PNAC Accreditation for ISO/IEC 17020:2012 Standard

The Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) is the national accreditation body of Pakistan operating under the Ministry of Science and Technology. It provides accreditation services to conformity assessment bodies (CABs) including:

  • Inspection Bodies
  • Certification Bodies
  • Testing and Calibration Laboratories
  • Medical Laboratories

PNAC is a signatory to international agreements such as:

  • ILAC MRA (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation – Mutual Recognition Arrangement)
  • APAC MRA (Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation)
    This ensures that its accreditations are internationally recognized.

ISO/IEC 17020:2012 – Conformity Assessment for Inspection Bodies

ISO/IEC 17020 specifies the requirements for the competence of bodies performing inspection and for the impartiality and consistency of their inspection activities. DAS hold PNAC accreditation under ISO 17020 as Type A Inspection body.

It classifies inspection bodies into:

Type A: Fully independent (third-party)

Type B: Part of a larger organization but with separate operations

Type C: In-house inspection services (first-party)

PNAC Accreditation for ISO/IEC 17020

PNAC provides accreditation to inspection bodies that demonstrate technical competence, impartiality, and operational consistency in accordance with ISO/IEC 17020:2012.

Key Requirements for Accredited Inspection Bodies

Handling of complaints and appeals

Clear legal identity and management structure

Defined inspection scope

Competent personnel and qualified inspectors

Documented procedures and records

Independence and impartiality policies

Control of inspection equipment and calibration

Internal audits, management reviews, and continual improvement