MONGOLIAN ACCREDITATION SYSTEM

1. MNAS MONGOLIAN ACCREDITATION SYSTEM MNAS MONGOLIAN ACCREDITATION SYSTEM is a non profit, open system to carry out accreditation of conformity assessment bodies throughout Mongolia. Mongolian Agency for Standardization and Metrology (MASM) is promoting and implementing MNAS. MASM is a Governmental Agency under the Vice-Premier.

2. Organizational structure Mongolian Agency for Standardization and Metrology (MASM) Appeal commission ACCREDITATION DEPARTMENT Accreditation Committees Assessors & experts Committee for certification bodies • Committees for testing laboratories: • on food products and environment testing • on mining, petroleum and construction material testing Committee for calibration laboratories Policy division Assessment division

3. Brief history 1994 - Law on Standardization & Quality certification Law on Traceability of Measurement Uniformity. 1995 - Approval of General rules for Laboratory and Certification body accreditation system. 1998 - First laboratory was accredited. 1998 - First accreditation of certification body. 1999 - Accreditation office was created. It had 3 staffs. 2002 - Approval of ISO/IEC 17025 and other standards as a national standards. 2003 - A new Law on Standardization and Conformity assessment covering accreditation came into effect. December 2003 – membership to ILAC, APLAC, PAC was supported by the Government of Mongolia (Resolution No. 253, 10 December 2003). February 2004 – Enlarged to Accreditation department. June 2004 – Joined APLAC as a Full member.

4. Mission • To establish conformity assessment structure which meets the international standards requirements • To provide an accreditation service to facilitate the recognition of customer’s products and services. • Objectives • To upgrade the standard of operation of laboratories and certification bodies • To strengthen accreditation system to be met the needs of customers • To develop accreditation system and techniques such as accreditation of inspection bodies and medical laboratories • To conclude bilateral and multilateral agreements

5. Law and Rules The accreditation activities of MNAS are nationally based on -- a Law on Standardization and Conformity assessment (adopted by Parliament in 2003) -- a Law on Traceability of Measurement Uniformity (adopted by Parliament in 2003) The activities of MNAS as a governmental body are ruled by a Rule for Accreditation System of ConformityAssessment Bodies (issued by National Standards and Metrology Council in 2004 )  The accreditation activities of MNAS are based on thestandards in the ISO 17000-series and national rules based on these standards

6. Main activities • Accreditation of laboratories according to national rule or ISO/IEC 17025 • Accreditation of product certification bodies according to national rule or ISO/IEC Guide 65 • Representation of Mongolian interests in national and international organizations dealing with general issues of accreditation • Research and development of advanced accreditation competence • International affairs • Training etc.

7. Works done by MNAS to harmonize accreditation activities with international practice • Following ISO, ILAC, APLAC doc’s, relating to conformity assessment activities were translated into Mongolian and were adopted as national standards: • MNS ISO/IEC 17000 Conformity assessment – Vocabulary and general principles • MNS ISO/IEC 17011 Conformity assessment - General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies • MNS ISO/IEC 17020 General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection • MNS ISO/IEC 17024 General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection • MNS ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of calibration and testing laboratories • MNS ISO/IEC 17030 Conformity assessment – General requirements for conformity mark issued by third party bodies • MNS ISO/IEC 17050-1,2 Conformity assessment – supplier’s declaration of conformity • ISO/IEC Guide 65 General requirements for bodies operating product certication systems • ISO/IEC Guide 62 General requirements for bodies operating assessment and certification/registration of quality systems • ISO/IEC Guide 66 General requirements for bodies operating assessment and certification/registration of environmental management system (EMS) • 18 ILAC, APLAC documents are in use • General training for CAB’s • Training, registration of assessors and technical experts

8. MASM MNAS Inspectionbodies Laboratories Certificationbodies Testing Calibration Inspection Products Manage-mentSystems Personnel in operation in preparation

9. Steps to Accreditation Application Preparation for accreditation General advisory Review of applicants doc’s Pre- assessment Selection and assignment of assessment team members On-site assessment Assessment preliminary report to Laboratory management Assessment team recommendation on deficiency of laboratory Confirmation of corrective actions by assessment team Accreditation decision by Technical Committees Approval of the decision Issue of accreditation certificate and seal

10. Publications • MNAS Directory of accredited laboratories • Information brochure of MASM • Website

11. Number of staff • 10 in Accreditation Department of MASM. • About 50 lead assessors, assessors and experts.

12. Accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies • Testing laboratories -68 • Calibration laboratories –36 • Certification bodies • (product) –2 • (management system) - none • (personnel) - none • Proficiency testing providers -1 • Inspection bodies –in preparation • Medical laboratories –in preparation

13. International co-operation • MNAS became a Full Member of APLAC June, 2004 • Preparing to join APLAC-MRA (Mutual Recognition Arrangement) • Preparing to join ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) in 2006 • Planning to join PAC (Pacific Accreditation Cooperation) in the nearest future