Namibia considers accreditation body
Legislation remains dormant
Namibia currently uses the Southern African Development Community Accreditation Service (SADCAC).
Namibia is currently assessing whether it will be necessary to establish an accreditation body that will regulate its national quality policy.
This follows a consultative meeting held with the European Union recently to assess the viability of establishing the accreditation body, deputy executive director in the industrialisation ministry Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati said.
Namibia currently relies on the Southern African Development Community Accreditation Service (SADAC).
“One of the objectives of the national policy is to assess whether it is possible for us to have our own accreditation body, so the work that has been done is to assist us and inform us,” Nghipondoka-Robiati said.
Namibia had legislation to guide how accreditation of various standards are done, but that piece of legislation was dormant, she noted. “Right now, we use SADCAS where accreditation is done,” she said.
The move to build an accreditation body was guided by Namibia’s ambition to move towards becoming an industrialised country, Nghipondoka-Robiati said. “Of course we have our own standards. We are slowly building up our own quality infrastructure, which is vital to industrialisation."
Meanwhile, a situational report on Namibia has found that there are currently only 12 qualified assessors, covering 6% of SADCAS’ entire assessors. In addition, there are currently 69 conformity assessment bodies (CAB) throughout Namibia, made up of, among others, medical, certification, veterinary and calibration bodies.
Of the CABs visited during an inspection undertaken by the ministry, 36 non-accredited bodies expressed interest in accreditation, 25 are interested but the costs are too high and five are interested but think that there would be no changes in their business. Of the accredited bodies, three are satisfied, nine have complained about costs, while 10 plan to continue accreditation. Furthermore, 31 of the non-accredited bodies planned to get accreditation, while nine of those accredited plan to expand accreditation.
This follows a consultative meeting held with the European Union recently to assess the viability of establishing the accreditation body, deputy executive director in the industrialisation ministry Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati said.
Namibia currently relies on the Southern African Development Community Accreditation Service (SADAC).
“One of the objectives of the national policy is to assess whether it is possible for us to have our own accreditation body, so the work that has been done is to assist us and inform us,” Nghipondoka-Robiati said.
Namibia had legislation to guide how accreditation of various standards are done, but that piece of legislation was dormant, she noted. “Right now, we use SADCAS where accreditation is done,” she said.
The move to build an accreditation body was guided by Namibia’s ambition to move towards becoming an industrialised country, Nghipondoka-Robiati said. “Of course we have our own standards. We are slowly building up our own quality infrastructure, which is vital to industrialisation."
Meanwhile, a situational report on Namibia has found that there are currently only 12 qualified assessors, covering 6% of SADCAS’ entire assessors. In addition, there are currently 69 conformity assessment bodies (CAB) throughout Namibia, made up of, among others, medical, certification, veterinary and calibration bodies.
Of the CABs visited during an inspection undertaken by the ministry, 36 non-accredited bodies expressed interest in accreditation, 25 are interested but the costs are too high and five are interested but think that there would be no changes in their business. Of the accredited bodies, three are satisfied, nine have complained about costs, while 10 plan to continue accreditation. Furthermore, 31 of the non-accredited bodies planned to get accreditation, while nine of those accredited plan to expand accreditation.
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