Report 2019 on the Functioning of accreditation in Europe

More than 10 years ago, the European Commission published Regulation (EC) No 765/2008. The aim was to ensure that products benefiting from the free movement of goods within the Community fulfil requirements providing a high level of protection of public interest while ensuring that the free movement of products is not restricted to any extent greater than what is allowed under Community harmonisation legislation or any other relevant Community rules.

To reach these objectives, it was necessary to establish an overall framework of rules and principles in relation to accreditation, conformity assessment and market surveillance. Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 provides a comprehensive framework for accreditation and lays down at Community level the principles for its operation and organization.

The special value of accreditation is to provide an authoritative statement of the technical competence of bodies, whose task is to ensure conformity with the applicable requirements, providing a high level of protection of public interest.

Moreover, transparent accreditation, as provided by Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, should be considered by the national public authorities as the preferred means of demonstrating the technical competence of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs).

Due to the new accreditation system set out in Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, the number of European legislations with reference to accreditation and conformity assessment has increased significantly. Accreditation is also the preferred tool to demonstrate the competence of CABs in trade agreements with third countries with the aim of mutual acceptance of conformity assessment results, and consequently, the avoidance of technical barriers to trade (TBTs).

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