About Centre for International Accreditation (CIA)

Centre for International Accreditation (CIA)

CIA operates its accreditation process through a structured framework of competent staff and pool of empaneled Lead Assessors and Technical Assessors covering all fields and disciplines as specified in the scope of accreditation. All Lead Assessor and Technical Assessors are personnel having considerable experience in related activities. They are trained by CIA as per the relevant international accreditation criteria and subsequently empaneled as assessors/ lead assessors through defined contractual agreements. Membership of various committees is drawn from reputed organisations, experts in the field, experienced assessors, academic institutions, important professional bodies, regulatory agencies/ bodies etc.

QAI’s CIA has been established with the objective of providing Government, Industry Associations and Industry in general with a scheme of accreditation for Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) including medical labs, testing labs, calibration labs, Biobanks, Proficiency Testing Providers, Inspection Bodies and Reference Material Producers as per below:

We offer accreditation services in a non-discriminatory manner. QAI-CIA has established its accreditation system in accordance with the international standard ISO/ IEC 17011 ‘Conformity Assessment – General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies’. 

QAI CIA has achieved global recognition through APAC and ILAC MRA.

QAI CIA has achieved global recognition through APAC and ILAC MRA in Testing (ISO/IEC 17025) and Medical (ISO 15189).

APAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) Certificate

ILAC MUTUAL RECOGNITION ARRANGEMENT

Quality Policy

‘Centre for International Accreditation’ of Quality and Accreditation Institute (QAI) will provide accreditation service to the satisfaction of its customers in accordance with the national and international norms. It is committed to provide equal opportunity to all the applicants with regard to impartiality, transparency, integrity, and confidentiality.

The Centre will strive for the international recognition of its accreditation programmes through regional and international forums like APAC, ILAC etc. and through bilateral and multilateral mutual recognition arrangements. We aim to operate globally.

We strive to comply with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011:2017 “Conformity assessment —requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies” and other relevant national/international standards and applicable APAC/ILAC documents.

Impartiality Policy

Impartiality is the backbone of QAI CIA activities and is of paramount significance in maintaining the confidence amongst the stakeholders about its accreditation system. QAI CIA is committed to safeguard the impartiality while dealing with accreditation at all levels. QAI CIA adheres to the requirement of ISO/IEC 17011: 2017 ‘Conformity assessment - Requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies’ that accreditation shall be undertaken impartially.

QAI-CIA is a part of QAI and is designed in such a way as to ensure that impartiality is not compromised by any undue commercial, financial or other pressures.

QAI-CIA does not engage in any activities which could compromise its impartiality; it does not provide consultancy to CABs, nor does it undertake any conformity assessment activities itself and it does not promote the services of any specific body.

QAI CIA does provide training to external parties although these courses are confined to the provision of the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011.

QAI CIA applies its policies and procedures in a non-discriminatory manner and its services are available to all bodies whose accreditation applications fall within its defined scope of activities. It is applicable to all regardless of number of personnel, number of bodies already accredited or membership of any association or group.

QAI CIA board as the apex body, responsible for making all kind of policy decisions regarding providing resources and financial support including feasibility studies of the new accreditation programs, review of performance of personnel involved in accreditation and safeguarding the impartiality arising out of its activities, is having fair representation from the stakeholders ensuring that no one interest predominates.

The impartiality and objectivity of the accreditation services that QAI CIA provides is tightly controlled. All personnel involved in management, assessments and any other QAI CIA accreditation activities are required to declare any potential conflicts of interest. Accreditation decisions are made by competent persons independent of the assessment of the CAB under review.

In the event that customers or other stakeholders have concerns regarding the impartiality or objectivity of QAI CIA, QAI CIA has non-discriminatory procedures in place for handling complaints and appeals.