CNAS Introduction

　　China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) is legally validated by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) in accordance with the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Certification and Accreditation and the Methods for Supervision and Administration of Accreditation Body. It is the authoritative body that conducts accreditation evaluation activities for conformity assessment bodies (CABs) such as certification bodies, laboratories, inspection bodies, and verification/validation bodies etc., and that is responsible for operating the national accreditation system for CABs.

　　History

　　CNAS was founded on March 31, 2006 by merging the former China National Accreditation Board for Certifiers (CNAB) and China National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (CNAL).

　　CNAB was the national accreditation body responsible for the accreditation of management system certification bodies and product certification bodies, which was founded in July 2002 by the authorization of CNCA according to relevant laws and regulations. CNAB had merged the former China National Accreditation Council for Registrars (CNACR), China National Accreditation Council for Products (CNACP), China National Accreditation Board for Import & Export Enterprises (CNAB) and former China Accreditation Committee for Environmental Management System Certification Bodies (CACEB). In April 2004, the accreditation functions related to occupational health and safety management system certification bodies and organic product certification bodies of former China National Accreditation Board for OSHMS Certification Bodies (CNASC) and organic food accreditation committee were transferred to CNAB according to the co-decisions of CNCA and relevant competent authorities, which had further advanced the intensive fusion of unified accreditation systems for certification bodies.

　　CNAL was the national accreditation body responsible for the accreditation of laboratories and inspection bodies and related activities, which was established by the approval of CNCA and authorized by CNCA. CNAL was established on July 4, 2002 by merging the former China National Accreditation Committee for Laboratories (CNACL) established by the former State Bureau of Technical Supervision, and the former China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Laboratory Accreditation Committee (CCIBLAC) established by the former Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.

　　Organizational Structure

　　The organizational structure of CNAS includes: the Board, Executive Committee, Special Committee for Certification Bodies, Special Committee for Laboratories, Special Committee for Inspection Bodies, Appraisal Special Committee, Appeal Special Committee, End-user Special Committee, Special Committee for Validation and Verification Bodies and the Secretariat. The Board is composed of representatives from accreditation-related government departments, CABs, clients of conformity assessment services, users of conformity assessment, relevant professional bodies, and technical experts etc.

　　Purpose

　　The purpose of CNAS is to promote conformity assessment bodies to strengthen their development in accordance with the requirements of applicable standards and specifications, and to facilitate the conformity assessment bodies to effectively provide service to the society by means of impartial conduct, scientific means and accurate results.

　　Mission

　　The mission of CNAS is:

　　(1)To establish and operate the national accreditation system for conformity assessment bodies, and to develop and issue the normative documents e.g. rules, criteria and guidance etc for accreditation, in accordance with relevant national laws and regulations as well as international and national standards and specifications;

　　(2)To assess the competence of local or foreign applicant conformity assessment bodies, make accreditation decisions, and conduct accreditation-related surveillance and management on accredited conformity assessment bodies;

　　(3)To assume the responsibility for directing and regulating the uses of CNAS logo and accreditation symbols;

　　(4)To organize personnel training related to accreditation, and to qualify, recruit and manage the accreditation personnel;

　　(5)To offer relevant technical services to conformity assessment bodies, and to provide society with publicly available information about accredited conformity assessment bodies;

　　(6)To participate in international activities related to conformity assessment and its accreditation, and to sign bilateral or multi-lateral accreditation cooperation agreements with relevant accreditation bodies, related bodies or international organizations;

　　(7)To deal with appeals and complaints related to accreditation;

　　(8)To undertake tasks assigned by relevant government departments;

　　(9)To carry out other activities related to accreditation.

　　The CNAS Secretariat is residing inside the China National Accreditation Institute of Conformity Assessment (CNAI), CNAI is affiliated to the State Administration for Market Regulation, only engaged in accreditation-related businesses and doesn’t provide any services that may compromise impartiality.

　　International Mutual Recognition

　　China national accreditation system for conformity assessment has been a part of international accreditation multilateral recognition system, and is playing an important role in it.

　　CNAS was the accreditation body member of International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC)，as well as the member of Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) and Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC). The Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) was established on 1 January 2019 by the amalgamation of two former regional accreditation cooperations – the APLAC and the PAC.

　　For more information on CNAS, please contact CNAS Secretariat:

　　TEL: ＋86-10-67105332，＋86-10-67105333

　　FAX:：＋86-10-67105089

　　E-mail: info@cnas.org.cn