NBSM lab close to obtaining international accreditation
KATHMANDU, NOV 06 -
A lab of the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology ( NBSM ) is in the final stages of receiving international accreditation which will allow Nepali products to obtain internationally recognized quality certification.
One of the bureau’s departments that looks after management is also in the process of getting international accreditation which will enable it to issue ISO 9001:2008 certification. Nepali exporters presently rely on Indian labs to obtain certification particularly for agricultural products.
The NBSM applied for certification to the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), India some two years ago. “We have recently completed restructuring the setup as recommended by the NABL during its final auditing and submitted the documents to them,” said NBSM Director General Ram Adhar Sah. “We are hopeful of receiving certification soon,” he added.
After the NBSM receives approval for system certification, it will be able to issue ISO 9001:2008 to companies for better performance in management. “ISO 9001:2008 indicates that the company has maintained a good database management system and it has the capability to fulfil the given responsibility,” said Sah.
Similarly, product certification will assure the quality of both food and non-food items. According to Sah, the certification will provide assurance that the products comply with the norms of the global quality standard set by the World Trade Organisation. “Although our quality certification will be accepted globally, domestic companies may have to fulfil additional requirements in particular importing countries,” he added.
Meanwhile, the NBSM is also in the process of receiving accreditation for another lab related with testing and calibration. According to Sah, the lab is under construction. The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and the government under its Nepal Trade Integration Strategy 2010 are providing technical and financial support to set up labs of international standard. Upgradation of the labs is part of the government’s programme to boost exports by removing non-tariff barriers to trade, according to Sah.
Recently, the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control received accreditation for testing the quality of food from the same Indian accrediting agency. Similarly, state-run Central Seeds Testing Laboratory and a private company Zest Laboratory have acquired international certification to test seeds of agro products and medicinal products respectively.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
