World Accreditation Day to focus on safe food and clean water.

Press Release Summary:



International Accreditation Forum and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation have announced the theme of World Accreditation Day 2012: Accreditation - Supporting Safe Food and Clean Drinking Water. According to ILAC, it is critical that consumers have confidence in safety, security, and authenticity of food and water they consume. This confidence is gained through application of common food safety management systems, supported by credible testing and inspection regimes.



Original Press Release:



World Accreditation Day 2012 to Focus on Safe Food and Clean Water



The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) have announced the theme of World Accreditation Day 2012: Accreditation - Supporting Safe Food and Clean Drinking Water. World Accreditation Day is a global initiative jointly established by IAF and ILAC to raise awareness of the value of accreditation-related activities. Each year on June 9, IAF and ILAC invite their national representatives from around the world to mark the occasion with dedicated celebrations that honor and communicate the important role accreditation plays in the global standards and conformity assessment community.

This year's theme highlights how accreditation supports the availability of safe food and clean drinking water. According to ILAC, "it is critical that consumers have confidence in the safety, security, and authenticity of the food and water they consume. This confidence is gained through the application of common food safety management systems, supported by credible testing and inspection regimes."

What Is Accreditation?

Accreditation assesses the competence of bodies to determine compliance with standards. It also helps to promote best industry practices, reduces the need for government agencies to individually monitor conformity assessment organizations, and strengthens consumer confidence in products and services.

ANSI's portfolio of accreditation services includes programs for product certification bodies, personnel certification bodies, education and training certificate-issuing bodies, greenhouse gas validation and verification bodies, and standards developers.

The International Accreditation Forum accredits management systems certification bodies under the ANAB brand and accredits testing and calibration laboratories, reference material producers, and inspection bodies under the ACLASS brand.

A large number of organizations check compliance with food and water safety and cleanliness standards through testing, calibration, inspection services, and certification services. Accreditation is the complementary tool that assures that these organizations are credible and reliable.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a U.S. representative to IAF, and through the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board, a member of ILAC. ANSI offers a broad portfolio of third-party accreditation services based on international standards.

"There is no more critical global issue safe food and clean water, and no more crucial of an area for reliable conformance to standards," said Lane Hallenbeck, ANSI vice president of accreditation services. "ANSI is proud to promote the importance of accreditation in enhancing the health and safety of people around the world."

International specifiers, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders are celebrating World Accreditation Day in dozens of countries through their own promotional events, seminars for industry and regulatory officials, and press campaigns. A number of major international organizations have recognized the value of World Accreditation Day, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

For more information on World Accreditation Day 2011, visit the ILAC site.

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