Accreditation and conformity assessment, along with standards, are important ways to give confidence in goods, services, management systems and people. They make a significant contribution to the economy, health and safety, trade and the environment.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is responsible for conformitystandards, assessmentaccreditation and accreditationconformity assessment policy. This information is for businesses and other government departments that are looking for tools to:

• provide assurance to customers that their products or services meet specified requirements
• help them win contracts where conformity assessment and accreditation are required
• deliver government policy

Accreditation

Accreditation

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Accreditation ensures that those who carry out conformity assessment (e.g., testing, calibration, certification and inspectioninspection), usually conformity assessment bodies (CABs), are competent to do so. AccreditationThird-party accreditation is onetherefore ofoften described as ‘checking the keycheckers’ componentsand ofis widely used across both the UK’sregulated Nationaland Qualityvoluntary Infrastructuresectors (NQI),to alongassure withmarkets conformitythat assessment,CABs standardisation,operate measurement,to andacceptable marketstandards.

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The following provisions relating to accreditation are in the legislation:

• requires the NAB to be a not-for-profit organisation
• requires the NAB to evaluate the competence of a conformityCAB assessment body when that body requests accreditation
• sets down requirements that the NAB must fulfil
• requires the Government to monitor the NAB at regular intervals
• requires the NAB to undergo regular evaluation by thea body approved by the Secretary of State (peer evaluation)

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Accreditation logo and symbols

DBT owns the national accreditation logo and symbols – that incorporate the Royal Crown – which DBT licenceslicenses to UKAS. UKAS is able to sub-licencesub-license the symbols to successfully accredited conformity assessment bodies.CABs.

See the conditions for using the national accreditation logo and symbols.

Non-accreditedNon-UKAS accredited certification

DBT is aware that UK certification bodies and representative associations are concerned at the increase in the number of organisations offering certification when they are not accredited by UKAS to do so.

DBT has advised certification representative organisations in the UK that:

• theThe only ‘authoritative statement’ of competence, that has public authority status – providing the last level of control in the conformity assessment chain – is from the UK’s sole national accreditation body, UKASUKAS.
• anyAny organisation that suggests it is accredited in the sense of the Regulation on accreditation and market surveillance (765/2008) as it has effect in Great Britain or Regulation (EC) 765/2008 in Northern Ireland when they are not, may be guilty of an offence under the BusinesBusiness Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 (Statutory Instrument 2008/1276)2008/1276).
• certificationCertification bodies, representative organisations or affected businesses should, in the first instance, refer these cases to Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards which has a Primary Authority Relationship with UKAS. Alternatively, they can refer the case direct to UKAS, or to their own local trading standards authority.

Naming your business: applying to use ‘accredited’ or related words in your company’s name

To use the sensitive words accreditation, accredit, accredited or accrediting in your company, Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) or business name, you will need to obtain prior approval from the Secretary of State for DBT. Please read the guidance in the link below, which tells you what you need to consider and what information you need to include if you decide to go forward with your application.

Read guidance on the use of the sensitive words; accreditation, accredit, accredited and accrediting, in a company, Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) or business name.

The administration of the company names regime is carried out by  Companies House on behalf of the Secretary of State.

Conformity assessment

Conformity assessment provides assurance that what is being supplied meets the expectations specified or claimed. It can be applied to:

• products
• services
• processes
• systems
• bodies
• people

Conformity assessment includes activities such as testing, inspection and certification. The organisations that make these checks are called conformity assessment bodies.

Read the government’s policy on conformity assessment and accreditation.

For all queries, please contact OPSS.enquiries@businessandtrade.gov.uk.