NABL CONDUCTS ITS 8TH
ANNUAL NATIONAL CONCLAVE IN CHENNAI
WELL ATTENDED MEET STRESSES
IMPORTANCE OF LABORATORIES AND ACCREDITATION
National Accreditation Board for Testing
and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), a constituent board of the Quality Council
of India (QCI) which is an Autonomous Body under Department for Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry,
Government of India, organized its 8th Annual National Conclave for
Laboratories on 13th and 14th December at Hotel Green
Park, Chennai.
The well-attended program was
inaugurated by Vimta Labs Ltd., Founder Chairman Dr S P Vasireddy, who
reiterated the importance of laboratories and accreditation in the well-being
of the nation. Indian Rubber Manufacturers Research Association Director Dr
Rajkumar and MRF Ltd., DGM (R&D) Mr B Jayamani and FSSAI QA Advisor Dr N
Bhaskar also delivered addresses during the inaugural session.
This was followed by six technical
sessions conducted over the course of two days, chaired/moderated by senior
personnel from both the Private Sector and the regulatory bodies/Government
Functionaries including Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI),
Department of Commerce, Telecom Engineering Centre, Niti Ayog, Department of Legal
Metrology and Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority (APEDA) as well as Indian Rubber Manufacturers Research Association,
MRF Ltd.,
Laboratories were updated about Various
Business opportunities and the gains of accreditation. Financial support including subsidies from
government to laboratories was also discussed in detail with panel having
personnel from APEDA, MSME / NSIC and Niti Ayog. One session was dedicated to explaining the
Legal Metrology legislation and a panel discussion on the Online Portal for
Accreditation of Laboratories. Updates
on the international recognition of laboratory accreditation, ILAC meetings
were presented. The session on Risk
Management involved discussion of risks, how to identify risks, documentation
and tools for risk management as well as the advantages of having a proper Risk
Management System. A complete session on
how NABL is supporting the laboratory and process of appeals against adverse
decisions was explained.
Sh Venkateswaran, CEO, NABL, explained
the purpose of the Conclave, viz., for exchange of thoughts between NABL and
the accredited laboratories on an ongoing basis. To a question as to what his advice to the
Labs was, he suggested that the labs should ensure that quality is never ever
compromised. He also mentioned that
while this generally does not happen, the accreditation granted to the errant
labs which do not stick to the standards would be withdrawn forthwith.
The Valedictory Session was addressed by
Dr R P Singh, Secretary General, Quality Council of India, who informed that
Chennai was chosen as the venue for the 8th Conclave because of the
concentration of laboratories, engaged in testing or calibration or
medical. He also explained how the
product quality certificates issued by more than 5500 NABL accredited
Laboratories (of various disciplines including chemical, mechanical,
electrical, etc.,) are accepted across the world. The event concluded with the Vote of Thanks
by Mr. Avijit Das, Director, NABL
Around 250 laboratory personnel, most of
them quality managers of the laboratory, actively participated in the event and
appreciated the smooth conduct of the Conclave and the informative contents of
the various technical sessions.
NABL accredits testing, calibration
laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025), Medical testing laboratories (ISO 15189)
Proficiency testing providers (PTP) (ISO/IEC 17043) and Reference Material
Producers (ISO 17034) as per International standards. NABL is an Indian
Accreditation Body established for third-party assessment of the quality and
technical competence of Testing including Medical and Calibration Laboratories,
Proficiency Testing Providers (PTP) and Reference Material Producers (RMP).
NABL is signatory to ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA) for
accreditation of Testing including Medical, Calibration Laboratories & PTP
and APAC MRA signatory for RMP.
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