The annual World Accreditation Day (WAD) was commemorated on 9th June by the Quality Council of India (QCI). This event is designed to not only spotlight but also increase awareness about the part accreditation plays in strengthening trade and the economy. This year’s theme, “Accreditation: Improving Food Safety,” resonates significantly with today’s global food concerns.
Understanding Accreditation
Essentially, accreditation is a formal, autonomous affirmation that a program or institution upholds specific quality standards. These standards could relate to testing, inspection, or certification processes.
The Significance of Accreditation
Accreditation serves as a vital tool for enhancing the quality of products and services in various sectors, including health, education, and food. It works to encourage the adoption of quality standards associated with Quality Management Systems, Food Safety Management Systems, and Product Certification. By doing so, it helps to achieve the goal of ameliorating the quality competitiveness of Indian products and services.
The International Accreditation Forum
The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) is a worldwide association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation bodies alongside other entities interested in conformity assessment. These assessments touch upon management systems, products, services, personnel, and similar programs.
What are Conformity Assessment Bodies?
Conformity Assessment Bodies have the capacity to certify a product, process or service, as well as management systems or persons. A notable example is the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), where India holds membership.
Quality Assessment in the Food Sector
The role that credible, competent accreditation inputs play in the provision of overall services has been recognized by The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The country is currently facing a pressing need to develop conformity assessment infrastructure and empower consumers. To this end, the institution of virtual assessment and accreditation of state food testing laboratories is required. Also, it’s vital to motivate accredited laboratories to undertake Proficiency Testing (PT) and increase the number of accredited Reference Materials Producers (RMPs). Furthermore, creating an Integrated System for information exchange is also essential for the food industry.
Future Measures: A Six-Point Program
The suggested plan for the future involves expanding conformity assessment systems throughout the country, promoting a PPP model of FSSAI to strive for “Saajha Nivesh, Saajha Vikas, Saajha Vishwas,” working towards global acceptance of Indian certifications, formalizing the informal market, and launching the Rashtriya Gunavatta Abhiyan to crowdsource quality issues in the local market and develop a robust Market Surveillance. Lastly, establishing a Rapid Alert System with all Regulators on a single e-platform.
About Quality Council of India
Established in 1997, The Quality Council of India (QCI) is an independent body attached to the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Its Chairman is appointed by the Prime Minister based on industry recommendations. QCI’s purpose is to establish and operate the National Accreditation Structure (NAS) for conformity assessment bodies and providing accreditation in the spheres of health, education and quality promotion.
National Accreditation Boards under QCI
The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) are two accreditation boards under the QCI. These bodies work together to assist the Government and regulators, ensuring that the data provided by accredited conformity assessment bodies is reliable, trustworthy, and useful for decision-making, compliance testing, and standards setting.
The Indian industry is represented in QCI by three premier industry associations: ASSOCHAM, CII, and FICCI.