SGS Celebrates World Accreditation Day 2016

Geneva, Switzerland, June 11, 2016 --(PR.com)-- This year’s theme, "Accreditation: A Global Tool to Support Public Policy", focuses on the use of accreditation as a tool for supporting all of the public sector – national and local governments and regulators.

Accreditation helps to address governments' local, national and international needs. Standards, accreditation and conformity assessments are market based tools that government policy makers use to deliver better regulation, environmental protection, public safety and fraud prevention, to ensure fair markets and to increase public trust. These tools are not as widely known, understood or used as they should be. Nevertheless, there have been many times when organizations within the public sector have embraced accredited conformity assessments as a means of delivering public policy objectives.

How can accredited certification benefit governments and regulators?

Accreditation can be used to support governments and regulators in different ways. Markets can "self-regulate" when businesses voluntarily agree to meet set standards. Self-regulation can be applied when there is a need to reassure markets on the conduct of business while minimizing risks, but the government does not desire regulatory intervention.

Governments and regulators can encourage the use of standards to deliver policy, or may wish to sponsor the creation of a standard for a particular purpose. Governments may also work with an industry to develop a standard or code of practice or a means of determining compliance when other parties set standards and authorize activities. Accredited conformity assessment assures of compliance with such standards.

What benefits does accreditation provide?

Functions that accredited conformity assessment bodies can support include:

Verification of conformity with standards and regulations
Demonstration of competence
Assessment of risk and its management
Enforcement of safety regulations, such as building codes
Protection from unsafe food and drinking water
Environmental protection
Oversight of health and social care services
Control of commerce and trade
Facilitation of trade
Efficient delivery of public services
Conduct of forensic investigations
Investigation of product or process failures

How can SGS help?

Their portfolio of accreditation solutions supports compliance with regulatory requirements, helps to increase government revenue, facilitates trade, and promotes efficiency, good governance and sustainable development. As an accredited conformity assessment body, they can offer a wide range of solutions to help organizations understand the requirements of the various ISO standards. These include offering IRCA-approved training courses, carrying out needs assessments and providing action plans for compliance with standards.

For more information on World Accreditation Day 2016 and how accredited conformity assessment can support public sector organizations, please visit the ILAC website. (http://ilac.org/media-centre/world-accreditation-day/)

For more information, please contact:

Vivien Chan
International Marketing Manager
SGS S.A.
t: +603 2095 9200

About SGS

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 85,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,800 offices and laboratories around the world

Visit this link for more information - http://www.sgs.com/en/news/2016/06/sgs-celebrates-world-accreditation-day-2016