ISO/IEC 17025:2017 - A New Accreditation Standard

Contents

2017 saw the publication of a new version of ISO/IEC 17025 - General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Among other things, the new Standard adopted a substantially revised structure, including different management system options. The 2017 edition placed new emphasis on "risks and opportunities", included clearer reference to sampling activities, and added new requirements around conformity assessment and a new emphasis on metrological traceability.

This brief Information Leaflet, prepared by the Eurachem Education and training Working Group,  gives a quick overview of the main changes in the 2017 edition of the Standard.

Note: See 'Maintenance' below for further information on continued relevance of this Information Leaflet.

Availability

The leaflet is available in several different languages:

• View/download the leaflet in English (pdf, 399 kB, published 2018-07-16)
• View/download the leaflet in Bulgarian (pdf, 213 kB, published 2018-07-16)
• View/download the leaflet in Estonian (pdf, 445 kB, published 2020-02-14)
• View/download the leaflet in Farsi (pdf, 680 kB, published 2019-07-15)
• View/download the leaflet in Georgian (pdf, 562 kB, published 2018-12-26)
• View/download the leaflet in Russian (pdf, 530 kB, published 2019-03-18)
• View/download the leaflet in Spanish (pdf, 310 kB, published 2018-07-16)
• View/download the leaflet in Turkish (pdf, 483 kB, published 2018-07-16)

Translations

Translation into other languages is encouraged for members of Eurachem. Other offers of translation should be directed to the Eurachem Secretariat for permission. The Eurachem policy on maintenance and development of Eurachem guidance, available on the Policies page, gives further information on translation.

Maintenance of this information leaflet

As of 2023, the date of the most recent periodic review^{Note 1} of this Information Leaflet, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is well established in accredited laboratories. The responsible Eurachem Working Group nonetheless consider that  information in the leaflet remains of current interest and have consequently confirmed the leaflet in its original form as current Eurachem guidance.

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Note 1. Eurachem policy on maintenance of Eurachem guidance can be found on the "Eurachem Policies and Procedures" page on this website.

Setting Target Measurement Uncertainty

Contents

Measurement results are only fit for purpose if the reported uncertainty is correct and has a magnitude small enough for the intended use. The target measurement uncertainty (target MU) is the maximum admissible uncertainty defined for a specific measurement goal. This information leaflet provides a short and accessible introduction to the idea of target measurement uncertainty.

For detailed information on setting a target measurement uncertainty, see the Eurachem/CITAC guide "Setting and Using Target Uncertainty in Chemical Measurement"

Availability

• View/download the document in Czech (pdf, 527 kB, published 2018-12-17)
• View/download the document in English (pdf, 440 kB, published 2018-07-16)
• View/download the document in Farsi (pdf, 1.2 Mb, published 2020-01-07)
• View/download the document in German (pdf, 750 kB, published 2019-05-19)
• View/download the document in Spanish (pdf, 800 kB, published 2018-07-26)
• View/download the document in Turkish (pdf, 1.1 Mb, published 2019-05-19)
• View/download the document in Ukrainian (pdf, 310 kb, published 2019-10-15)

Translations

Translation into other languages is encouraged for members of Eurachem. Other offers of translation should be directed to the Eurachem Secretariat for permission. The Eurachem policy on maintenance and development of Eurachem guidance, available on the Policies page, gives further information on translation.

Proficiency testing - how much and how often?

Content

An accredited laboratory needs to define in which PT schemes it should enrol  and how often it should participate. The EURACHEM Proficiency Testing Working Group has produced an information leaflet to help laboratories select the right balance of areas of work and participation frequency.

This second edition is an editorial revision to reference recent guidance on PT.

The second edition is currently available in English. Links to translations of the first edition, available in 12 languages, are temporarily maintained on this page (below) for convenience while translations of the second edition are prepared.

Availability

• Download English version [395 kB] (2022-07-30)^1,2
• Download Farsi version [292 kB] (2024-04-08)
• Download French version [375 kB] (2023-09-20)
• Download German version [397 kB] (2023-09-20)
• Download Italian version [366 kB] (2024-01-15)

Translation

Please consult the PT Working Group Chair if you would like to prepare a translation in your own language.

Previous editions

The first edition of this information leaflet can be found here, in our publication archive. Selected translations of the first edition are listed below for convenience pending translation of the second edition.

• Download Bulgarian version (1st ed.)
• Download Czech version (1st ed.)
• Download Georgian version (1st ed.)
• Download Serbian version (1st ed.)
• Download Swedish version (1st ed.)
• Download Turkish version (1st ed.)
• Download Ukrainian version (1st ed.)

Notes

1. Dates show date of publication of the linked file on this website.

2. 2nd English edition first published 2022-07-30

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