Assessment to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 – Time limit for transition to the new standard for laboratory accreditation

The transition period for implementing the new standard ends on 31st May 2007. After this date certificates to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 only will provide evidence of  valid accreditation; UKAS is already assessing to the new standard in many cases. 

In order to ensure timely transition to the new standard, assessment against the requirements of the new standard will be routine in all assessment visits [surveillance and reassessment] after 31st January 2006. From that date all assessments of applicants for laboratory accreditation will be to the new standard.

In exceptional circumstances, if an accredited laboratory is unable to accept assessment to the new standard in the normal programme of assessment visits then a request to UKAS for assessment to the old standard can be considered. It should be noted that this could necessitate an extra assessment visit and that delaying the assessment to the new standard increases the risk of accreditation lapsing after  31st May 2007. No requests for assessment to the old standard will be considered after 31st Jan 2007.

 Brian Thomas, Acting Technical Manager