Ashghal is now an international accreditation centre for ISO 17025 certification, according to a new memorandum of understanding (MoU).
It was also announced yesterday that the public works authority has been recognised by the International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC), for providing technical support for international accreditation.
ILAC is the international organisation for accreditation bodies. Ashghal president Saad bin Ahmed al-Muhannadi signed the MoU with  Paul Stennet, chief executive of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). In line with Qatar’s reliance on local resources and providing a national alternative to achieve self-sufficiency, Ashghal’s quality and safety department had sought recognition as an international accreditation centre for the ISO 17025 certification, in addition to getting the full recognition from ILAC. The accreditation from ILAC gives Ashghal’s centre the authority to accredit international laboratories in 13 different countries including the UK, Italy, Malaysia, India, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Turkey and other Arab countries.
The UKAS conducts a comprehensive assessment for the department’s capabilities and compares it with the accreditation bodies’ requirements. The procedure called Gab Analysis is carried out through a team of experts to prepare the overall plan for accreditation.
The ISO 17025 certificate is granted to a limited number of entities, which must be ISO 17011 certified and fully recognised by the ILAC (An International organisation and Co-operation between laboratories accreditation bodies and inspection entities worldwide).
In addition, the accredited entity has to be already signing on the International Mutual Recognition Agreement and the Multi-Lateral mutual recognition Agreement.  Ashghal’s Centre for Research and development has been accredited ISO 17025 from the UKAS five years ago.