Groups and committees

Groups and Committees

Description of UKAS and the role of the PAC

The UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the only organisation within the UK recognised by HM government as having the authority to accredit Certification companies and Calibration Laboratories. UKAS is an independent, non-profit distributing company set up to provide this service.

UKAS has mutual reciprocal recognition agreements with accreditation bodies in other countries. It provides representation to sit on international accreditation committees and is funded by DTI to represent the UK on these.

The primary mechanism set up within UKAS to provide two way communication with stakeholder representatives is the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC). The composition of the PAC is senior members of UKAS and a representative from: Certification companies and Calibration Laboratories (ABCB), BEAMA, LACORS, BMTA, BSI, CBI, DTI, MOD, NILGQ, CIC, SAFed, FSB, SMMT, IQA and Intellect.

The PAC typically meets three times a year and is the forum for discussing matters of policy in relation to the accreditation of all the certification schemes in operation across the UK. In particular it provides a customer voice through Intellect representation for the users of schemes such as ISO 9001 & TickIT, BS 7799 and IS0 14001.

Group links

SME Resource Centre

Groups and Committees