DOCUMENTS Country Report Expertise Centre COUNTRY REPORT 2006 - 2007

5.4 Accreditation system

5.4.1    Setting long term goals to proactively influence the market

5.4.2    Long term sustainability of the system

5.4.3    The notification process

5.4.4    International Accreditation Forum (IAF)

5.4.5    Product certification MLA in European Accreditation Cooperation (EA)

5.4.1    Setting long term goals to proactively influence the market

TÜRKAK is now a nationally and internationally established accreditation body. As such TÜRKAK is the body on the Turkish market with the deepest and broadest knowledge in the different forms of conformity assessment. Conformity assessment is a tool that needs to be developed along with the changing needs of the market. These needs of the market change with new technology, new products, new threats to human life and safety. It is in this respect that TÜRKAK needs to be ahead of the developments to be able to influence the conformity assessment procedures chosen by the authorities and the manufacturers. In this respect it is also important that the market gets the most efficient procedure with the best results.

To develop this role TÜRKAK needs to

-          identify key partners

-          define communication routes with authorities

-          develop means of communication with consumers, other end-users, present and potential clients

-          identify both short term and long term specific needs of the Turkish market.

5.4.2    Long term sustainability of the system

In the life time of an accreditation body there are a number of phases. The most difficult one is obviously the initial expansion phase when the accreditation body does not have experience in all fields it is dealing with, the clients have expectations which may not always be realistic and resources are scarce. However, the end of this period may mark a crisis for an accreditation body unless it actively prepares itself for it. The steady state, when the main role is not only one of marketing your services but keeping present clients satisfied, can also be a tricky one.

TÜRKAK needs to identify the threats to its values, efficiency, processes, market acceptance in this steady state in order to meet it properly.

5.4.3    The notification process

TÜRKAK is formally appointed to assess candidate notified bodies in Turkey. The process has been in place for over a year and needs to be more formalised according to the following.

Ø      TÜRKAK needs to receive a report from the responsible authority on what the authority has reviewed or assessed in the application before sending it to TÜRKAK.

Ø      The system does not cater for a systematic transfer of technical information and knowledge from the responsible authorities to TÜRKAK. The responsible authority participates in the working groups of the EU commission and has the latest and most updated information on the implementation of the directives under its jurisdiction and also the most updated information on any problems that have been encountered during the implementation on the market. It is very important that such information is transferred to TÜRKAK so that it can become a part of the assessment process.

Ø      TÜRKAK needs to increase its pool of Turkish assessors for the assessment of notified bodies to decrease its dependence on other countries.

Ø      Under the protocol with the ministries the administrative procedures developed should be improved to cater for repeatability of the process. These should be incorporated in the written procedures which TÜRKAK has developed for the assessment of notified bodies.

5.4.4    International Accreditation Forum (IAF)

One of the future goals of TÜRKAK is to become a full member of IAF and sign the IAF MRA. This should not be a problem as TÜRKAK is already a signatory of the EA MRA in the corresponding fields. TÜRKAK has already applied for full membership of IAF and is waiting for IAF’s response.

TÜRKAK should also participate actively in the committees and general assembly meetings of IAF.

5.4.5    Product certification MLA in European Accreditation Cooperation (EA)

In order to proof its competence to assess notified bodies performing product certification, TÜRKAK needs to sign the EA MLA for accreditation of product certification bodies. TÜRKAK has already applied for a peer-evaluation in this field and also for the accreditation of certification of persons. The peer-evaluation is expected to take place during 2007.