Frequently Asked Questions

Third party attestation related to a conformity assessment body, conveying formal demonstration of its competence, impartiality, and consistent operation in performing specific conformity assessment activities. (Source: ISO/IEC 17000:2020 Conformity Assessment—Vocabulary and general principles)

In simple terms, accreditation is the process in which an authoritative body formally recognizes the competence, impartiality, and capability of an organization to carry out specific activities, like certification, testing, calibration and inspection.

Third-party attestation related to an object of conformity assessment (e.g. product, process, service, system, installation, project, data, design, material, claim, person, body, or organization) with the exception of accreditation. (Source: ISO/IEC 17000:2020 Conformity Assessment—Vocabulary and general principles)

For National Authorities and Regulators

• Accreditation offers an alternative to regulation or can support regulation and enable its simplification. It is already being used to support policy delivery across a wide range of Government and regulatory activities. Accredited conformity assessment can be used to address a wide range of regulatory requirements – it is a flexible tool that can be applied to all sectors and to any kind of assessment, approval, validations or evaluation process.
• Accreditation can reduce costs for Government by relying on the private sector. Accredited conformity assessment is market driven and funded by fees from these organizations, thereby removing the need for Government to operate and fund its own laboratories and inspectorates.
• Accreditation can support risk-based regulation by providing information to help target Government intervention where it is most needed.
• Through openness and independence, standards and accreditation have the necessary legitimacy and degree of market acceptance to be used as tools for policy delivery. Through international agreements on mutual recognition of accreditation, they are becoming more widely used as tools for regulators in both the developed and developing world.

(Source: Accreditation: A global tool to support public policy, www.ilac.org)

For Business

Holding accredited conformity assessment results shows credible evidence of conformance with national and international standards and regulations which can differentiate a business from its competitors.

As accreditation is recognized internationally, it can open doors overseas equally as well as those in the domestic market. Indeed, an increasing number of organizations in both the public and private sectors in domestic markets and overseas are specifying accredited testing, inspection or certification as a precondition to tendering for contracts.

Accredited conformity assessment can also contribute to the operational efficiency of businesses in other ways, saving time and money by reducing bureaucracy and by helping with risk management and key aspects of decision-making. For instance, it can be used as a basis in making efficient and informed choices on domestic suppliers and promotes confidence in imports from other countries. It can also demonstrate due diligence in the event of legal action.

(Source: Accreditation: Facilitating world trade, www.ilac.org)

For Consumers

International accreditation agreements help in increasing the choice of goods and services available on the market and help to ensure that these meet relevant standards of quality and safety, whatever their country of origin.

(Source: Accreditation: Facilitating world trade, www.ilac.org)

The Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB) formerly Philippine Accreditation Office is the national accreditation body of the Philippines and the central body to accredit inspection, testing and certifying bodies and other bodies offering conformity assessment services in accordance with Executive Order 802.

The PAB is recognized internationally through its membership to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC), Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality (ACCSQ) Working Group on Accreditation and Conformity Assessment (WG2) and International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF). PAB is also a signatory to the Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) for Quality Management System (QMS), Environmental Management System (EMS), Food Safety Management System (FSMS), and Product Certification of APAC and IAF, Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for testing, calibration, medical and inspection of APAC and ILAC.

The Bureau promotes accreditation of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) locally and internationally through information campaign using various media; participation in local and international marketing events; continuous compliance with MRA/MLA requirements; and consultations and dialogues with stakeholders.

Body that performs conformity assessment activities, excluding accreditation. (Source: ISO/IEC 17000:2020 Conformity Assessment—Vocabulary and general principles)

“Conformity assessment is the process for demonstrating that expectations about products and services (e.g. features like quality, ecology, safety, economy, reliability, compatibility, interoperability, efficiency and effectiveness) fulfilled the specified requirements of standards, regulations and other specifications.”

Example of Conformity Assessment Body (CAB):

• • Testing Laboratory (including medical testing laboratory)
  • Calibration Laboratory
  • Certification Body
  • Inspection Body
  • Validation/Verification Body
  • Proficiency Testing Provider

A Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) is an international agreement that promotes trust and builds confidence among accreditation bodies through their ability to determine a laboratory’s competence to carry out testing or calibration.

This MRA forms a regional network of laboratories and inspection bodies accredited by accreditation bodies that have been peer-evaluated and recognized as being competent. This network facilitates the acceptance of test, calibration and inspection reports in the region, thus contributing to the facilitation of trade and the free-trade goal of “tested/inspected once, accepted everywhere”.

Under MRAs, tests/inspections performed by laboratories accredited by a signatory country like PAB are recognized and accepted by fellow signatory countries.

(Source: www.ilac.org)

A Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) enhances the acceptance of goods and services across national borders. Through the MLA, there is assurance of mutual recognition of accredited certification between signatories to the MLA and the subsequently acceptance of accredited certification in many markets based on one accreditation. This recognition and acceptance removes technical barriers to trade (TBT) by reducing redundant conformity assessment.

Accreditations granted by MLA signatories like PAB is recognized worldwide based on their equivalent accreditation programs, reducing costs and adding value to business and consumers.

(Source: www.iaf.nu)

• Accreditation of Testing and Calibration Laboratory – determines through assessment the technical competence of testing and calibration laboratories based on the requirements of PNS ISO/IEC 17025 and specific technical requirements relevant to a field of testing or calibration.
• Accreditation of Inspection Body – determines through assessment the technical competence, independence and impartiality of organizations that carry out specific inspection activities based on the requirements of PNS ISO/IEC 17020.
• Accreditation of Medical Testing Laboratory – determines through assessment the conformance to essential elements based on PNS ISO 15189 of medical laboratories to demonstrate the quality and competence of their services, as well as to consistently deliver technically valid test or “examination” results as they are known in the standard.
• Accreditation of Proficiency Testing Providers – determines the technical competence, independence, and impartiality of organizations that carry out specific services in the provision of proficiency testing based on the requirements of ISO/IEC 17043 and specific technical requirements relevant to the standard for proficiency testing providers.
• Accreditation of Management System Certification Body for:
  • Quality Management System (QMS) – this scheme evaluates the technical competence, consistency and impartiality of certification bodies providing ISO 9001 certification based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17021-1, ISO/IEC 17021-3 and applicable IAF Mandatory Documents.
  • Environmental Management System (EMS) – this scheme evaluates the technical competence, consistency and impartiality of certification bodies providing ISO 14001 certification based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17021-1, ISO/IEC 17021-2 and applicable IAF Mandatory Documents.
  • Food Safety Management System (FSMS) – this scheme evaluates the technical competence, consistency and impartiality of certification bodies providing ISO 22000 certification based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17021-1, ISO 22003 and applicable IAF Mandatory Documents.
  • Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) System – this scheme evaluates the technical competence, consistency and impartiality of certification bodies providing HACCP certification based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17021-1 and the General Principles of Food Hygiene Codex Alimentarius Code of Practice, No. CXC 1-1969.
  • Information Security Management System (ISMS) – this scheme evaluates the technical competence, consistency and impartiality of certification bodies providing ISO/IEC 27001 certification based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17021-1, ISO/IEC 27006 and applicable IAF Mandatory Documents.
  • Energy Management System (EnMS) – this scheme evaluates the technical competence, consistency and impartiality of certification bodies providing ISO 50001 certification based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17021-1, ISO 50003, and applicable IAF mandatory documents.
  • Occupational Health and Safety (OHSMS) – This scheme evaluates the technical competence, consistency, and impartiality of certification bodies providing ISO 45001 certification based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17021-1, ISO/IEC 17021-10, and applicable IAF Mandatory Documents.
• Accreditation of Product Certification Body – this scheme evaluates the technical competence, consistency and impartiality of product certification bodies, based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17065, relevant certification scheme requirements and applicable IAF and IHAF Mandatory Documents.
• Accreditation of Persons Certification Body – this scheme evaluates the technical competence, consistency and impartiality of persons certification bodies, based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17024, relevant certification scheme requirements and applicable IAF Mandatory Documents.
• Accreditation Scheme for Validation and Verification Bodies – this scheme evaluates the technical competence, consistency, and impartiality of validation/verification bodies based on the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17029, ISO/IEC 14065, ISO 14064-3, ISO 14066, relevant validation/verification scheme requirements, and applicable IAF mandatory documents.

Accredited Certificates, Test/Calibration/Inspection Reports can be recognized by PAB Accreditation Symbol with corresponding accreditation number/s as shown below:

A. For Accredited Certification Body

B. For Accredited Testing Laboratory, Medical Testing, Calibration Laboratory and Inspection Body

Accreditation is available to any type of Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) (e.g. certification body, verification and validation body, testing laboratory (including medical), calibration laboratory, and inspection body) who can comply with PAB Terms and Conditions for Accreditation and general requirements following specific scheme requirements and International Standards.

• For Certification Body (i.e. Management System, Product and Person), and Verification Body, please refer to MSA/P01 MSA-Quality Procedure – The Accreditation Process, downloadable at https://dti-stg.beesites.net/pab/resources/certify-body-guidance-documents/.
• For testing laboratory, medical testing, calibration laboratory, inspection body, and proficiency testing provider, please refer to LA/GD01 Accreditation Process, downloadable at https://dti-stg.beesites.net/pab/resources/lab-inspect-guidance-documents/.

Please select what specific accreditation you are inquiring:

• LA/SF01 – Application Requirements for testing laboratory, medical testing, calibration laboratory, inspection body, and proficiency testing providers
• MSA/SF01A-1 – Application Form (Quality Management System)
• MSA/SF01A-2 – Application Form (Environmental Management System)
• MSA/SF01A-3  – Application Form (Food Safety Management System)
• MSA/SF01A-4  – Application Form (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point)
• MSA/SF01A-5 – Application Form (Information Security Management System)
• MSA/SF01A-6  – Application Form (Energy Management System)
• MSASF01A-7- Application Form (Occupational Health and Safety Management System)
• MSASF01B – Application Form (Product Certification)
• MSASF01C – Application Form (Halal Product Certification)
• MSASF01D – Application Form (Persons Certification)
• MSA/SF01E – Application Form (Greenhouse Gases Validation/Verification)

 Kindly refer to the “Resources” page of our website: https://dti.gov.ph/pab/, and check the downloadable forms.

A. For Certification Body:

A.1 The following is the schedule of fees which shall be collected from an applicant or accredited certification body:

A.2 Transportation, accommodation, and airport taxes expenses of PAB assessment team shall be borne by the applicant or accredited certifying body.

A.3 Payment for contracted members of the assessment team shall be paid by the certifying body based on billing statement issued by PAB.

A.4 The PAB shall not refund any fee paid, if the application is not approved, withdrawn or discontinued or if the Certificate of Accreditation is suspended or cancelled.

A.5 Certifying Body shall be answerable for accidents that may occur during the assessment, if it can be proven that faults or negligence is contributed by them.

A.6 Fees shall be payable to the Department of Trade and Industry. Payments shall be coursed through the Philippine Accreditation Bureau.

For full details of fees for Certification Body (Management System, Product, Halal, and Person) & Verification Body accreditation, please refer to MSA/GD02 PAB-MSA Schedule of Fees, downloadable at https://dti-stg.beesites.net/pab/resources/certify-body-guidance-documents/.

For full details of fees for Testing Laboratory, Medical Testing, Calibration Laboratory, Inspection Body, and Proficiency Testing Providers, please refer to LA/GD01 Accreditation Process, downloadable at https://dti-stg.beesites.net/pab/resources/lab-inspect-guidance-documents/.

B. For testing laboratory, medical testing, calibration laboratory and inspection body:

The following is the schedule of fees relative to the implementation of PAB

B.1 Laboratory Accreditation which shall be collected from an applicant or accredited laboratory/inspection body:

B.2 Transportation, accommodation and airport taxes expenses of PAB assessment team shall be borne by the laboratory/inspection body.

B.3 Fees shall be payable to the Department of Trade and Industry. Payments shall be coursed through the Philippine Accreditation Bureau.

For full details, please refer to LA/GD05- PAB Schedule of Fees.

Timeline from the acceptance of complete application requirements to the granting of PAB accreditation depends on the applicant’s conformity with PAB requirements, the range of tests/inspection fields or complexity of scope of the accreditation, availability of witnessing and clearance of incidences of non-conformance highlighted during the document review and assessment. A reasonable time frame is between six months to one year.

All list of PAB accredited CABs, certificates, and scopes of accreditation are published in the website.

Management System Certification Bodies

(https://pabaccreditation.dti.gov.ph/723ed643a71e686c56c6fb8c1c3e7a41190ac9740d3108c806342707f4428728767599da8b05774d408dca4ff000fef55e)

Product Certification Bodies

(https://pabaccreditation.dti.gov.ph/b855403c94dbe1ede38567c2928429727ad03dd6746471a411450aa2f69cdd1374a6e911b77e31d2037cdc8da1839256fe)

Validation/ Verification Bodies

(https://pabaccreditation.dti.gov.ph/0dbbde210b9b074e07649dee9d667ae47fb8683a86d9cc9dcff01c538239585d02e8657f0ae2d7f40a5ec938b6435fd793)

Calibration Laboratories

(https://pabaccreditation.dti.gov.ph/7eeae03fc3f49de85313adae44137ddb062224c8901f578738e77281d271a1bde4c8a77ace737376c07c65ce5c9b213a8d)

Testing Laboratories

(https://pabaccreditation.dti.gov.ph/73b6058d10f1d1b84c3a8e34a65e537b405c7bcceb0a3482b00064ea02989f3afefa876cbe1a7a83c4cd5627db21a5eac6)

Medical Laboratories

(https://pabaccreditation.dti.gov.ph/ca37c7c8682017650b4d2ed9319683e0e430ee52e46ae684a4a47df92cf218a3f56140d3dfe2cc00b9ddbc9aa671b61947)

Inspection Bodies

(https://pabaccreditation.dti.gov.ph/3f27436aa3d9ee014fc11577fea62be555f4428ac4b463058046fd00374cae64e0563a571507f2f33d876769009dade560)

Proficiency Testing Providers

(https://pabaccreditation.dti.gov.ph/3ce40fb05fd3e6dc4c1da64b54497f18a80feb52e7ab7cc24961f1bf96c7bb3176975a06b38995aaa07298ac25c51c63e6ac)

Although PAB is using copy of International Standards, PAB does not provide or sell any Philippine National Standards and International Standards to the public. These can be purchase at Bureau of Philippine Standards.

Website: www.bps.dti.gov.ph

An individual who wants to apply as subcontracted PAB assessor or technical expert shall meet the required qualifications of PAB in terms of education, relevant trainings specific to field of expertise, professional experiences and PAB criteria for assessors and experts. For further information, please reach us to the following contact details: