international activity |
The Israel Accreditation Authority started out as the Israel Laboratory Accreditation Authority, a statutory corporation established by law in April 1997. The establishment of ISRAC is the result of the need for transparent, uniform and objective criteria for assessing the professional competence of laboratories. The world trade agreements (signed under the World Trade Organization WTO) also support the existence of a national laboratory accreditation body. ISRAC is the official authority, by law, responsible for laboratory accreditation in Israel. ISRAC鈥檚 purpose is to allow harmonization and mutual recognition between the State of Israel and other countries regarding measurements, calibrations and testing. In addition, ISRAC aids the Israeli consumer in need of laboratory services and testing, calibration and measurement organisations, directly or indirectly. ISRAC is a full recognized member of the international organisation ILAC. As such, ISRAC is obligated, like all other members of the organisation, to operate according to the international standard regarding accreditation bodies: ISRAC is the designated representative of the State of Israel for the recognition of test facilities working according to GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) principles. The directive required for recognition according to GLP principles is OECD-GLP. The state of Israel has a mutual recognition agreement regarding GLP with the European community and the OECD, thus ensuring mutual recognition from countries signatories to these agreements. |