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International recognitions in form of arrangements

portray the competence of accreditation bodies through a rigorous peer evaluation process. When an accreditation body is evaluated by the apex bodies ILAC, IAF and AFRAC and deemed competent, the accreditation body signs international and continental arrangements that create a framework to support international trade through the removal of technical barriers.

This has been the case for KENAS where it recently signed the IAF MLA (Multilateral Arrangement) , the ILAC MRA (Mutual Recognition Arrangement) and the AFRAC MRA.

These arrangements ensure the mutual recognition of accredited certification, inspection and testing among signatories to the MRA/ MLA and subsequently give confidence in acceptance of accredited certification, inspection and testing.

ILAC and IAF are the apex for global networks of accreditation bodies and organizations involved in conformity assessment activities. AFRAC ( African Accreditation Cooperation) is a cooperation of accreditation bodies from African countries; sub-regional accreditation cooperations and stakeholders whose objective is to facilitate trade and contribute to the protection of health, safety and the environment, in Africa and thereby improving Africa?s competitiveness.

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t r ipl e r ecognit ion in ONE year

ISSUE 22 | AUG 2017- MARCH 2018 | KENAS

ACCREDITATIONNEWSLETTER

tABLE OF CONTENTS

Page 1-4 Main Feature

Page 8 AFRAC News

Page 9 KENAS

Page 10 New Accredi tations

KENAS recognised as an AFRAC MRA, ILAC MRA AND IAF MLA Signatory

KENAS Newsletter | Aug 2017- Mar 2018

In a nutshell, all three develop and harmonize accreditation practices across the globe.

On October 26th, 2017 KENAS was admitted as an ILAC MRA signatory for Testing (ISO/ IEC 17025), Medical Testing (ISO 15189), Calibration (ISO/ IEC 17025) & Inspection (ISO/ IEC 17020). On October 25th, 2017 KENAS was also admitted as an IAF MLA signatory for Management System Certification ? ISO/ IEC 17021-1 with a Sub-scope level4: ISO/ TS 22003 and a Sub-scope level 5: ISO 22001, ISO 9001 & ISO 14001.

Earlier on in September 27th 2017, KENAS was admitted to full signatory status as an Arrangement Member of the AFRAC MRA for the following 5 scopes and 3 sub-scopes :

a) Calibration to ISO/ IEC 17025

b) Testing to ISO/ IEC 17025

c) Medical Testing to ISO 15189

d) Inspection to ISO/ IEC 17020

e) Certification to ISO/ IEC 17021-1 in the

following sub-scopes: QMS (ISO 9001), EMS

(ISO 14001), FSMS (ISO 22000).

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Ag. CEO KENAS Susannah Munyiri-Ochieng signs the AFRAC MRA to confirm KENAS as an arrangement member of AFRAC. Looking on is Mr. Araya, the Chairperson of AFRAC.

Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) is now recognized by the international network of ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) members, IAF (International Accreditation Forum) members and AFRAC (African Accreditation Cooperation) members.

This recognition has placed Kenya as an economy at an advantage in enhancing quality infrastructure through its accreditation services hence contributing in the reduction of technical barriers to trade.

Accreditations granted by ILAC MRA/ IAF MLA signatories such as KENAS are recognized worldwide based on their equivalence to predetermined accreditation programs therefore reducing costs of duplicity and adding value to businesses and consumers.

KENAS is also the first AFRAC Arrangement Member to be recognized for the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) sub-scope, and also the first Arrangement Member to be recognized for the 5 scopes at once by AFRAC.

What benefits do the MRA's and MLA's hold?

- Greater confidence in the acceptability of test, inspection and certification results.

- These arrangements remove technical barriers to trade by eliminating redundant conformity assessment.

Left to Right: The IAF Chairperson, Xiao Jianhua (left), KENAS Ag. CEO Susannah Munyiri-Ochieng , Hassan Hache, KENAS Board Member and Abraham Wekesa, Assistant Director Inspection and Verification during the award ceremony of the certificate of recognition for IAF MLA.

Below: The KENAS team with the ILAC Chairperson Merih Nilssen (left)

KENAS Newsletter | Aug 2017- Mar 2018

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- Businesses that depend on test, inspection, calibration, certification data have greater confidence in the accuracy of the test, inspection, calibrations reports and certifications that are provided by competent facilities assessed and accredited by KENAS. Users ought to check the current scope of a testing, inspection or certification body's accreditation when purchasing such services.

- Consumers now have confidence in purchasing testing, calibration, inspection and certification services that KENAS provides to ensure that products are safe and services meet requirements.

- It provides that Signatories all over the world recognize certificates, reports and results issued by organizations accredited by other signatories.

By insist ing that the cal ibrat ion, test, inspect ion resul ts and cer t i f icat ion are fr om an accredi ted faci l i ty, the publ ic can be confident that the faci l i ty has been

assessed by KENAS as an accredi tat ion body, that i tsel f has been recognized as m eeting in ternat ional standards

of com petence.

Accreditation Services offered by KENAS to which we are ILAC MRA signatory , IAF MLA signatory and AFRAC MRA signatory.

KENAS Newsletter | Aug 2017- Mar 2018

upcoming t r ainingsapr il 2018

ISO 15189 Uncertainty of Measurement, Val idat ion & Verif icat ion of Methods

28th - 31st May

Kes 60,000+VAT

Point of Care Test ing ISO 15189 & ISO 22870

20th -22nd June 2018

Kes 45,000 + VAT

ISO/ IEC 17025 Implementat ion of ISO/ IEC 17025:2017

3rd-5th April

Kes 45,000 + VAT

ISO 15189 Internal Audit Training

18th - 20th April, 2018

Kes 45,000 +VAT

MAY 2018

j une 2018

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It has been two years since Bomu Hospital Laboratory got accredited and within that duration of time, they have recorded notable improvements in their laboratory service due to the accreditation. Here is what Dr. Aabid A. Ahmed, Bomu Laboratory Directory had to say when KENAS interviewed them recently.

Dr. Aabid A. Ahmed:

At Bomu Hospital, we are proud to share that the Bomu Hospital Laboratory has indeed improved in its service delivery since accreditation. Some of our achievements, just to mention a few are:

1. The Bomu Hospital Laboratory is now used as a benchmark for performance, by a number of laboratories in the Coast region who consult our services at the laboratory.

2. There is an increased accuracy and confidence in the medical results by our doctors and patients of about 30%.

3. There is proper utilization of reagents and laboratory consumables hence a marked reduction in wastage by around 20%.

4. There is an improved performance by laboratory staff due to regular assessments hence self-discipline and professionalism.

success st or y

2 YEARS ON, BOMU HOSPITAL SHARES VALUE OF ACCREDITATION

File Image: 2015

KENAS has so far accredited 27 medical laboratories whose accreditation is active.

To access the complete list of accredited conformity assessment bodies, click here:

KENAS Newsletter | Aug2017- Mar 2018

5

if you do inspect ion, her e is why you need accr editat ion

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Accreditation of inspection activities is a means of determining the technical competence, the level of

independence and impartiality in carrying out specific inspection activities. The Inspection services that you provide are an essential part of ensuring the operational safety of many items used by the public in their daily lives.

As an inspection body, your services may involve the examination of a design, product, service, process or installation; and determining their conformity to specific requirements. It may also involve professional judgement for your conformance against standards and general requirements provided by the laws of Kenya. To become accredited, your organization must demonstrate to an accreditation body, that you have the necessary competence to perform the specified tasks.

What kind of inspect ion is accredited?

The examples of inspection services that are eligible for accreditation are listed below and not limited to:-

- Inspection of pressure equipment, - Inspection of cranes and

passenger ropeways, - Inspection of lifts, - Inspection of offshore structures

for oil and gas exploration and production, - Mechanical equipment inspection, - Non-destructive testing, - Inspection of meat, dairy products and other food production, bio-security and border control

inspections, to name a few.

What benefit is there in get t ing accredited by KENAS?

Accreditation benefits inspection bodies by allowing them to determine whether they are performing their work correctly and to appropriate standards, and provides them with a benchmark for maintaining that competence. and demonstrating equivalence. Many inspection bodies operate in isolation from their peers, and rarely, if ever, receive any independent technical evaluation as a measure of their performance.

Accreditation is highly regarded both nationally and internationally as a reliable indicator of technical competence. Many industries and regulations specify accreditation for suppliers of inspection services.

Source: ILAC Brochure: Why Become an Accredited Inspection Body.

KENAS Newsletter | Aug2017- Mar 2018

ar e you SEEKING FOR A CERTIFICATION BODY?

Reasons for Using an Accredited Cert if icat ion Body

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RECENT PUBLICATIONS There are several new standards published in 2017 which are important to note:-

1. ISO/ IEC 17025:2017

General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, is the international reference for laboratories carrying out calibration and testing activities around the world. We shall communicate in due course the transition requirements for those laboratories that have been accredited to the Standard.

Download the CASCO statement w ith regards to publ ishing.

2. ISO/ IEC 17011:2017 Conformity assessment -- Requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies.

3. ISO/ IEC 17021-3 Conformity assessment -- Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems -- Part 3: Competence requirements for auditing and certification of quality management systems.

W hile accreditation is not mandatory in Kenya,

a certification body that chooses accreditation by KENAS essentially seeks to demonstrate an independent confirmation of its competence to perform certification activities.

Therefore as a customer selecting an organisation that can certify its system, consider the following reasons why you should use the services of an accredited certification body:-

a) de-risk your procurement by taking the guesswork out of choosing a certification body. There is confidence that you will get the service that closely meets your requirements when you choose an accredited certification body.

b) win new business particularly since the use of accredited conformity assessment services is increasingly a stipulation of specifiers in both the

public and private sector.

c) gain access to overseas markets since certificates issued by bodies that are accredited by an IAF MLA signatory like KENAS are recognized and accepted throughout the world.

d) control costs with the help of knowledge transfer since accredited certification bodies can be a good source of impartial advice.

e) offer market differentiation and leadership by showing to others credible evidence of good practice.

f) demonstrate due diligence in the event of legal action;

g) reduce paperwork and increase efficiency by reducing the necessity to re-audit your business.

Source IAF Brochure: Why Use an Accredited Certification Body

KENAS Newsletter | Aug 2017- Mar 2018

THE 8TH AFRAC GENERAL ASSEMBLY

TOP:

The EGAC Executive Director, Eng. Hany El Desouki gives the opening remarks during the 8th AFRAC General Assembly.

BOTTOM:

KENAS team with some of the participants during the opening ceremony

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Dr. Elbireer raised the concern that Africa needs to embrace accreditation of medical laboratories while he illustrated the success of SLIPTA process. SLIPTA (Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation) is a framework, implemented by ASLM in Africa that measures and evaluates the progress of laboratory systems towards international accreditation and awards a certificate of recognition (0-5 star ratings).

The meetings were attended by delegations of over 15 African and foreign states, including Botswana, Ethiopia, Côte d ' Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.

The 8th AFRAC General Assembly and Meetings were held in

Egypt, Cairo and hosted by the Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC) from 23rd to 29th September 2017.

AFRAC ( African Accreditation Cooperation). During the opening ceremony, several speakers highlighted the need for more engagement with conformity assessment bodies in Africa to see the importance of adopting accreditation to enhance quality of their goods and services.

The meetings held involved working groups for inspection, calibration and testing, marketing and communication, Technical Committee, MRA Committee and MRA council. It is in this meeting that KENAS got recognition as an Arrangement Member to AFRAC.

Mr. Mohamed Badri of the IHAF( International Halal Accreditation Forum) took the assembly through the challenges that IHAF has faced in setting up halal "lawful" accreditation. He mentioned that the most challenging aspect of it it all is finding out how to harmonize Halal activities to the required international standards for the simple reason that Halal is not just religion requirements but a process which is certifiable.

Dr.Ali Elbireer, CEO of ASLM (African Society for Laboratory Medicine) spoke about the notable improvement in the services of medical laboratories that has choses to seek accreditation within the African continent. He mentioned that there are currently 500 accredited labs in Africa of which 400 are in South Africa only.

KENAS Newsletter | Aug 2017- Mar 2018

The Ag. CEO KENAS, Ms. Susan Munyiri-Ochieng? (R) issues Kenya Power Calibration Laboratory with the accreditation certificate for ISO/ IEC 17025 to the Ag. CEO/ MD Kenya Power, Dr. Ken Tarus (L) on 19th July 2017. The significance of this accreditation is that Kenya Power has met the quality standard of operation when calibrating electricity meters for consumers to use.

FAREWELL MR. MILGO: ceo TERM COMES TO AN END

Former CEO of KENAS, Mr. Sammy Milgo (left) received an

appreciation certificate for service in the past six years from the Board of Director, Ms. Nancy Muriuki (center) and Director Hassan Hache (right) in June 2017.

Mr. Milgo completed two terms as CEO of KENAS. He was the brainchild behind KENAS, realizing the corporation from an idea. During his tenure, KENAS grew its clientèle base to about 72 accredited conformity assessment bodies. The Board of Directors announced that the Ag. CEO will be Mrs. Susanah Munyiri-Ochieng who is the Deputy Director for Technical Services.

The Ag. CEO KENAS, Ms. Susan Munyiri-Ochieng? (L) issues an accreditation certificate for ISO/ IEC 17020 to the Chairperson of Kenya Association of Bus Manufacturers (KABM) Mr. Pal Choda (Second to Left) and Mr. Francis Mbaraka of KABM. ISO/ IEC 17020 is the Standard which is used to assess the competence of inspection bodies such as KABM. The award signifies that KABM has met the quality standard of operation to inspect bus being manufactured as per the requirements of the KS 372 Standard.

KABM IS ACCREDITED TO ISO/ IEC 17020

KPLC LAB IS ACCREDITED TO ISO/ IEC 17025

NEWS IN BRIEF

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KENAS STAFF UPDATED TO ISO/ IEC 17011:2017 STANDARD REQUIREMENTS

KENAS staff underwent training on the new ISO / IEC 17011:2017 Standard - Conformity Assessment Requirements for Accreditation Bodies Accrediting Conformity Assessment Bodies . The training took place from December 5th to 8th, 2017 at the Eka Hotel.

NEWLY ACCREDITED

ACCREDITED CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT BODIES JUNE - DECEMBER 2017

1. Medical Laboratories (ISO 15189)

a) Pathologist Lancet - Thika

b) Coast General Hospital

2. Inspect ion Bodies (ISO/ IEC 17020)

a) Association of Automobiles Kenya (AAK)

b) Intertek EA Pty Inspection - Dar Es Salaam

4. Prof iciency Test ing Providers (ISO/ IEC 17043)

National Public Health Laboratory Services (National Microbiology Reference Lab)

5. Test ing & Cal ibrat ion Laboratories (ISO/ IEC 17025)

a) Kenya Power Lighting Company (KPLC)

b) Avioteq

c) Bureau Veritas( BVCK)- Testing Laboratory

d) Nakuru Water & Sewerage Company (Nawasco)

e) Khartoum Referencing Laboratory

f) Professional Aviation Services Ltd

RE- ACCREDITED 1. Cert if icat ion Bodies (ISO/ IEC 17021)

Bureau Veritas (BVCK) Certification.

2. Test ing Laboratories (ISO/ IEC 17025)

a) Twiga Chemicals

b) GMP Testing

3. Medical Laboratories (ISO 15189)

a) Pathologist Lancet- Mombasa

b) Bungoma County Hospital Laboratory

KENAS Newsletter | Aug2017- Mar 2018

ISO/ IEC 17011 REGIONAL WORKSHOP The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in conjunction with Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the National Standards Body have hosted a regional training on ISO/ IEC 17011 :2017 Standard from 11th - 13th December 2017 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi. The training has targeted accreditation bodies within the African Region. KENAS is participating in this regional workshop.

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EDITORIAL TEAM

Doris Mueni - Chairperson | Carey Ochogo - Member | Robert Njuguna- Member | Grace Mugo - Member | Elizabeth Muema - Secretary

KENYA ACCREDITATION SERVICE

P.O.BOX 47400 - 00100 GPO, NAIROBI

info@kenyaaccreditation.org

(+254) 725 227640 / 0787 395679

www.kenas.go.ke