that the deadline should be extended by six months to allow sufficient time for all transitions to be completed.
As a consequence, a revised deadline of 1st June 2021 was agreed, and accreditation against ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 will continue to be recognized up until this date. The ISO/ILAC ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Transition Communique has been updated to reflect the extension to the transition period.
Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 conferred by UKAS
ILAC and ISO agreed that the deadline should be grown by six months to allow fine time for all transitions
In the UK, accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 is conferred by the UKAS and, at the time of the original announcement, there were 1603 such accreditations in place. UKAS has been working with accredited laboratories over the past three years to ensure that all were successfully transitioned before the original (November 2020) deadline.
Progress towards that goal has been excellent and despite the significant challenges faced by UK testing and calibration laboratories from the COVID-19 pandemic and preparation for the withdrawal from the European Union, it is clear that there has been a tremendous national focus on meeting the amended requirements.
Latest version of the standard
As of 30th November 2020 – the date which was originally specified as the cut-off for transition to have been completed – 99% of accredited laboratories had been successfully converted to the latest version of the standard; UKAS is now proud to announce that all accredited laboratories have successfully achieved transition to the new version of the standard, well ahead of the revised deadline.
Paul Greenwood said, "As a nation, we can be incredibly proud of the hard work that has been taking place in laboratories throughout the UK over the past three years to put us in such a strong position in terms of international conformity."
He adds, "We should recognize and celebrate the quiet resolve of our test houses and calibration laboratories that have dedicated valuable time and resources during such a difficult period to prove their ongoing commitment towards continual improvement and technical validity. This ultimately ensures that UK measurement and testing infrastructure remains at the pioneering edge at a time when it is most needed to support our move towards greater national independence.”
