| Abstract: | The following paper addresses the experience of certain national metrology institutes (NMIs) with national accreditation bodies
(NABs), in particular in small countries with emerging economies in new EU or candidate member states. Specific cases have
been analysed primarily in some Central and South-East European countries. NABs under consideration are, in principle, members
of European Co-operation for Accreditation (EA). EA cross-frontier policy in these cases will be discussed and resulting dilemmas
outlined. Focus will be given to the problems of NMIs also performing calibrations, commercial calibration laboratories, and
their relations with NABs. Due to numerous problems of smaller NABs, cross-frontier policy should stimulate cooperation between
foreign and local accreditation bodies not only at the request of the calibration laboratory or some other conformity assessment
body, but at the request of the local accreditation body in order to provide the best service for their local economy. As
a solution to the accreditation problems, this paper proposes a process of gradual formation of a common European pool of
experts, real-life common practices and, finally, maybe even some form of joint European accreditation service.
The opinions expressed in the paper are personal statements of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions
of the institutions of the author.
Papers published in this section do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editors, the Editorial Board and the Publisher. |
