Accreditation
Accreditation is a formal, independent verification that a program or institution meets established quality standards and is competent to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks. Conformity assessment tasks may include, but are not limited to, testing, inspection, or certification.
Certification
Formal procedure by which an accredited or authorized person or agency assesses and verifies (and attests in writing by issuing a certificate) the attributes, characteristics, quality, qualification, or status of individuals or organizations, goods or services, procedures or processes, or events or situations, in accordance with established requirements or standards.
Membership Criteria
- Regional Cooperation Bodies
- Full Members (QTAWA MRA Signatories)
- Associates
- Affiliates
- Stakeholders
Regional Cooperation Bodies
Formally established regional accreditation cooperation’s having objectives similar to and compatible with QTAWA, which are committed to the obligations of the QTAWA Mutual Recognition Arrangement and which consist of formally nominated representatives of the accreditation interests from at least four economies. Recognised Regional Cooperation Bodies are those whose regional Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA/MLA) have been successfully peer-evaluated by QTAWA.
Full Members (QTAWA MRA Signatories)
Accreditation bodies that meet the requirements for Associates (below) and have also been accepted as signatories to the QTAWA Mutual Recognition Arrangement. Each accreditation body that is a signatory to the Arrangement agrees to abide by its terms and conditions and by the QTAWA evaluation procedures. To do this, the signatory must:
Associates
Halal Accreditation bodies that, while not yet signatories to the QTAWA Arrangement:
- Operate accreditation schemes for training and certification bodies, and/or other services as decided from time to time by the QTAWA General Assembly.
- can provide evidence that they are operational and committed to comply with:
- the requirements set out in relevant standards established by appropriate international standards writing bodies such as the QTAWA application documents; and
- the obligations of the QTAWA Mutual Recognition Arrangement;
- are recognised in their economy as offering an accreditation service;
Affiliates
- currently operating, being developed, or intended to be developed for training and certification bodies, and/or other services as decided from time to time by the QTAWA General Assembly
- declare their intention to operate their accreditation programs in compliance with the requirements set out in relevant standards established by appropriate international standards writing bodies QTAWA application documents;
Stakeholders
Representative international, regional and national organizations having an interest in the work of QTAWA and include bodies such as associations of HCBs, associations of HTBs, purchasing organizations, regulatory authorities, consumer associations and trade organizations.
Please contact the QTAWA Secretariat for all enquiries on QTAWA membership.